Joy Spring! - Vernal Equinox 2017

Today is the Spring Equinox! The sun reached the equator at 6:29 EDT this morning. This, however, doesn't mean that suddenly, magically, trees are greening and flowers blooming. It's been cold this last week (although it might get up to 50º [10º C] today), and we still have some snow on the ground, as these pictures taken yesterday morning in the Dykeman Spring Nature Park show. The seasons aren't events, they're part of a continuous process, and a fairly slow one at that. We're working our way toward green lushness. Just have patience!

An American Robin enjoying some Staghorn Sumac along the Dykeman Walking Trail

The creek in the park looking south from the red bridge

Yes, I managed to get my annual "Daffodils in the Snow" shot this year!

The north duck pond featuring the new bridge over the creek

The perfect music for the Spring Equinox is the late, great Jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown's song "Joy Spring". He wrote it for his wife, LaRue Anderson, who he called his "joy spring". It's definitely full of an upwelling joy the season often inspires. Enjoy!

Photos © 2017 by A. Roy Hilbinger