Spring in the winter?

Blooms have been popping out all over recently even though the temperature is around thirty degrees on this 29th day of January, 2007. Plants seem to be confused and have been producing blossoms months ahead of time this year. No doubt because the weather has not been what it normally is this time of year. The reality of a warmer than usual winter as predicted by the weather service has brought a change and confusion to the usual process that plants go through as they begin the spring wakeup process.

Better enjoy these while they are around because blooms may not be as prolific this spring since many have arrived during the cold well ahead of time!

Downtown Apex as you've never seen it...

On Saturday morning after the great chemical fire explosion of October 5, 2005 in Apex, NC, the town was literally completely deserted. My photo on the right shows downtown at high noon on Saturday morning after the fire started as downtown has never been seen.

I grew up in this small town many years ago and moved away following college and after 36 years moved back four years ago and found a town completely different from the one I moved away from in 1966. When I left the town had approximately 2,500 residents. Now it has over 33,000 and is growing fast. New subdivisions are all around this former small country town and most of the residents are now families of commuters making the daily trek to jobs with corporations located in Research Triangle Park.