The first six months of 2016 were part of the ‘El Niño’ weather pattern. The snowdrops were up in early January and spring followed shortly thereafter. Everything was a month ahead of normal.
Then the weather switched over to ‘La Niña’ in July and I have been moaning ever since. On February 13, 2017 the Cosmic Challenge was ‘Signs of Spring’ and I started a post called ‘No Signs of Spring’.
Everything was covered with heavy snow and when it melted my hellebores were flattened and then the bloody squirrels dug up all my crocuses and ate the bulbs, leaving a huge mess behind. I was so discouraged I gave up on that post.
A little more than a month has gone by and now there is another ‘Spring’ challenge. Even in late March a lot of trees are still leafless.
I have to make do with back-lit moss instead of leaves.
Some trees are showing their first leaf buds visible as a pink or green haze.
It certainly could be better. These were cherry blossoms off Broadway in Vancouver in early March last year.
But it also could be worse – this was the middle of April in 2008!
More of Nancy Merrill’s a Photo a Week Challenge: Spring.
Batz Gallery 
Fantastic shots, Elizabeth! Thanks for adding your creative voice to our challenge.
Beautiful pictures, Elizabeth, as ever. I consider Spring the “prettiest” !season… Here in the UK, I’m waiting for Hawthorne to come into flower: they are such a lovely, subtle, cream colour splashed across fields and hedgerows!
Post pictures on Facebook when they come out!