The honey bees are hungry.

Those venturing out from their colonies as the temperatures edge toward 55 degrees or more aren't finding much. It's the dead of winter. Spring seems so distant.

But wait, the flowering quince is blooming.

The flowering quince (genus Chaenomeles) from the rose family (Rosaceae) is among the first flowers of the new year to bloom.  The soft pinks loaded with gold--yellow pollen--are the best!

There's no argument from the honey bees.

Somehow or another, spring doesn't seem so distant.