SOME FIRST SIGNS OF SPRING

A RATHER GLOOMY MORNING

'GOTTA BE SOMETHING DOWN THERE!"

PUSSY WILLOW BUDS ARE OPENING...

...JUST BARELY

RED OSIER DOGWOOD TWIGS ARE GETTING REDDER

Monday, 9:00 AM CDST.  32 degrees F at the ferry dock 29 degrees on the back porch.  The wind is SW, light.  The sky has a very high overcast, the humidity is 84% and the barometer is trending down and now stands at 29.99".  It is a rather gloomy morning, and I wore my YakTraks because of the icy roads.
   We have a trip to Duluth today and we will be looking for signs of spring along the way, such as we found at the  beach yesterday afternoon.  The native pussy willows, Salix discolor, are showing white beneath the opening bud scales; they will open little-by-little as spring approaches, finally opening all the way, becoming fluffy, and golden with pollen.
   The red osier dogwood, Cornus stolonifera, twigs are red all winter, but as spring approaches the color intensifies.
   Spring is a way off, but its first signs can be seen.