Crocus

A sudden burst of colour, and they're here!  Crocus are amazing little flowers, and they cheer me up every time I see them, because I only see them after the winter is over.  Almost everything on the ground is brown and faded after being under the winter snow.  But these little guys just push through all that into the sunlight.  Bravo!

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/640
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Gold Moss sedum

It's also called biting stonecrop, but I think Gold Moss sounds so much better!  This is the second bit of green to appear in the garden, after the snow drops and crocus.  It's hardy stuff - it handles codl, ice, sun and rain in any amount that comes.  It is quite invasive, so I have to keep an eye on where it heads.  Don't want it to choke out the day lilies!

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	38.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 76.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/320
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Edit: This is my 1000th post. I never imagined I would find a thousand photos. I owe a big thank you to the City Daily community for encouraging me.

A clutch of eggs

We get our eggs from the Greenmarket these days, and unlike factory eggs, these come from a variety of chicken (and duck!) breeds.  It's interesting that the chicken eggs come in so many different colours, but I've never seen a duck egg coloured anything but white.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	40.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 80.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/20
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	800
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Sumac buds

Another rhizome plant, the sumac is a very common sight any place the mower doesn't get to on a regular basis.  These plants grow very quickly, and once established are very hard to get rid of.  I understand that the berries are edible but I never tried it.  Maybe this autumn will be my chance!  I think it is very cool that the new leaves will bud right where the old ones dropped off.   And that will be very soon by the looks of these stems.

Lens	Minolta MD 50mm f/1.4
F Number	unrecorded, probably f/4
Focal Length	50.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/250
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Cattails

Cattails are a common plant here anywhere there is a marshy area.  The rhizomes are said to be edible but I have not tried them myself.  They grow very quickly in the spring, but this puffy head is all that's left over the winter.

Lens	Minolta MD 50mm f/1.4
F Number	unrecorded
Focal Length	50.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/320
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	-0.66
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Festival of the Equinox

The City Daily Photo community has been experimenting with mid-month theme days and this one is perfectly suited to me - the Equinox.  Do check out the other submissions from all over the world - there are some incredibly creative photographers in our community!

I approached the theme literally - as usual - and strove to depict balance.  The trees are roughly equidistant from the edges of the frame, there's about as much water as land and about as much ice as water if we consider the snow on the ground.  More philosophically, the ducks - male and female - are mates.  They've weighed the benefits of migrating against the costs and decided to brave the ice and snow in order to have first pick of the nesting sites.  Their survival and their offspring's is in the balance.  Drama right here in the middle of the city.

Lens	Minolta MD 50mm f/1.4
F Number	unrecorded, probably f/4
Focal Length	50.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/100
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	-0.66
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Last year's fruit

This was taken on the 8th of March - the same as yesterday's photo.  This is 13:48 - only 4 hours after yesterday's!

Lens	Minolta MD 50mm f/1.4
F Number	f/8
Focal Length	50.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/640
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Spring snow

It's not officially spring, but it's pretty close.  This snow fell on the 8th of March.  It's all gone now.  Spring snow doesn't last.

Lens	Minolta MD 50mm f/1.4
F Number	unrecorded; probably f/4
Focal Length	50.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/250
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	+0.33
Flash	Off, Did not fire

The seasons change once again.  The first snowdrop has appeared in my front yard.  They are tiny, and seem fragile, yet they withstand freezing temperatures and are always the first flower in the spring.

Lens	Minolta MD 50 f/1.4
F Number	1.4
Focal Length	50.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/4000
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire