While my pond might have reached ‘ice out’ and is overflowing with the recent rain, some larger lakes and ponds are covered or partially covered in ice.
Ice Not Out Yet
Picture of the Day for March 15, 2016
My pond is finally reached “ice out” stage and the tadpoles and some tiny fish are swimming around, but no frog sighting yet. Open water means I could get some visiting waterfowl likes some ducks, besides the geese I had last week, but my pond is too small to get any visitors like trumpeter swans.
Graceful Trumpeter Swan
Picture of the Day for March 14, 2016
The first spring wildflower has emerged, although I had to travel two hours south to see it. In wetland areas, the skunk cabbage flower buds can warm up to 70 degrees, which thaws the ground and melts the snow to allow them to be one of the first wildflowers to bloom in early spring.
The flowers of the skunk cabbage appear before the leaves and the maroon hood is the spathe and the many petal-less flowers form the spiky spadix. The spathe opens more when the flower matures to allow more pollinators access. Its name comes from its unpleasant odor it emits to attract pollinators that are attracted to rotting meat. The scent is especially noticeable when the plant is bruised.
The Smelly Skunk Cabbage
Picture of the Day for March 13, 2016
The sunset will be later this evening due to the daylight saving time change, although the rain probably will prevent seeing one this evening, but the time change is another reminder that spring is coming and that makes it easier to take picture outside without fingers and camera freezing up!
Later Sunset
Picture of the Day for March 12, 2016
As winter has released its hold for a few days, one can examine the land for destruction caused by the harsh winter winds. I have noticed a lot of dead trees that have fallen this winter, some which are blocking my trails, and I’m sure there are a few less old wooden structures now too. And when they are gone, a piece of history vanishes too.
Reminders from the Past
Picture of the Day for March 11, 2016
With the ground covered in white again, but this time from frost instead of snow, the critters and insects are burrowed in again. The cloudless day will allow the sun to warm the temperatures and soon the chipmunks will be running around again and the flies will hang on the siding, but most likely won’t see too any bees or butterflies as there is no nectar for them to find yet. And last year, the Northern Crescent butterfly wasn’t seen in my county until May 9th so have a couple of months to wait for its appearance.
(I did see a butterfly this afternoon but wasn’t close enough to identify want kind it was though but it thinks spring is here – at least for a couple of days. Also saw the first bluebird today too.)
Northern Crescent
Picture of the Day for March 10, 2016
Although most of the snow has melted, the pond still has some ice on it and when I scared the geese when cleaning the birdhouse, they walked across the ice to the other side of the pond. So I haven’t heard any frogs croaking yet, as the areas where there is open water, it feels rather icy yet.
No Croaking Yet
Picture of the Day for March 9, 2016
Although the wind chill this morning is below freezing, yesterday was abnormally warm so I ventured outside in the afternoon. After watching the bald eagle circling overhead and watching the three geese resting on the edge of my pond, I set out to clean the birdhouses. And while I didn’t have to stand in any snow to clean the houses, I did have to skirt around some snow drifts and you would feel the air temperature change when next to the drifts.
Normally I have to evict some rodents from the houses and at times it is hard to get them to leave, so this time I took my camera to take pictures of the field mice and didn’t find any little four-legged critters in the houses. So halfway on my trek of cleaning the houses, I left my camera behind so of course I did eventually found a pair of ‘cute’ looking mice in one house but probably good I didn’t have my camera then as the deer had rutted up the path so much that in one spot I sank and splashed mud all over me and my clothes.
So after throwing my clothes in the wash and taking a shower, I ate some ice cream on the porch barefoot without a coat or sweatshirt on – something that doesn’t have very often in early March!
Time for Spring Cleaning
Picture of the Day for March 8, 2016
Most of the snow melted overnight around my house, just leaving some drifts and snow in the shaded areas, so the creeks, streams and rivers should be running full as they carry the melted white stuff away. And waterfalls will be filled with gushing springtime water instead of the light flow during the fall, although this High Falls on the Baptism River is still iced over but will eventually come roaring back to life.
Autumn on the Baptism River
Picture of the Day for March 7, 2016
More bare ground is peeking through as the warmer temperature overnight is helping to melt the snow, but still no wildflower to be seen for a while – pink or white ones. The Indian Pipe flower would be hard to spot amongst the snow.
Indian Pipes in White
