The Return of the Chipmunks

We returned to Reston this afternoon to find that a few things had changed in the warmer days that we have been away.  The daffodils that were in bud are now in flower and the little blue scillas are more numerous..

...or at least they were until we had some visitors at dusk this evening who may have polished them off..

It seems remarkable that these creatures have survived such a hard winter and they do look very thin.

The most exciting change since we left is the return of the chipmunks.   These tiny creatures - considerably smaller and quicker than the squirrels - have been in hibernation since October and hence this is the first one that I have seen in the five months since I arrived here.  David managed to capture it as it paused when darting across our neighbour's garden.

And finally, back to Mobile Bay and a few more pictures of the rather beautiful and tranquil Asian Garden at Bellingrath Gardens..

These turtles were enjoying sunning themselves at the side of the lake by the Japanese bridge and in the shallows..