Wild turkeys gobbling, blacktail deer foraging among the white oaks, amorous groundhogs spooning in the intermittent sunshine and colorful wildflowers in bloom.

On the first weekend of March I began thinking that we are finally getting close to springtime.

Like last weekend I ventured to the eastern end of the Columbia River Gorge. The grass widows were five weeks later than last year, but truly a welcoming sight.

At the bottom of some rimrock cliffs I enjoyed watching several pairs of groundhogs (large rodents weighing up to 10 pounds). This is early in their mating season.

One pair kept chasing easy other in circles and then standing on their hind legs and sparing.

Love shows itself in many mysterious ways.