Reinforcement of hope

Last year my lovely wife bought me an Amaryllis for Christmas.  It put up leaves but no flower.  It died back and in the Spring I put it outside where it regenerated another nice flock of leaves.  Then last Fall it died back and we brought it in.  In early Winter it produced a swelling bud.  That transformed into leaves, and now into 4 count them 4 beautiful flowers.  All while on top of the washing machine.  Fortunately there is a window there but what glorious flowers.

I guess patience is a virtue that can be rewarded, in this case with flowers of this magnitude.
They must be 5-6 inched across.
Nice Easter present.

Fuzzy trees

Yesterday I noticed that the trees are suddenly fuzzy.  I look for this every year as a sure harbinger of spring. I am so used to the naked branches that I cannot remember what a fully leafed tree looks like.  My street actually becomes a tunnel by Summer.
Yes I know the Crocci are up and the tulips and daffodils are leafing out but it is the fuzzy trees that for me actually heralds Spring.