Spring Is Branching Out

Although the official first day of Spring was three weeks ago here at Round The Bend it continues to branch out all over. After snow on Monday and Tuesday it is again warming up and the trees are budding out rather quickly. Today part of our lawn - the side on the warm side of the house - got mowed for the first time. As I sit with the sliding glass doors open I can feel a breeze that is neither warm nor too cold and carries the smell of new mown grass. I love the smell. Glancing out at the fresh cut lawn the green is vibrant where just last week only shoots of green were peeking through the dry brown landscape. My Bradford Pear tree still has blooms but my neighbor's tree that bloomed just a little sooner has lost most of its white blossoms and is leafing out quickly.

The finch are continuing to take all they can get from the feeders. They are beginning to lose most of their molten look and are becoming a more vibrant yellow. On drab days I can pick them out in the branches where they sit and patiently wait their turn to eat.

The Red Leafed Plum tree lost most of its blooms to the wind and snow earlier in the week. Soon a tree of lush red leaves will grace the front yard landscape.

The 'matchstick' buds of the Verbena are slowly bursting into bloom.

The Wisteria buds are beginning to get fuzzy - at least those in the sunshine. As a surveyed the branches I found a leaf somehow how gotten caught between the branches and formed this little hood over one of the stems and kept it warm all winter.

As I finish typing I can hear thunder rolling in the distance. Little warmer temperatures tomorrow and a little more ran and I bet I'll find spring branching out in other directions as well.

For more Nature Notes please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods by clicking here or the badge in my post.

Thursday's Nature Notes

Sitting here at my computer on Wednesday morning looking out my window I see the first gentle rain of spring falling silently refreshing the earth.
Each time the rain ceases the birds fly to the feeders for nourishment. The cardinals are there as always. Their brilliant red color made more vibrant by the grey overcast day. They’re sharing their seeds this morning with a couple of Red-Winged Blackbirds and some Grackles that have all shown up this week in the quest for food. The ever present Mourning Doves are content to munch on the seed falling to the ground and have begun pairing up in the treetops. Pine Siskins and Finch rally for position on the thistle feeders.
Flying toward the house I see a wide wingspan and grab my camera. For a couple of days now a vulture has circled. I haven’t yet been able to snap his photo. I see that he lands in a nearby tree and I watch and wait. He’s too far away to get a photo. Suddenly I see him leave his perch for the ground. I try quietly to open my sliding glass doors and slip out on the deck in hopes of catching a glimpse of him. Suddenly I realize the wet deck is cold to my bare feet. The warm weather of the previous days is gone. There isn’t time to rethink and go back for shoes. I slip quietly to the end of the deck and see Mr. Vulture just off in the woods. Just as I clicked my camera he flew in a blur of feathers. Next time. Maybe.
I can tell that the day is going to be mostly wet. I’m thankful I took a walk around the property yesterday to see all that’s happening. The first buds of the plum tree are starting to spring forth; their tiny blossoms miniature works of art. More of the daffodils are ready to emerge from bulbs that look as if they could burst at the touch. The smallest of the forsythia bushes are in complete bloom. Even the bugs have already found the little trumpet shapes and are feasting away.
Even though it is a wet cool day in March warm Spring days are ahead. The rain is falling gently, the earth is again coming to life and I find myself longing for green leaves on the trees, fireflys, fresh tomatoes from the garden and being outside looking up at the stars. It's all just beginning. For today I'll sit back and enjoy what is mine for the moment. When the rain stops I'll go out again and marvel at the surprises that no doubt await me.

For more Nature Notes please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods.