It’s been a week since I took this photo. I participated in a group bird walk, and when I came upon this serene scene, it stopped me in my tracks.
The morning sun highlighted the tall hardwood trees elevated above a bend in the North River. Their leaves were still unfolding. The combination of the green grass and the fresh and tender leaves shouted “greening up,” a term used especially in springtime when landscapes come alive with new growth.
Clearly, in this photo, green is the dominant color, especially in the reflections on the river’s calm water. This is even though this area of Virginia is listed as being in extreme drought.
Now, a week later, all those leaves are completely unfurled. Is it my imagination, or is the “greening up” unfolding more quickly than in the past? In a little more than a week, the landscape has gone from mostly bare trees to full canopies, which seems a bit short.
Regardless, nature does her thing, and we reap the eye-catching rewards.
© Bruce Stambaugh 2026
Roadkill Crossing 