It looked like winter again this morning with the ground covered by snow. During a walk through the woods on Saturday, I searched for any signs of the hepaticas poking up as they normally one of the first wildflowers to bloom around my place. I found no hint of them yet and it was a good thing since they would have been covered in cold snowflakes today.
No Hepaticas Yet
The skunk cabbage is able to generate heat by cellular respiration and is able to melt its way through the icy ground to bloom early in the spring. That heat may also help spread the odor that is in its name. It might need that heat to melt the snow that fell today.
Eastern Skunk Cabbage
A pair of geese were in the creek under the fallen willow tree at the farm and another pair of geese made a visit to my pond. I spotted a red-winged blackbird today but it might want to head back south if there is much snow tomorrow. And in a few more weeks, they will be squawking at me when I approach my pond as they like to nest in the cattails there.
Red-Winged is Back
Most of the snow has melted except in the ditches, some drifts and in the woods, although some snow predicted for this week. But the ice is melting on my pond, creating some open water so hopefully soon some ducks will return and nest in the waiting duck boxes.
Waiting for Arrivals
It is time the time of year to look for pussy willows poking out as spring approaches. They name comes from those soft silver tufts which resembles tiny cats’ paws.
Springtime Pillow Willows
The rain yesterday melted a lot of the snow, but there was a light coating of snow this morning. The squirrel didn’t have to wait too long this morning before the sun melted the new layer so he could find some acorns that the melting snowpack revealed.
Squirrel Snack Time
The wet day kept most of the critters out of sight, but at least it wasn’t snow. In late February and early March, skunks come out of their burrows when there is a streak of warm weather to find mates. And the other day, the odor in the air signaled their return. I don’t want to run into those smelly critters and rather see a different black and white kitty.
Black & White Kitty
The geese are making their spring return too, although I only saw four fly overhead today and they haven’t landed in my frozen pond yet.
Geese Coming North
By the end of the day, I had patches of ground showing as more snow melted, giving hope that spring is coming. At least some of the birds think so as I heard several sandhill cranes flying overhead, but when the temperatures cool off next week, they might decide to return south again.
Returning Sandhill Cranes
The snow is continuing to melt as well as the lake ice and in less than three weeks, the freighter ships will return to Lake Superior and this tug boat will resume its duties after its winter layup.
Off Work for the Winter
