for weeks it seems all i could see were twigs and stems.  now suddenly, all i see are buds.  buds everywhere waiting for the first warm days.  here in the north country, they will be waiting for several weeks yet.

rice creek regional trail, saint paul, minnesota

i spotted this little dwelling today.  the nest is carefully and beautifully lined with cattail fluff–so inviting.  i think it belonged to a very artful little yellow warbler.

rice creek regional trail, saint paul, minnesota

some of you may remember the orange tree leaves i posted a couple weeks ag0–the curled up dried ones from the tree that didn’t get watered while we were in france.  well, i pruned the tree back to a stump.  a single stalk.  i expected to have to throw it away in spring.  well, to my pleasant surprise it is not only budding but thriving.  here is some of the new growth. i love the rumpled texture of these newly unfurled leaves.

i thought you all might need a break from snow covered branches and twigs.  february has to be the trickiest month for finding inspiration in minnesota.

indoor orange tree leaves

saint paul, minnesota

feathers from the crest of a pileated woodpecker who was too beautiful to leave entirely on the side of the road

saint paul, minnesota

for the past two years i have walked my neurotic puggle on the same three mile loop. today, for the first time, i noticed the beautiful geometry of this scrubby tree beside the trail.   i wonder how many hundreds of times i’ve seen it, without seeing it, before.

rice creek regional trail, saint paul, minnesota