When I think of trees with needles, I don’t picture them bare during the winter but Tamarack trees do turn a pretty yellow in the fall before they shed their needles. In the spring, new growth emerges with 10 to 20 needles per cluster and make the tree green again.
Tamarack New Needles
With the mention of snow and ice in the forecast and below freezing temperatures at night, it is a good thing that I haven’t spotted any hummingbirds back yet. But I bet some of the other birds that have returned wished they were still down south, including this Sandhill Crane.
Sandhill Crane
While chipmunks might be cute, like this one perched on the rock, they dug out my poor flowers and buried one with its blossoms down in the hole with its roots up in the air. They also managed to dig up my newly planted seeds in less then 48 hours. They have the whole yard and woods to dig up but they seem to like my pots on the porch better.
Troublesome Chipmunk
A few miles can make a big difference in the variety of wildflowers found. This trailing plant with clusters of sweet-smelling pink or white blooms which are only about a half inch can be found growing under tall conifers and deciduous trees in acidic soil. Trailing arbutus, also called mayflower or mayflower trailing arbutus, is an ancient plant that has existed since the last glacier period. According to folklore, this flower was the first spring-blooming plant the pilgrims saw after their first winter in the new country.
The seeds of the plant are dispersed by ants, but the plant rarely produces fruit and trailing arbutus wildflowers are nearly impossible to transplant and is protected by law in many states. It has become rare in areas so it is a treat to stumble across some.
Trailing Arbutus
The few sunny days lately are a treat from the rainy weather and gives a chance of seeing a pretty sunset too.
April Sunset
The warmer and sunny day had butterflies fluttering around the yard and the cats unsuccessfully tried to catch them. The day also heard the noisy sound from tiny wren now that they have returned this spring.
Tiny Wren
My birds were complaining that their feeder was empty today. It seems like all my pets are demanding – my cats, even my frog, and birds – all wanting food, petting or other attention. Even these steers are wondering where their feed is and why their dinner is late.
Where’s the Feed
The wildflowers seem very slow this spring, even though the snow left earlier than some years but apparently the flowers are like me wanting warmer and sunnier spring days. The was a big delay between the first wildflower until the bloodroots finally emerged.
Season First Bloodroots
Listening to the cold rain falling this evening made me feel chilled even in a warm house. These log buildings looked like they are chinked well so they may be able to keep the damp winds out and warm inside from the fireplace. These buildings were the living quarters for married enlisted men at Fort Wilkins in Copper Harbor, Michigan which was built in 1844.
Married Enlisted Soldiers Quarters
Many people are scrambling to finish their taxes today, even though they had three extra days to file them. The April 15 filing date was pushed later because the 15th and Emancipation Day landed on the weekend which extended the filing date.
My tree frog, ‘Mr. Linty’, was ’emancipated’ although I am not sure my unexpected and unusual house pet was real thrilled with his re-entry to the outdoors since now he won’t have flies delivered to his indoor home which made it easy for him to catch his dinner. His indoor apartment, lined with moss even had a swimming pond. The last check this evening found him on the outside porch wall just above the lip of his container so he hasn’t wandered too far yet.
Linty’s Emancipation
