Unusually Early Winter Blooms

This winter the Pacific Northwest has been the warmest on record — and there are early blooming flowers everywhere. I have been documenting first flowers sightings for over 15 years now, and this is definitely the earliest date I have seen many of these flowers in bloom across Portland. The sun has been shining and mountain snowpack is rapidly disappearing; a troubling trend as drought sets in across Oregon.

And yet, the flowers are so beautiful and always give me hope during the short, dark days of winter. I look forward to spring and eventually summer — knowing that the light will return and with it warmer days and the abundance that nature provides.