Spring in Full Swing Here in Sonoma County!

Every step I took today in "the wild hinterlands" of Cloverdale (Northern California) I found SPRING springing out of every little corner!

First, I wanted to check my plants to see if anything new was blooming since yesterday... I was flabbergasted when I found my little "snowball plant" (an old-fashioned near relative of the hydrangea) covered with buds and blossoms!

And my green miniature rose had buds all over it! This rose originated in China and is called "verdis gris"... (Everybody who knows me very well KNOWS that I have this "thing" for green flowers... Yes, I know it's strange -- so sue me... lol...)

I especially wanted to take a look at my "Queen's Tears" -- proper name "bilbergia rutans" (a very hearty bromeliad -- mine stays outdoors all year long!) because it only blooms once a year, always in April, and -- sure enough -- it had LOTS of flowers!

 If somebody told you that their flowers were "sea green and hot pink with navy blue stripes", you'd  probably think they were off their rocker, wouldn't you? But, here ya go:

Isn't that wild? 

I really don't know WHY they call these flowers "Queen's Tears"... The only reason I could ever think of has to do with playing cards because, if one of the Queens in the deck was crying, her stylized tears might look just like that! 

Spring has DEFINITELY sprung around here because I saw the first robin of the year today!

I also got a great shot of the "white-crowned sparrow" that's always "whistling"... He actually put his head down so I was able to take a shot that shows you his bright yellow and white "crest"!

I had taken some photos that I posted the other day on here on Gather of what I thought was an American Goldfinch... Well, he showed up again today, I took some more photos and, the more I got to looking at them, the more I realized that he was really too big to be a goldfinch and something just wasn't "right" about his dark stripes, either...

Well... Sure enough, I consulted the "Birding Sonoma County" website (a really FANTASTIC bird watching site run by a local couple the female half of which is an artist and painter par excellence) and he's not a goldfinch, he's a magnificent "Bullock's Oriole"! (You can see her painting of this bird at: http://www.americanbirdguide.com/wordpress/?p=61.) 

I'm thrilled that it seems like he's going to be staying around here for awhile!

About that time, who do you think came strolling down the driveway? Mr. and Mrs. CALIFORNIA QUAIL! They walked right in front of the house and I was able to snap several photos of them when they were only about 12 feet away from me (the male is in the foreground)!

I remember last year, they had the CUTEST LITTLE BABIES! I can't WAIT to see their new brood!

Well, like I said, "spring has definitely sprung" around our neck of the woods... I hope it's getting to be that way where YOU live, too!

As always, thanks for the company today, I sure enjoyed having you along! :o)