4-25 Canada Violet, Garter Snake, Hummingbird

 4-25

Canada Violets are starting to flower. 

I also saw four different garter snakes during a two mile hike. This was by far the largest.

And, spurred on by the very early flowering of Columbine, I had put up a hummingbird feeder and was rewarded this morning when the earliest returnee I've yet recorded showed up.

John

4-24 Field Chickweed, Blue Mustard

 4-24

Both very common Field Chickweed

and the very rare Blue Mustard were flowering in a fallow cornfield this morning.

John

4-23 Downy Yellow Violets and Miterwort

 4-23

Downy Yellow Violets are starting to flower

and Miterwort with its tiny 'snow flake' flowers is at its peak.

John

4-22 Toothwort and Eastern Tent Caterpillars

 4-22

Both Common and Cut-leaved Toothworts have been in flower for several days but I have yet to coordinate my visits with the warmth and sunlight they need to put their best face forward.

Cut-leaved Toothwort

Common Toothwort

Eastern Tent Caterpillars are active. Their egg hatch is synchronous with bud break. Host trees include apple and cherry.

John

4-21 Early Low Blueberries and Wood Anemone

 4-21

Early Low Blueberries are opening a few flowers

and Wood Anemone, AKA Wind Flower was awaiting only full sun to spread its petals.

John

4-20 Dwarf Ginseng and Squirrel Corn

 4-20

 Dwarf Ginseng is a common damp woods species.

Shaded ledges and rich woods are home to Squirrel Corn.

John

4-19 Long-spurred Violet, Wild Columbine, Jack-in-the-pulpit

 4-19

Long-spurred Violets favor shaded woodland slopes.

Wild Columbine likes dry woods, rocky cliffs and ledges.

And Jack-in-the-pulpit frequents rich wet woods, swamps and peat bogs.

John

4-18 Hobblebush and Garlic Mustard

 4-18

Hobblebush, AKA Witch Hobble, is starting its flowering. The large outer blossoms now open have no reproductive parts. The much smaller true flowers in the center have yet to open.

And the despised alien Garlic Mustard is opening a few flowers.

John

4-17 American Fly Honeysuckle and Trailing Arbutus

 4-17

American Fly Honeysuckle is starting to flower.

Trailing Arbutus, AKA Mayflower, is also opening a few of its clustered pink flowers.

John

4-16 Spicebush, Shadbush and Wild Ginger

 4-16

Today a lot of Spicebush

and an occasional Shadbush are in flower.

I also found Wild Ginger in a location suitable for photography. For a week or so I've been seeing it only on high inaccessible ledges.

John

4-15 Field Pansy, Wild Strawberry and Cowslips

 4-15

 Field Pansies

and Wild Strawberries

were among the species to flower in a sun drenched field today.

In a wet area Cowslips or Marsh Marigolds

were providing their own bit of sunshine.

John

4-14 Many, many flowers

4-14

Among the species flowering today were Lesser Celandine,

Rock Cress,

Red Trillium,

Blue Cohosh

and Trout Lily, AKA Dogtooth Violet.

Queen Bumble Bees (not pictured) were flying and Fiddleheads were at a stage tempting to foragers.

John 

4-13 Violets and Bluet

 4-13

Common Blue Violets may be either blue or - as in this case - white with blue markings.

Round-leaved Yellow Violets are brightening woodlots.

And a few Bluets, AKA quaker Ladies, are popping up in lawns.

John

4-12 Kidneyleaf Buttercup and Shepherd's Purse

 4-12

Small-flowered Crowfoot, AKA Kidneyleaf Buttercup (Rununculus abortivus) is opening a few flowers and the flowering season of Shepherd's Purse is well underway.

John

Kidneyleaf Buttercup 

4-11 Great Blue Heron

 4-11

Today a Great Blue Heron was fishing in a Dummerston pond.

Also seen but not photographed: an Osprey in Brattleboro and forsythia in flower in Putney!

John

4-10 Infant moth

 4-10

The Infant, a day flying moth, scientific name Archiearis infans, is often airborne before the snow has fully melted. Host plants for the moth are birches and aspens.

John

4-9 Dandelions and Solitary Bees

 4-9

A few Dandelions are opening and Solitary Bees are active. These little bees are important pollinators.

John

4-8 Poplar catkins

 4-8

Polar catkins are unfurling. 

Also seen, a Mourning Cloak butterfly which flew too erratically for me to capture a picture.

John

4-7 Spring Beauty

 4-7

A diligent search turned up one Spring Beauty in flower. Soon woodlots will be carpeted with these attractive and welcome early birds!

John

4-6 Daphne

 4-6

Daphne, an escape cultivation, is opening a few flowers.

I also saw - but could get no picture of - two Painted Turtles.

And Peepers were sounding off today in a wet area off Camp Arden Rd.

John

4-3 Speckled Alder and Pussy Willow

 4-3

The catkins of Speckled Alder and Pussy Willow are both expanding noticable.

John

4-2 Bloodroot

 4-2

An occasional Bloodroot is in flower. I see them at the base of ledges and tucked in against the foundations of buildings, places with good solar gain.

And, there was a Woodcock 'peenting' in a nearby field last night.

John

4-1 Gill-o'er-the-Ground

 4-1

Gill-o'er-the-Ground, AKA Ground Ivy and Creeping Charlie, has just opened a few flowers.

John