Picture of the Day for May 10, 2013

The Bloodroot is fragile spring flower that develops and rises from the center of its curled leaf, opening in full sun, and closing at night. Like most members of the Poppy Family, it lasts for a relatively short time. The red juice from the underground stem was used by Indians as a dye for baskets, clothing, and war paint, as well as for insect repellent. The generic name, from the Latin sanguinarius, means bleeding. It was nice to finally see some new wildflowers blooming.

The Bloodroot

Picture of the Day for May 9, 2013

May 9, 2013

The snow has finally melted and this old barn is probably happy it doesn’t have the heavy snow on its roof anymore. Instead the grass is greening up and the barn might eventually get a new crop of hay under its roof.

Barn Ready for Summer

Picture of the Day for May 8, 2013

May 8, 2013

The flowers are finally emerging. The poor daffodils had popped up two months ago, only to be frozen and snowed on numerous times, but at last they have a chance to open their blossoms. Some wildflowers also emerged overnight. Maybe, just maybe, spring or summer has finally arrived.

Finally Spring

Picture of the Day for May 7, 2013

May 7, 2013

Picture of the Day No Comments

I think spring has been skipped over this year. The crocuses must have bloomed under the snow since I never saw any blossoms but the later bulbs are blooming. So it is going from winter to summer as today there is still a little snow but I already had a woodtick attached to me and a mosquito tried to bite me saying summer is here. The air is so moist from the melting snow that several times during the day the clouds had mini rainbows in them. They reminded me of northern lights even if I was looking south.

Rainbow Clouds

Picture of the Day for May 6, 2013

May 6, 2013

The birds are singing up a storm this morning especially this Brown Thrasher. I think they are happy the snow is melting and things are turning green again. Brown Thrashers are accomplished songsters that may sing more than 1,100 different song types and include imitations of other birds, including Chuck-will’s-widows, Tufted titmice, Northern Cardinals, Wood Thrushes, and Northern Flickers. Some sources state that it has up to 3,000 song chants. All I know is that he can get very loud but at least he doesn’t get off key too often.

Singing Brown Thrasher

Picture of the Day for May 5, 2013

May 5, 2013

The bluebirds are probably wondering why they came north when it keeps snowing in May but at least the snow has melted off the branches so they have a dry place to perch. Most years they would have their nest built and sitting on eggs by now but it has been rather chilly for that. I did see a pair of bluebirds checking out the birdhouses before the last snow.

The male Eastern Bluebird ‘shows off’ at his nest cavity to attract a female. He brings nest material to the hole, goes in and out, and waves his wings while perched above it. That is pretty much his contribution to nest building; only the female Eastern Bluebird builds the nest and incubates the eggs. But at least he does bring food to the babies so that the female doesn’t have to do all the work.

Chilly Bluebird

Picture of the Day for May 4, 2013

May 4, 2013

A few weeks ago, I sent my relatives a picture of showing how deep the snow was when I opened the garage door. And since the picture showed the inside the garage, one of my sweet, lovable aunts replied “For heaven sake, what is that shovel doing hanging on the wall. Shouldn’t that owner have been using it?”

Well that owner has been using it and used it too much this winter as I wore off several inches off the bottom of the poor worn out shovel. And I haven’t even shoveled all the snow from the last snow; the May snow.

Worn Out Shovel

Picture of the Day for May 3, 2013

May 3, 2013

This weather is not even for the birds, not with this much snow in May! The robins have had their tails snowed on more than three times already so where in the heck is spring!

Where is Spring?

Picture of the Day for May 2, 2013

May 2, 2013