It was a beautiful day here in central North Carolina. Temperatures reached the upper 70s, and the warm sunshine brought with it the hope of springtime. I ventured to the Duke Gardens, where the daffodils, crocuses and pansies were in bloom.

I made my way around to the Garden Pond in the Asiatic Arboretum, wondering if I might find the turtles sunning on the rocks—(a bit of wishful thinking, no doubt). They weren’t, but I did see the Great Blue Heron! He put on quite a show. And I caught it on my trusty camera.

across the pond and through the trees…

*   *   *

No doubt there are a few more chilly days in store for us, but there are signs of spring everywhere.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers —
That perches in the soul —
And sings the tune without the words —
And never stops — at all —
(Emily Dickinson)