We rode the train to Freinsheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, for another blooming spring festival. The people were cool, and I met an older woman who grew up in Freinsheim while walking through the apple orchards. She did not speak English, and although I made it clear, I don’t speak Germanl, but she bent my ear anyway. We communicated fairly well. She explained how the apple trees are blooming 40 days earlier than normal, which explained the cuttings from the pruned tree being in full bloom. The farmers pruned the budding trees, and the cuttings bloomed out of desperation. I also got her to explain how they irrigate the orchards and rows of freshly planted cabbage and lettuce she pointed out and identified as we walked by. When we caught up to Tristan, the woman had another captive ear who could converse much better than I could. She was really sweet to talk to us, an she seemed to need people to talk to.

Sinrise

One of Tristan’s neighbor’s gnome

Another neightor’s mushrooms

I saw more Great Tits on my morning walk before heading to Freinsheim.

“All aboard!” Only us usins were on the train that came from Homburg.

Just another rock in the wall!

Freisheim has an intact medieval wall.

White Stork

Then the festival went to the blooming birds.

Hallo Paparazzo, ich sehe dich!

Bloomin’ blooming cuttings

For those people who didn’t want to walk

Gray Heron

This Eurasian Kestrel was fanning its tail and fluttering its wings to tread air like a giant hummingbird. I’ve never seen a raptor tread air before today.

Eurasian Kestrel

Common Buzzard

Eurasion Magpie

Whatcha Carion, Crow?

Another Eurasion Kestrel

Lizard love on the tracks at golden hour

Atlas put himself behind bars. He was feeling like a kriminal Kitty.