Praise then darkness, and creation unfinished

The honey black locust trees are in bloom, enough flowers open that whole blocks of my neighborhood smell of locust, starting about half a block from the A train: it was very welcoming on my walk home this evening. As a bonus, a young locust very near our building is blooming for the first time, with one cluster of blossoms just at the height of my nose. (In general, the trees look two or three days from their peak blossoming.)

There are late lilacs, a large stand of an odd variety that grow low to the ground and always bloom late, and a few left of the others. The scent blends nicely with the locust.

Yesterday morning, I leaned down on the sidewalk in the park to smell the lily-of-the-valley. Not far from that patch, there are daffodils still in bloom.

Locust and pawlonia--the one in the wall has come back from being cut down to the roots, again--and the very first roses, and still daffodils.

Violets are just about done, though.

Also, there are goslings, though we haven't seen ducklings yet. I've heard orioles, but not seen them, though cattitude has.

I'm glad the locusts are early, because they're the bit of spring I'm most likely to miss by going to Wiscon.