Spring has... well, hopefully come

I started this post a few weeks ago, hoping to put up pictures of beautiful blooming flowers, which it seems have been popping up for at least a month now.  But then...

Yesterday (April 30th) was Valborg - the day when Swedes celebrate the end of winter and the official beginning of summer.  It's always on the last day of April and is celebrated with extra fervor in university towns with the usual shennanigans of creating large styrofoam rafts that are ran down the river and over the dams.  It's a half-day for most people, unless you work at the universities, and then you have the day off.  And of course, after a day of celebrating, you need the next day to recover.  And this year, since the recovery day was on Thursday, Friday is a day off too because who wants to come back to work for just one day.  You must admit Swedes know how to work a work week  ;)

Anyway, yesterday was a fairly nice - around 50 degrees F - and sunny, until evening.  And then the rain and snow started.  Yes, snow!  Not just a few flurries, but huge flakes that stuck and accumulated a few inches.  Sheesh!  Fortunately it melted away by 10 this morning, but we wore winter coats and stocking caps to swim class this morning.  Hopefully this is the last of the white stuff because I'm planning on washing up and packing away our winter weather gear tomorrow.

That being said, spring has definitely come early to Sweden this year (with the exception of the snow last night).  The leaves are budding, the daffodils have been peeping for a week, the tulips are almost open, and the lilac bushes are preparing to spread their sweet scent.  Last weekend, temperatures were in the 70s, which usually only occurs in the height of summer in Sweden.  We're hoping this summer will be every bit as lovely as last summer  :)

crocuses in the park by our apartment

leaves starting and flowers potted all along the river

the green (and red tulips) are quickly returning

this walkway has been a different color combination every spring - beautiful!

cherry tree blossoms on the way to Willys - our local grocery store