Very Little Rain, but a Bautiful Rainbow

Took a short ride to Lake Michigan yesterday. Driving to the channel and stopping at the beach. There was a very light rain, not enough to wet a whistle, but rain still. It has been really dry here. Last year we had water everywhere. This year it has been a cold slow spring. The advantage is that the flowers that do appear last a lot longer than usual. But, yesterday, as were leaving the beach we noticed a very beautiful surprise.

To the south was a fantastic rainbow, large and colorful. To get a better view of it we drove to Snug Harbor Park (a boat ramp, fishing and picnic area with access to Muskegon Lake and the dunes) to find the view was perfect and the colors were fantastic. This area is great place to catch a view of swans and cranes, as the marshy area by the Devil's Kitchen offers them safety and security. (temperature changes create a smoky fog here many times throughout the year thus the name)

Rainbow over Snug Harbor

If you look closely ther is a faint double rainbow to the right of the bright one

Swans at the end of the rainbow.  I count about 30-40 here lately.

Wonder if he caught a Rainbow Trout?

Spring Comes Slowly to the Woods

 It seems like the calendar brings us spring on March 2. This is to let us  know it's spring, to get our hopes up thinking of warmer days, the burst of greens and the bright colors of those early flowers. 

The micro climate in North Muskegon in the shadows of the wooded dunes off Lake Michigan make it a slow arrival here. We experience snow, sleet, and hail. Waking to ice on the bird bath and sunny blue skies is a common event.

Slowly it does arrive with the early flowers and the slow leafing of the trees. Here are a few photos from the gardens.

Daffodils in bloom on the berm.

Forsythia blooms it's sunshine in the north yard.

Star of Holland like the clear crisp blue sky.

Helebore a springtime favorite.

another view of the Helebores.