Spring

and all that entails.  Yes, that red blur is a cardinal and yes, that white stuff is snow.  Pretty sure it's officially spring, but the signs are few and far between.

Here's a close up of one sure bet, the Hamamelis.  I honestly can't remember the variety, but this is its second spring and these blossoms started showing mid-February both years. 

I love the scent as well.  It's a lot like Fruit Loops, without any dusty cardboard.  It's not as fragrant as last year, which I'm chalking up to a frigid February.   

No, there really isn't any sign of spring in this picture.  It's just documenting the river birch we planted last fall and my hopes for it to bud, leaf out, and eventually screen most of the view into and out of the back yard.