What's In Season?

Ramps! Although the season is almost over as it only lasts a few short weeks. Ramps are a cross between onions and garlic. They are the first "green" produce item that grows in the Spring -and all seasonal eaters rejoice because it means the dark days of onions and potatoes are over. Also, ramps may have give the city of Chicago its name. The Potawatami Indian word for Ramps (or wild onions) is Checagou. Apparently the area was rather "fragrant" with the aroma of wild onions back in the day.

Anyway, the season is short so enjoy them while you can or make them into pesto (as the ingredients in this photo are about to become) and enjoy them in the winter --- when all us seasonal eaters have available is potatoes, onions, root vegetables and anything we were lucky to have frozen during farmers market season.

Sunset Lit Flowers

The way the sunset hit these flowers really enhanced their colors and created a cool shadow-filled background.

This Year, We're Below The Clouds

Took this picture from Montrose Point on Sunday morning. Clouds were rolling in over the Loop area, but hadn't gotten to the northern part of the city yet.

Here's the weird thing. A year ago Sunday, my Daily Chicago Photo post, here is the link, was a picture of low clouds coming into the Loop area from a high rise view point.

Red and Pink on the Brown Line

This very bright mosaic (?) was installed at the Chicago Avenue stop on the CTA Brown Line. The CTA has been installing art - mural, mosaics, sculptures - at many of the remodeled stations through out the city. I'm trying to find out a little more about this but haven't been successful. I'm curious about all the symbols ... and wouldn't the colors have coordinated better on the Pink Line or the Red Line?

Pseudo-Symmetry

Close but not quite.

April Sunrise

The sun just peeking through the morning clouds yesterday.

Feathered Friends: A New Batch

A new batch of migrating birds have stopped in Chicago.

Clockwise from top right

Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Caspian Tern, Brown Creeper

A few more pictures of each are at my Chicago Birdwatching blog, which is here.