April 1 buds

On April Fool's Day, spring was here and trees were budding. Then winter returned, with nighttime temperatues in the teens. These buds--and all buds in Nebraska--were destroyed.

Springtime is such a time of hope, but hopes are often fulfilled in fits and starts and backward steps and waiting. Just ask Abraham! We're still waiting for spring, hoping that either this year or next, there will be new buds to chase away the winter.

This budding tree is at Homestead National Monument of America, Beatrice, Nebraska.