Red Elm Under a Blue and White Winter Sky

A changing weather system brought rain in morning, but the skies cleared and turned blue, with puffy white clouds, by late afternoon. Instead of a quick late Friday afternoon shopping trip, I decided to see what was up at the Arboretum. It was balmy out, springlike, an enchanting afternoon.

This picture is of the Arboretum's famous red elm tree. It sits behind the pavilion that I captured the morning sun through in December 19's House of the Rising Sun.

On this particular day, the elm looked just lovely against the blue and white winter sky. Blue like only February can bring. Like blue sky out of one of your happiest dreams. February has such days, even a few in a row, and they can be heartbreakingly beautiful. All the more so because such weather doesn't tend to last.

The green growth of spring hasn't really begun yet, but the air is alight with birds. Robins, this time. Dozens of them. So let us seize the day! And enjoy the warmth, and the sun in our faces, and the balmy freezes, and the blue sky, and the dreaming red elm tree.

The song: Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, The Dreaming Tree.