After a long winter, waiting for springs can be hard—waiting for the last of the snow to disappear, waiting for the trees to bud, waiting for the crocuses to break the ground. You notice the wildlife return first, birds mostly. But even the annual residents seem to be more visible, more active, as if the avian and mammalian world is cheering the flora on.

This is one of my favorite places on our land—a small grove of young trees that are pioneering a corner of a field we have. At dusk, the sun illuminates these tender trunks. Unlike the more established trees in our forest, these project a kind of optimism for the future. Click on the image for a larger view.

Early spring is not the prettiest time in Maine—we call it mud season. The ground cover looks flat and spent as if the winter has beaten it into submission. The soil, if not frozen, is waterlogged, where rain and melting snow collects into pools. But there is magic here. The freeing of the water from its winter solidity starts the return of life. The sun mixes in energy, powering a change in chemistry. Like an infinite blue sky that can suddenly become populated with clouds, this barren land will recover. Click on the image for a larger view.

Warm weather has returned to Maine. Most of the snow pack has melted since last week. Because the melt happens long before the trees regain their foliage, the water collects in vernal streams and pools. Once the foliage returns, the trees will absorb that excess water. By summer, this area of our forest will have a thick carpet of fern. Click on the image for a larger view.