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.

The trip was long. And the clouds so thick that I could not even see the ocean we were flying over. And then the plane banked and flew down through a hole in the clouds and I looked out the window as the late afternoon sun illuminated the green lushness of Maui. Before, I couldn't see anything but the clouds. I find myself too often giving in to the clouds, and not noticing the sunshine breaking through. Maybe that's trite. But I find I need to be reminded frequently.

According to the calendar, spring arrived a few days ago. I love spring. I have longed for spring. This flower showed up before spring began.

This flower is everywhere. It is found virtually around the globe. Called a weed, it defies destruction or eradication. The leaves are toothed, like a lion. Hence the name "dentdelion" or now commonly dandelion. I think the end of each petal has a jagged tooth resemblance as well.

I've given up trying to get rid of it. It's so resilient. And if I relax about it being here and there, I admit there is something nice about the dandelion. It is a cheery color, has a pleasant fragrance, and matures into a ball of translucent seeds. Remember making chains of the stems, and rubbing the flower on your cheek, and blowing the seeds into the air?

I think I will just enjoy them. I did as a kid. Why not now?

This photo was shot at the Dallas (Texas) Botanical Garden. I'm beginning to notice a pattern here, water is the central theme of many of the photos posted this month. This image was created by shooting through a curtain of water, distorting the plants and flowers on the other side. You can see some detail of the background in the lower left corner. But in the rest of the image the water bends the light, creating patterns, and impressions of something else entirely. Something new comes from the water. Ah, a baptismal motif, maybe.

He looks mad. Maybe. He is wet. He could be happy, if birds can be happy.

The bluejay chose this birdbath. The bird chose to get in the water.

It may be overstating that this bird made choices that resulted in being a wet bird.

But I don't think it's overstating to say that choices have consequences.

Some choices mean you could get wet. And happy. I think I'm ready for the pool. Move over, bird.

One of my earliest memories as a kid is riding the merry-go-round in Logansport, Indiana. This photo is of a carousel in suburban St. Louis.

While looking at this picture, I noticed that the carousel is turning counter-clockwise. As I remembered other carousels I have seen, I wondered whether they all turn in that direction. And the fact is that, yes, all carousels in the US turned counter-clockwise. Between two and three thousand carousels were constructed in the United States with less than 150 operating today. And of those, less than 10 have operating brass ring machines. Those who were riding on the outer carousel figures could stretch out their right hand to grab a ring from a mechanical arm. Most of the rings were steel, but if you got the brass ring, you were rewarded with a free ride. It was just random luck.

I do have a brass ring from the Logansport carousel (that I purchased as a memento).

I don't consider myself lucky. I am blessed. And I have received more than a free ride.

This is the Santa Fe bridge over the Mississippi River at Fort Madison, Iowa.

I recall this day was as stormy as it looks. What you can't see is that this is a double-decker bridge with rail traffic on the lower deck. It is the longest double-deck swing bridge in the world, (266 feet), with an additional 1,080 feet of truss bridge. River traffic takes precedence over the rail and auto traffic. So if the bridge has swung open for barges, the wait could be 15-20 minutes. A toll is charged by the BNSF Railroad, which owns the bridge, for those traveling from Iowa to Illinois, but not the other way around. So you can go to Iowa for free, but it will cost you to return to Illinois. Those of us who have lived in Illinois may see a parallel to the economic problems of the state. And this has been going on for a long time as the bridge was built in 1927.

It was probably sunny, too, when I was headed over to Iowa earlier in the day.

The Alton Lock and Dam (#26) on the Mississippi River.

Fifteen barges moving south. I find the process of changing the level of the water in the lock fascinating, but I don't usually have this vantage point from above the lock. This is the next to last lock and dam on the Mississippi River as it journeys south to the Gulf of Mexico. It would seem that "going with the flow" would make for an easy trip. But there are obstacles and turns and other traffic headed north. I suspect that few things, if any, are easy.