Signs of spring

It's been a long time coming, but we are beginning to see the first signs of spring.   The deepest snow banks are still hanging around, but recede every day.  Spring bulbs are beginning to poke through the soil, and two days ago I heard and saw a couple robins, some say's phoebe, and horned lark.  Plus, it smells like spring!  You can smell plants and soil coming alive again.

I snapped a few photos yesterday on my way over to the shop to work.

I won't be pruning the roses in this north flower bed anytime soon!

These tulips were growing under the snow, reaching for the light.  You can see how leggy they are.

In contrast, these tulips were not covered with snow and are shorter and more stocky.  If you enlarge the photo you can see that some rodents have been nibbling on the tender shoots.  

This drift has definitely shrunk, but still quite a bit left to melt.

Crocus!!!!

Anemic daffodils!  They've been growing under the snow, reaching for the light.  Now that the snow has melted, they are finally exposed to some sun.  

This is grass in the pasture, which sat under the snow bank for so long, it has snow molded.  

Snow mold is a fungus that lives in the soil.  When the snow lays too long, it grows and kills the grass, and wheat!  We have several spots in our fields that are of concern.  

Rain is predicted for the upcoming week.  That will probably take most, if not all the snow away.  Good thing we still have lots of shop work to do!  BUT, spring is definitely in the air.  We aren't living "north of the wall" after all.  (That reference for all you Game of Thrones fans, which I am not one!)