on the road

my son has two weeks to pick the college he will attend this fall. the choice is not obvious at all–so we (he and i) are spending the next 10 days making quick visits to several campuses. we just got home from the east coast, and are heading west this week. new york was in full bloom while we were there–a full two weeks ahead of us here in minnesota. and my daughter has reported that recent rains in california have greened up their spring as well. i fear i will miss our great awakening while i am traveling this week. it’s a shame, because when we have a late spring like this, it’s as though the whole place blossoms and greens all at once–a spectacular overnight show.  i pinched these little golden seed heads from a landscape plant on vassar campus. their tiny five-point casings were catching the afternoon light and looked like a constellation of golden stars.