There was very few wildflowers to pick to put in a May Day basket this year as the Bloodroots leaves are just poking out but there is no hint of the Spring Beauties this spring yet.
Lost Spring Beauties
Picture of the Day for April 30, 2022
A little over a hundred miles to the south of my place, my sister spotted the first grosbeak back for the season. I haven’t seen one yet but the Yellow-rumped Warblers as been around for about a week, although they have been at suet feeder a lot since the cold, wet spring hasn’t provided a lot of insects for their snacks. The Yellow-rumped Warbler have two distinct subspecies – the “Myrtle” Warbler of the eastern U.S. with a white throat and “Audubon’s” Warbler of the mountainous West with a yellow throat.
Yellow-rumped “Myrtle” Warbler
Picture of the Day for April 29, 2022
The snow glories are finally making their appearance, a month later than normal. Hopefully with the April rain showers, more May flowers will make an appearance too.
Slow Snow Glories
Picture of the Day for April 28, 2022
The cold and wet spring has the chipmunk hiding more and not adventuring out except during the few hours of sunshine. And since it has been so cold, I don’t have any plants on the porch for them to dig up and throw the dirt around.
Chilly Chipmunk
Picture of the Day for April 27, 2022
For a few brief minutes, the sky was colorful this morning and I wonder what the ducks thought when their water turned pink.
April Pink Sunrise
Picture of the Day for April 26, 2022
The one 60 degree day on Saturday helped to nudge spring a little bit as I noticed a warbler back today as well as the grass starting to green up some after the rain. At noon there was some buds of the Snow Glories and by this evening, one blossom had opened. The first wildflower buds of the Hepatica are ready to open but look a bit weary like they were frozen. It was in the 20s last night and will be again tonight so the flowers probably wished they waited another week before emerging.
Frozen Flower
Picture of the Day for April 25, 2022
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
Picture of the Day for April 24, 2022
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
Picture of the Day for April 23, 2022
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
Picture of the Day for April 22, 2022
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
