Warm Lights, Cold Snow

One of the paths in the Lurie Garden, dusted with snow, at dusk.

What's Blooming?

Treated myself to a macro lens and went over to Millennium Park's Lurie Garden to practice. I think I'm going to have fun with this lens.

Pale Coneflower

Ornamental Allium

Betony

Feathered Friends: Early Birds

I thought the saying was "The Early Bird Catches the Worm" but maybe it is "The Early Bird Catches the Slush". After a brief visit, Spring decided it wasn't ready to commit full-time to Chicago yet so winter is back (slush is falling from the sky, it's in the 30s).

But the mid-week Spring conditions did get the birds moving around a bit. Here is a pictorial summary of bird sightings this past week.

Clockwise from top left

Male House Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, very noisy Red-Winged Blackbird, Robin, Song Sparrow, House Finch, White Throated Sparrow, Common Grackle, Female House Sparrow

What's Blooming?

Crocuses are coming up in the Lurie Garden section of Millennium Park. I hope they are hardy because the forecast is for plunging (from 70 to 30) temperatures and snow this weekend.

Please look for the little bee enjoying lunch in the garden. It is to the left of the most open crocus in the photo above.

What's Blooming?

The Lurie Garden at Millenium Park is in bloom! The Garden is designed to change seasonally and highlight the Chicago motto (Urbs in Horto, or, City in a Garden). Two of the many pretty and interesting Spring plants are Meadow Sage (the deep purple flowers - with and without bees) and Prairie Smoke (with the pink plumes).

(click the photo to enlarge)