It’s equinox season: that blessed time of year when day equals night, and when, for us, the days are getting longer.

The full moon. The equinox.
It’s transition time in so many ways. Those wonderful winter trees, their tracery of twigs and branches transcribed against the sky are skeletal still: but only just.
This morning, on my way out, I noticed tightly furled leaf buds, glossy and taut on shrubs in the garden. Two hours later, coming back, the tender leaves had burst out, tiny and delicate, waiting to be toughened up and to grow in the mild spring air. It was very windy too – hence no photos.
Has spring sprung?

A late afternoon sky over the River Ure, just before the equinox.
Today’s Ragtag Challenge is Tracery.https://wp.me/p9YcOU-1ll
All photos apart from the first and the last one were taken walking through the parkland of Studley Royal, Fountains Abbey.
Loved your photographs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Stunning photos, Margaret. Amazing to see those leaves changing in such a short space of time. I was hoping to appreciate the equinox, with its super worm moon but sadly we were cloud covered. It made this post all the better though. And now I’m musing on what to do with that word – tracery…. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, my moon photo is a quick phone snapshot. By the time I’d gone in to get my camera, the cloud had descended. Tracery? Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thus far I have come up with a big fat Nothing! There’s still time!
LikeLike
It’s never too late, Sandra.
LikeLike
P.S. the final photo in your collection here should be hanging on the wall I think. A work of art!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gosh. Thanks. That’s the only picture I took that day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like that one tree that sticks up in one of the b&w photos and one of the color ones! All the photos are so pretty–and it isn’t that easy to get a pretty photo at this time year, in my experience. We have snow and howling winds so I will just take your word for spring’s arrival . . .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh poor you. You’ve had quite a tough winter I think? Nearly over? Then you can take springtime shots too.
LikeLike
It always amazes me how quickly the hawthorn leaves grow at this time of year. Just an hour makes a difference!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is astonishing, isn’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful. I love the glow of the last picture. I’m glad the days and nights have crept back to equal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, so am I. Enough was enough.
LikeLike
It is one of my favourite times of the year. I’m always truly amazed how fast everything grows, as if it just can’t wait to get going. Being 1000kms further south, spring is a bit more advanced than the UK, but nonetheless still beautiful. Love the B&W pictures.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Yes, early Spring was wonderful in France. Though I missed English daffodils.
LikeLike
Oh, my garden is absolutely heaving with daffodils and tulips. They seem to grow here so well and in fact all of the usual English spring bulbs thrive and multiply.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We were pretty much alone in having daffodils in our garden. Not a French thing, I think. But the wild daffodils out in the Pyrenees – they were something else- in unending carpets. Just wonderful.
LikeLike
WONDER-FULL…. I see it too – and it makes my heart glad!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mine too! Is winter really over?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yessssss, OUIIIIIII, jaaaaaaa, si! 👍🏻🧡🐞🐗🌼😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
Spring has definitely sprung in A-V, mimosa everywhere, and here in E Sx, magnolias not mimosa. I looked out for you at the march yesterday but didn’t see you. This was not such a daft idea as it sounds because on each of the 3 occasions we’ve met people we know from other parts of the country as well as locally. We’ve also met delightful strangers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, we met lots of people too (incuding people from Sussex), but quickly lost our own troupe- 19 coaches from Yorkshire. We didn’t even get as far as Trafalgar Square! Great day.
LikeLike
I love Studley Royal! 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Easy to love. And it’s our back yard. Lucky us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely photos, Margaret. We have little green leaves everywhere now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it’s suddenly happening, isn’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve captured the moment beautifully. A few hours of sunshine and it will be spring. It never ceases to amaze me how one minute it’s a few buds and the next it’s blossom everywhere. Surprise in my yard – some aubretia is out over the weekend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re obviously a Big Softie Southerner. Aubretia seems weeks away here. Bu the magnolia’s chancing it. Often this is risky.
LikeLike
Oo risky, there was a frost overnight even here. However, my back ‘bit’ seems to be oddly sheltered giving the aubretia an unexpected beneficial micro climate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really enjoyed these photos, Margaret, and the title “Tracery of twigs” is perfect. Our days are tipping towards winter now, but you must so be looking forward to spring getting properly underway as the days continue to lengthen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, longer, hopefully mood-enhancing days!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed – here’s hoping.
LikeLiked by 1 person