“Spring Delight” – Lakeshore Lodge Point, PEC
“After a long and gloomy winter, there is an unspeakable joy that comes with seeing the first blooms of spring; the world is waking from its winter slumber, and spring is on its way.” – Ed Lehming
Early last week, I took a look at my calendar and noted that this is usually the time when the first flowers, the spring ephemerals, begin to bloom. Each year is a bit different, but the signs of spring are ever present: the longer days of sunshine, the warming air, and the gradual “greening” of trees and grasses. It’s inevitable, but when?
This year, it felt like winter was holding its grip just a bit longer. The days felt cooler, rainier, and darker than in the past few years. But my calendar told me to ignore those characteristics and head out in search of signs of spring. On the first fairly mild day, I took a drive to Sandbanks Provincial Park, which is a twenty-minute drive from my home. It’s usually the first place around here that offers blossoms. As I drove, I scanned the roadside ditches for signs of life; usually, the bright yellow Coltsfoot is the first to bloom, but I did not see any on my journey.
I parked my car and headed along the trail to where a large patch of Bloodroot usually blooms. Again, no promising signs of flora along the way. And then, between the winter-weary trees, I saw a patch of white flashing. They were in bloom and in profusion! A feeling of joy filled me at the sight; the whole patch was in full bloom! It’s difficult to put into words the delight in seeing this—there is no turning back: spring has arrived in the County, as we refer to our region at the east end of Lake Ontario.
I also had the whole place to myself and took the time to fully enjoy it and capture several nice photos to keep the feeling with me.
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Main Camera — 109 mm
1/2415 sec, ƒ/1.78, ISO 80
Ed Lehming Photography 
I completely understand your feeling of joy, Ed. It’s the same feeling I used to get in Illinois when I would be on a back trail in the park and come upon a vast stretch of wildflowers in the spring. Here in Arizona, it’s rather different, but still that joy is available.