The few brave flowers which have blossomed probably wished they could generate heat like the skunk cabbage can. Otherwise they need a tent with a heater to weather another night below freezing. The skunk cabbage have the ability to metabolically generate heat by cyanide resistant cellular respiration which can raise the temperature about 20 degrees.
Warm Skunk Cabbage
The little American red squirrel might be smaller than the gray squirrels but the little squirrel can produce some very loud sounds, especially if I an interrupting its adventures.
American Red Squirrel
It actually warmed into the 60s today but without the sunshine, it didn’t feel like a nice spring day although the winds blew in the return of the barn swallows. Now I will have to deal with swooping birds when going in to the barn as they like making their nests there.
Return of the Barn Swallows
The temperature is supposed to be warmer tomorrow, but this calf came a day too soon on a cold rainy evening. And it will be a while before the pasture is green for the calf to race around kicking up her heels on a sunny day.
Cold New Calf
The rain yesterday and the 50 degree temperature today thawed out some other frogs and they added their voices down at the pond making it sound more and more like spring.
More Frog Sounds
At least today it is rain showers and not falling snow, but I still haven’t spotted a wildflower blooming yet so hopefully the April showers will bring May flowers as April is rather barren yet.
Missing Wet Blossom
Waking up and not finding a new layer of snow was a welcome relief and having some sunshine for part of the day was an extra bonus. Although traces of snow can be found, a few hardy spring peepers welcomed the forty degree day by raising their chirping voices down at the pond for the first time this spring.
Spring Peeper Peeps Spring
Big snowflakes fell again today and with the temperatures below freezing again, it is getting harder to remember that it is supposed to be spring and not winter. And I’m not sure when the snow and ice will be off the beaches to even make sand castles instead of snow castles.
Sand Castle
I saw a rabbit on my lawn yesterday but not today. I suppose the bunny was too busy hiding Easter eggs this early morning and he probably needed a long nap in the afternoon, although there was no dandelion greens or clovers for a snack this year as there was another dusting of snow this evening again.
Missing Bunny
Finally I found the first blossoms of spring which have somehow survived the below freezing nights and days, but probably because they were next to my basement door where some heat escaped out of the house.
Surviving Scilla Siberica
