Blossom Time

It's that spectacular time of year when each day looks different. Two hot days brought speedy growth. The blossoms seemed to grow in just days.



Each tree has its own shade of pink.



Each tree comes to life at its own rhythm. Some have leaves that are almost full, others blossoms and some are just starting to send out the first signs of leaves.



On one of our hot days (Wednesday and Thursday the temperature went up to 30°C) the tulips opened wide. Some closed up again as a cold front came through. Tulip season is not long here. Spring brings rapid change before settling in to the lushness of summer.

Up in Summit Woods

After days of rain and chilly temperatures growth is once again speeding up. Up on Summit Woods the early spring flowers have woken up. Their time here is short. Once the leaves open on the trees, these flowers will die off for another year. The dog toothed violets (a.k.a. trout lilies) were open in profusion.



Their bright yellow colour advertises to insects to quickly come and pollinate them so they can grow another year.



From wide open spaces to little niches, the trilliums pop up.



They carpet the forest floor. It is their moment of glory - short-lived but grand.



The forest is constantly regeneration, from decay comes new growth.



We saw a number of these butterflies flitting around. They rest with their wings wide open. I believe they are mourning cloak butterflies.



For moments the sun shone. Spring is upon us.

Spring is Trying

Spring is trying to take hold. One warm day brings a burst of growth and then the cold makes the tulips close and huddle.

April and May have brought record amounts of rain which along with snow melt has caused serious flooding along the banks of rivers. Montreal is an island, and though I am not affected by the flooding, not even being near enough to the shore to see the effects, I know that others are suffering the loss of homes and the tremendous stress of watching helplessly as their sandbagging attempts simply did not have a chance against the fury of the water.

Flowers still bloom; trees start to bud (though at a slower pace as temperatures have been below normal). Yesterday I saw some snow flurries and walked bundled up with gloves, hat and scarf along with a jacket worn more often in March than in May.

Magnolias are starting to make their fleeting presence known. Spring is coming in slowly. At least for now, there is no more significant rain expected.