Vernal and Verdant

Is anything more lovely than a spring day?

After being stuck at home for two days with the stomach flu, I was well enough to rejoin the world today.  When I got home from work this afternoon I walked around the "estate" checking out all the things that are blooming: 

These tulips next to the tree in the tree yard are the first thing I see when I turn the corner onto my street.

The red bud tree in the back yard is just about done blooming for the year. I like the juxtaposition of the small leaves that are replacing the flowers at the tip of the branches.

This forsythia bush is actually in the neighbor's yard, but since the beautiful yellow petals have been floating into our back yard the past few days, I think I have a partial claim to it!

The flowers on this holly bush aren't very conspicuous, but the bees sure like them; it was hard to get close enough to take the picture.  It reminds me that things don't always need to be showy to be beautiful.

Aren't these violets a lovely purple?  I know they're considered weeds, but I just couldn't bring myself to dig them up. (A decision I may regret later in the year..)