Spring is here

Look who has emerged from his den:

 

warm sun shines
on tortoise with grass stained lips    
fullness of spring

In this corner of the Sonoran desert, besides tortoises, ground squirrels are awake from their long winter naps.  Even though abundant mistletoe berries remain, Cedar Waxwings and Western Bluebirds seem to have left this area.  Robins can still be heard chattering while White-winged doves are arriving from Mexico.  For weeks, Cactus wrens and Cooper’s hawks have been building nests.  Trees, shrubs, cacti and grasses are spring green and some wildflowers are blooming.