I always get giddy when, after the deadness of winter, life begins to show up around my place. Although I have a notorious brown thumb, blooms and buds seem to somehow survive the winter and me! I think is is appropriate we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus during the spring when new life abounds around us to remind us that HE too died and rose again, for us. Happy Easter

Intermixed with all the green, the burnt red of this oak leaf add more color and depth to my landscape

Tiny Cyprus buds. This tree in the pine family looses is needles every fall, littering my yard not only with their large bumpy knees, but also an abundance of rust-colored needles!

Flowers and warts: The redbud tree – Oklahoma’s State tree – gets many of these “wart-like” growths along branches and they are usually surrounded by more buds.

I shot this in color and converted to black and white, then took it one step further by bringing back the color of the buds in the next image.

I love the way – in the absence of limbs – the buds will find a way to bloom! I think they are my favorite part of this tree.

My redbud tree (sadly beginning to die off) gives me many opportunities for spring photos. Silhouetted against a bright and beautiful spring sky brings happiness and hope.

Don’t be fooled by this large bloom, it is in fact just over a 1/4 inch across. Creeping phlox are the first to show their bright faces as they carpet my garden path!
Have a beautiful week!