A Departure from Spring

I was visiting friends in the Denver suburb of Centennial last weekend.  As anyone who has spent a lot of time in Denver knows, snow can fall at any time between Labor Day and Memorial Day.  (And it can be warm and sunny any day of the year).  So, 5 1/2 inches of snow on May 10 was not a shock.  Dawn revealed a landscape with soft edges and muffled sounds.  Really quite tranquil.  Nobody chillin' in the chaise lounges.

Thinking back, this was the biggest snowfall I have experienced since I left Denver 25 years ago!  And my car has never experienced anything like it...I've had the Solara since January 2008.

Inside my Solara it was actually kinda cozy, with the deep snow blanket letting in a soft light.

The Lizards, however, were floundering.  Here they are standing on the top of my car.

One of the prettiest results of fresh snow is the shroud of white it deposits on trees and branches.  The opportunities for abstract photos are endless.  Blow up the pic for the best detail.

Though this was a May snowfall, it was not a slushfest.  The temperature dropped into the upper 20s with strong north winds, and a bit of fairly dry snow blew under my friends' patio roof and covered some cushions.

This tree was already fully leafed out when it received its cloak of snow.

Tulips were buried.

Later in the morning...the sun is out.  This snow won't last long.  Most of it was gone by dusk...the rest vanished the following day.  The tulips and trees have recovered.  The snow fell Saturday night and Sunday morning...by Tuesday the temperature reached 70...normal for the date.  If you want to see dynamic weather, Denver's the place!

A small remnant of snow persists on a budding blue spruce...the state tree of Colorado.