At first glance, you would think it's still winter time here in Vicksburg. Winter's toll is evident everywhere you look ... in the drabness of faded brown grass, mostly leafless trees, and skies that are more often cloudy than clear.
But if you take the time to look closer, you will see Spring making its first appearance in the form of tiny new leaves on the trees, and green shoots of bulbs and flowers poking through the leaves.
The early-Spring flowering trees like Bradford Pears and Redbuds are budding out, and the Japanese Magnolias (Tulip Trees) are in full bloom now. New life is everywhere ... you just have to look a little closer to see it.
Even though yesterday was one of those cloudy days we've been having, I decided to get out and capture with my camera some of the new life heralding Spring's arrival in Vicksburg.
This is a photo I took on February 16th, of a Japanese Magnolia Tree just beginning to put out new buds.
And this is the way it looked yesterday ... 
These are
Bradford Pear buds. Wouldn't some of those branches make a beautiful Spring arrangement!
These pretty little blue flowers were in a church yard and caught my eye as I passed by. The faded flower in the picture is a camellia blossom, and I love the way it and the new blue blooms tell the story of the passing of Winter and the approach of Spring.
I spotted this little Hyacinth next door to the church. I need to go back next week to get a shot of the pink one, too!
And here are some pictures I took of the new life I found in our yard. I love the way my Carolina Jasmine vine winds around itself. Soon it will be a profusion of delicate yellow blossoms.
Our Lorapetalum plants are covered with tiny buds, too.
With each passing day, Spring is literally "bustin' out all over," and I can't wait to try to capture some of its "How Great Thou Art" glory with my camera.
