The temperatures took a tumble and now the spring peepers are silent and with the forecast staying chilly, not sure when they will resume their chorus songs.
Spring Peeper not Peeping
Picture of the Day for April 14, 2023
The few days with way above average temperatures caused many plants to sprout, open up or leaf out. The pussy willows went from soft catkins to them having pollen-bearing stamens the next day.
Pussy Willows Releasing Pollen
Picture of the Day for April 13, 2023
A eighty degree day sure makes a big difference in getting flower blossoms to open up as yesterday I only found one Snow Glory which was just starting to open up and a day later, there were multiple patches with full blooms.
Snow Glories Without Snow
Picture of the Day for April 12, 2023
Spring has arrived, or maybe summer is here temporarily with an 86 degree day, and with the warm day, three different flowers opened up, including the native wildflower Hepatica which blooms before its leaves sprout up. The fruits of the Hepatica are reported to be a favorite of chipmunks so maybe that is why I have so many of those rodents around.
First Wildflower
Picture of the Day for April 11, 2023
Seventy must be the magical number as once the temperature hit 70 today, the spring peepers began their spring chorus and although a tiny frog, their sound carries a long ways.
Spring Peeper Peeping
Picture of the Day for April 10, 2023
The pond started very icy, but by the evening with the temperature reaching into the 60s, the pond’s surface finally thawed giving more room for the returning ducks to have a place to swim.
Melting Pond
Picture of the Day for April 9, 2023
A lot of snow melted overnight but the Easter bunny still had to navigate around snow patches and running water from the melting snow. Plus there was no new green clovers for him to eat either.
Easter Bunny in Snow Yet
Picture of the Day for April 8, 2023
I spotted the first ducks back this morning, but as three of them headed towards my pond, they waved off the approach at the last minute when they noticed the pond was frozen over yet. A pair of geese did have a tiny patch of open water just enough for both of them float side by side but not much room to do anything else. Maybe tomorrow some more of the ice will melt and hopefully the ducks will return to my pond.
Goose Leaving Frozen Pond
Picture of the Day for April 7, 2023
The day was filled with different critters today, from the skunk and raccoon eating the cat food in the barn, to the red-tailed hawk, bald eagles, geese and sandhills flying overhead while the pheasant and turkeys check beneath the bird feeder plus the deer on the side of the road not making up its mind where it wanted to go.
Deer Walking in Snow
Picture of the Day for April 6, 2023
As cold as it was this morning with single digit wind chills, my four tom turkeys might try breaking into my basement again to get out of the weather as this turkey doesn’t look like he cares for stepping on the cold snow.
Turkey Not Enjoying Winter
