Most places I am a tourist, although I have lived numerous places. And usually if you have a camera draped around your neck, then it is assumed you must be a tourist. But if your camera is on a tripod, ah, you must be an expert. And so people ask you questions. The questions run the gamut, besides the common photography questions. Where does this road go? Have you been to that waterfall? What flower is this? Once in the early spring when I was photographing in the Smokies, a couple from the Northeast asked about a tree that they had been seeing numerous places. They said it was purple. And they tried to describe it, but I had my dunce hat on that day, and couldn't imagine what tree they were seeking to identify. Only later in the day, did I realize that they were talking about redbud trees.

There are a number of trees that announce spring: star magnolia, tulip magnolia (brown from the recent late frost), Bradford pear (in bloom now), and then redbud and dogwood. Now I have friends that don't care for this heavy pollen season, but I think the range of color is beautiful. And I'm ready for the next announcement of spring. We are all ready. By the way, today's photo is from northern Arkansas.