3-30

This afternoon a Bumblebee visited my Andromeda bush. It was the first I'd seen this spring. And Gill-0'er-the-ground, Dandelions, and Bluets have started flowering in my lawn.

John

3-25

Daphne, a garden cultivar gone wild, was flowering along Green Mountain Camp Road this morning.

John

3-24

Mayflowers - which could more precisely be called Marchflowers this year - can be found flowering in warmer locations.

These were beside Camp Arden Road.

John

3.19.12 The summer-like temperatures and longer days of sunshine are providing energy for the emergence of many species. On a walk today, bunches of blue or white hepaticas were in bloom on a rocky hillside; wood frogs were chorusing in a beaver-constructed narrow pond; a Sallow moth, pictured here (probably the Jocose Sallow) was spotted despite its remarkable camouflage; and Eastern comma(the orange-colored photo) and Mourning cloak butterflies were darting about.

3-18

Phoebes are back! I saw them along the West River this morning. By mid-afternoon they were in my yard.

As the afternoon warmed up, a lone Hepatica blossom opened.

One Palm Warbler was foraging with the local junco flock.

And a Mourning Cloak butterfly was wafted through on the day's mild breezes.

It was a taste of spring!

John

3.14.12 While looking for possible duck arrivals, this muskrat swam in circles, ever closer to the edge of the pond where I was standing. It appears to be using a tunnel in the side of the pond that was used previously by the river otter that has visited the area in other years. This is the first time I've observed muskrat activity in this small pond.

3-13

At dusk the male Woodcock were putting on fine performances in the fields around my neighborhood.

John

3-12

Yesterday there were Killdeer on the Retreat Meadows.

Today the earliest of the early. Colt's Foot and Chickweed were both in flower along sunny roadsides.

John

3.11.12 Cedar waxwings make the rounds at this time of year, cleaning up neglected apples and other fruit. About a dozen of them turned their pale yellow breasts into the warm sun and dozed; the earth under the tree was littered with russet apple pumice and the air held the aroma of cider.
In the garden under the apple tree, kale that self-seeded last fall shows the beginnings of new growth.