SPRINGTIME 2021, Week 7: The leaves are coming. The leaves are coming! 'Poof' day (my term for that day when you suddenly decide 'Hey, it's really green outside') is nearly here. I predict near mid-week. Here are the reasons for my assessment:

The dogwoods have ceased blooming and are now showing real leaves. Yet to fill out, but soon.

The smaller (softwood) trees are filling out. That bright yellow-green in the picture is new leaf; it will darken as the tree fills out.

The hardwoods, mostly oaks, have begun their spring dance. If you look carefully, you can see them finally budding out -- flowering, I guess you'd call it -- the air (and porch, and decks, and cars) are covered with fine green pollen and everyone is sneezing. Another week, maybe two, and we'll see the leaves asserting themselves.

Now back to the usual pond view. Not a whole lot of difference yet, the buds are still nearly invisible in the distance. Next week should show some change.

The same is true of the view northwest toward the fire pit. Since that part of the property has been cleared of undergrowth the seasonal changes are still nearly invisible.

Much the same for this view of our neighbor's house from the northwest edge of our property. In time (next week, maybe?) the house will disappear. Until then....