A few days ago I noticed that several plants were breaking out of winter dormancy, which is not so unusual to see in south Louisiana as we have mild winters. Lately we've had day temps in the 60's and night temps in the 40's. Every now and then a cold front will move in and it will be cold, as in a day high of 40-50. Here are a few pictures from around my yard.

Here are pictures from two of my petunia hanging baskets. Last year's petunias set seeds and now the seeds are just beginning to grow. I planted these petunias 2 years ago and they always set seed! In a few months I'll have blooms.

This is the only flower in my garden! This is a dianthus and it mainly blooms in colder months.

Here is one of my hydrangeas putting out its first leaves of spring. The hydrangeas don't realize its still winter; I guess they have been fooled into thinking that it is spring since we haven't had very cold weather.

This is a new leaf bud on my Red Buckeye tree (Aesculus pavia). Its a slow growing tree and is always the first tree to leaf out in spring. Red Buckeyes also have very pretty red flowers. I'll be sure to post pictures of them whenever it blooms.

I live in south Louisiana, about 20 miles south of Baton Rouge. Saint Gabriel is a small town that sits across from the Mississippi River. We live on River Road. River Road is a very long road that follows the river as it winds its way down to the Gulf of Mexico. All along River Road is a levee that keeps the Mississippi River from flooding. Here are some pictures that I took this morning when I went for a walk up and over the levee and through the woods to the river.

The levee side that faces my house is nothing but grass, but the backside is solid concrete (for reinforcement).

Once you cross the levee, you will see a path that leads to the river.

I love cardinals. I spotted him while walking along the path and he stayed still long enough for me to snap his picture. He wasn't close to me...I had to use all of my digital zoom and most of my optical zoom! I also saw a female cardinal, but wasn't able to get a picture of her.

The cardinals were seen in the trees growing in this overflow pond. Every year the river floods (due to snow melt up north) and after the water recedes, a small pond is formed where the water wasn't able to drain out.

I'm not sure what kind of vine this is, but it was growing all around the pond.

Blackberry vines have pretty purple fall foliage.

The Mississippi River! Its very wide and deep here.

Fall color from sycamore trees. Sycamore trees are one of my favorite trees. I love how the bark peels off to reveal white wood underneath.