With the extremely warm temperatures we’ve had over the past several days (89 on Saturday, 90 on Sunday and 89 on Monday) the trees and bushes are on fast forward. If you blink you might miss the further unfurling of a leaf.  On Friday there was just the tiniest bit of green fuzziness appearing and now it’s an explosion! Last night I could still see through the trees and into the back woods, but this morning the leaves are out so much that it’s not possible. They’ve doubled overnight.  It’s a little early for them to be so advanced but it’s kind of nice. They say we have one more day of this unseasonably warm weather and then we go back to more normal temps in the 60’s. I’ll be glad for that. I don’t need summer heat in spring! Photo above taken yesterday; photo below taken this morning.

The forsythia is still in full bloom but soon its leaves will take over the flowers.

I’ve got a new lens that I am fooling around with, a Lensbaby. It’s an odd little lens that allows you to blur objects by tilting the lens around and have one spot that it’s in focus. The photos above were taken with it. I still need lots of practice but I’m semi-happy with some of the results.

While the trees are on fast forward, there are still some things that take their time. The ferns are taking it slowly. See all the little fronds waiting to unfold?

The Lensbaby also came with a set of two macro lenses. You know me, I am a macro girl! It creates some other-wordly looking results.

I’ll be interested to hear what you think of the Lensbaby results.

The dogs aren’t too happy about the weather either. They can’t go with me anymore in the car when I go on errands. That’s their favorite thing to do. Hopefully today will be the last day of that and we can enjoy some lovely spring weather along with our newly green trees.

P.S. In case you are wondering, our trip to Mexico is still on at this point. We are waiting to see what happens in the next few days with the swine flu, but unless they cancel all travel to Mexico we will still go!

I like the macro shots.  With our ups and downs temps wise, the forsythia and other blooming trees are pretty much zapped this year. Such is life…and spring…in Colorado.  Gives me pause to appreciate it when I have a year with good blooms.

Lensbaby is great! Felt like I was in a time machine. Really cool!

Love the fern and the forsythia!  Very interesting effects!

I hope your trip goes smoothly and you and your folks remain in good health -