Spring comes alive in the Shenandoah Valley (2017)

On Easter Sunday we spent the day in Orange and Charlottesville and decided to take the much longer way home via Skyline Drive. We entered the Shenandoah National Park at Charlottesville and drove a while until the rain continued became more steady. It was getting late anyway so we exited at Swift Run Gap (Route 33). 

Along Skyline Drive we stopped several times to see spring coming alive in the Blue Ridge Mountains. A reprieve of the rain even gave us a double rainbow, which faded quickly but the single rainbow lasted for a long time (we watched it along the roads after we left the park).

Double rainbow before it faded completely

Single rainbow

The colors of spring are emerging

The sun sure was trying to peek out during sunset but there was a thick cloud cover between storms

Signs of spring in Fairfax County (2016)

I was so pleased to see after the three feet of snow melted that the crocus and daffodil stems were still peeking out and even thriving. As a bonus, a hyacinth spotting was there too. 

But then the temps dropped again, but that hasn't stopped the flowers. I was pleased to see several crocus bloom on Sunday and then multiply on Monday. Also spotted some daffodils in a nearby wooded area that look like they'll be blooming soon.

First crocus spotting of the year. On Sunday we had rain - took this shot before it started really coming down.

Taken on Monday

By Monday many more crocus had opened up

Another one taken on Sunday as the rain was coming in

Hopefully won't be too long now!