In Which Fruit Trees are in Bloom

Redbud Tree on 3rd Street in Marion on way to Lowe Park.

Spring in Iowa is getting to the peak of its cute phase. Redbuds, crabapples, apples, cherry and pear trees are all in bloom. Lilac bushes are perfuming the air.

We’re still a bit from the peony season, and there is supposed to be frost in a few days, but still. I was busy working today, and rain rolled through in the afternoon, but after supper the sky was clearing and I had time for a quick ride before the night settled in.

So I got out the hybrid bike, rode up the Brentwood Drive Hill (getting some exercise) and then rode out to Lowe Park in Marion to ride the trail there.

It was a pretty ride, with frequent short stops to shoot some pretty scenery. And some pretty birds. At the west end of the Lowe Park Trail, in that area of marshy woods, a goldfinch, Iowa’s official bird, was sitting on some reeds. Goldfinch aren’t that rare to see, but they are skittish birds, and I was pretty happy to get some images of this one.

Redwing blackbirds, on the other hand, will come right to the edge of the brush to sit high up and yell at you, so getting some images of them is pretty easy.

And the sky! Clouds rolling out gave it some nice texture and light. A pretty sunset is also not unusual in the Midwest, but it was still fun to see one today.

Low sun at Lowe Park.