It seems the weather has broken and we are getting a glimpse of the potential summer ahead. It is nice to feel the abundant sunshine and warmer air.
I've taken a few shots of the yard and garden blooms to add to the blog.
A little story.
The cold weather and ducks in our small pond led us to believe the three goldfish that we so carefully overwintered were gone. For five days we saw no sign of them. Thinking the ducks or a racoon may have eaten them I went and purchased some new fish. I got eight more. Added them to the pond. Lost one almost immediately. The weathered warmed and suddenly the three big fish were back. Evidently the cold had sent them back into their dormant state behind the waterlily roots and pot. I now have at least eight fish in the pond. Their may be two more but they are black/brown and the pond has so many shadows they are hard to find. I did see one in the early morning sun two days ago, but not since then.
So what do I do with all this fish if they all survive. Stay tuned to find out.
These are some shots of a few of the visitors we see daily. There are many more and I will try to catch some photos of them as the summer and year progresses,
I will try to catch our house wren singing to add tg the next blog post. They are often referred to as the bulldogs of the bird kingdom.
The Goldfinches come throughout the day singing and eating food I will try to get a photo of them in the bird spa splashing away.
Thought I would just post a few glimpses of spring around here.
Hope you enjoy!
Many of our daffodils are blooming for the first time from last fall's planting. We enjoy watching as they clump up larger with each passing year.
The hellebores are at a point that when we have a good rain coming I will need to split and plant in some new areas. Since the deer do not eat them I will start to add them around the exterior of the garden with the foxgloves. I don't know if this will help to keep the deer out of the garden interior or not. But, I will give it a try.
This was our first planting and it is filling in nicely.
Just one little beauty.
Brunnera and hostas - deer salad?
New planting from last fall.
Hellebores close up.
Another little beauty
A good shot of the brunnera in bloom
Bleeding heart the deer do not eat these as tender as they appear.
Bleeding heart up close.
View of pond patio and bocce court.
The dahlias will be planted in this area next week.
Hellebore to split
More little beauties.
Second year clumps of daffodils in the back garden.
The weather has definitely improved. I never thought we would see warm weather and sunshine together. The last posting was in March and I have been waiting to give an updates on the life here in the woods,
The daffodils are finally blooming, the hellebore are fantastic this year, the brunnera Siberian bugloss are striking with their blue flowers. Sadly we lost our tulips to the deer who ate them as their salad or desert, not quite sure the order in which they ate them.
Speaking of the deer I have resorted to spreading a deer repellent around all my tender plants. Using both a spray and a granular product. I will keep you posted on if it works.
The fish have survived the winter in their full orange and tangerine beauty. Now that the weather has warmed up they are pretty active. We are however waiting to have our pond reconditioned because the deer have used it as a water source pushing many of the rocks into the pond.
The frogs have also survived and they are very large. Their croaking is very boisterous,
The birds are returning also. The humming birds are actively depleting the nectar. We still do bring the feeders in at night to protect them from the raccoon.
Oranges are out for the orioles, the rose breasted grosbeak are also
back. returning for color are the scarlet tanager, indigo bunting, and
bluebirds.
We still have a myriad of woodpeckers.
New us
this year are a pair of Mallards who rejoice in the seed left under our
feeder. They enjoy an occasional dip in the pond.
I know that
bird flu has been spotted in some lower counties but I sanitize all the
perches and so far the only critters to possibly be affected by the
ducks visit are the squirrels and deer.
It seems that spring seems to be slowly arriving. We are noticing more birds returning. We had a Bluebird at our bird spa, a heated bird bath, that has been a favorite throughout the winter months. Now it is becoming a bathing facility.
We heard a strange call the other day and using our Cornell Merlin App we recorded the call and quickly identified it as that of a Red Shouldered Hawk. There were two and they seem to be taking residence near by. A bit scary for the other birds but as I am a fan of raptors I want them to hang around. A dilemma, I am sure.
The pond is still covered with the soft layer of ice. A remnant from the winter's cold sub-freezing days so I am not sure how the pond fish are doing. Will keep checking as high temperatures are predicted for the next few days.
As I walk around the yard I see a lot of clean-up work to be done after the weather warms a bit more consistently. Winter winds and snows have left a myriad collection of tree branches, pine cones, and dried leaves.
Walking around the yard I have also spotted the early Snowdrops and some daffodils finding their way to the warming sun.
I am including a few pictures of birds and snow drops. There is a video of a Red Shouldered Hawk allowing you to hear it's call.
Well we aren't as fortunate with snow levels as others are but we did get about an additional three inches of light snow.
Just came in from clearing the walk and the upper part of the drive. It was most refreshing out, just a light wind and gentle snow flakes.
The birds have been busy at the feeder. Even saw Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal for the first time in quite a while. The pines in the woods give them good cover and a source for seeds. I believe the colder temperatures are bringing them back to the feeder as it easier to get food fast.
Juncos, Chickadees,Titmice, Nuthatches and Finches are are our regulars. I fill their feeders at least twice a week.
The woodpeckers including the Pileated Woodpecker go through a suet block every two days.
The deer are bedding down closer to the house and they too have been visiting the bird feeders. As of yet I haven't seen their wings. However, when they are startled by the road traffic or snowmobiles they do take flight through the woods. We counted (Pat) 7 and/or (myself) 5. She has better eyes than me I believe.
The pond is frozen over but the aerator is humming away so I hope the fish are fine.
Spring is on it's way; but of course, in Michigan we don't get the full benefit until late April. The sun was out yesterday and the sunset through the trees set the sky on fire. Things are looking up as the days get longer.
The back wood view
Another view
The neatly cleared walk way.
Thank you to the creator of this lyric video on the Fleet Foxes "White Winter Hymnal"
Today begins February, the shortest but in my world the most eventful month.
We woke this morning to see the deer bedded down in the back woods. The temperature reaching into the mid thirties brought some snow melt. The birds enjoyed the brief sunlight in the midday, as for me I have always seen February as the beginning of Spring. It's the abundance of day light that seems to progress so well.
Since ancient times this has marked the beginning of more light in each day as we head toward the warmer days of the year. My drawing below is one of the nine in my pagan calendar series. In the center is Bridget, the winter crone now a youthful maiden. Circles include the bedding plants that are planted now for later gardens, the new lambs of the spring season, the candles that will be lit for Candlemas, the wheat cross to symbolize St. Bride, the early snowdrops , and the awakening dragon that will fuel the warmer days to come.
St. Bridget, St. Bride, Imbolc - Spring begins.
Imbolc is a time of celebrating the spark of new life within
us. At this point in our yearly cycle, we begin to see light and snow melt
returning, and Nature starts growing again; we feel it deep inside, too, in an
energetic way. We begin to sense the potential of warmth and light ahead, which makes our
inner fire kindle brighter.
Imbolc also marks the first stirrings of the
Earth’s milk, at a time when we see animals give birth and shepherds call their
flocks back home again.
Though the Imbolc meaning has a lot to do with new beginnings, Imbolc
is ultimately a time to clear out the old and welcome the new.
Hibernating animals are starting to wake up, and energetically, so are we!
We have begun to start the spring cleaning of cupboards and stored items no longer needed or of use to us.
However, Imbolc tradition states that it is also the celebration of the
Goddess recovering from giving birth to the New Year’s Sun God, since Imbolc
falls six weeks after the Winter Solstice.
Despite the fact that this Sabbat falls in one of the coldest months of the
year, it is a time when the forces of new life are moving across the globe.
The warm temps today will be covered by colder snowy attempts of Winter trying to hold on. but we know that Spring will win out, bursting forth with all the jewels we planted in the fall.
Winter struggles to hold on, but Spring is slowly replacing him with warmth.
Seeds are sprouting under the frozen land, and the forces of nature are
preparing for the young Sun God to begin spreading his light and warmth soon.
This is also a time of new beginnings, so plans are being made for the future.
Sitting here waiting for the first real snow possibility this year. I have always loved the winter weather and can't wait to see some snow.
Here are some photos from the second year we were here. I am hoping that climate change has not stopped this from ever being the winter weather I truly love.
front drive
back deck and turkeys
back deck and woods after the snowstorm is over
I have never been one to write resolutions for the new year. I do however make a list of work I wish to accomplish. The holidays are over and it's time to be creative again.
If I don't post for a few days you know i am working on something new. I will post when I can.
Oh gosh a little snow is beginning to fall. I'll keep wishing. If not for myself but for those persons who depend on this weather for their incomes. i.e. snow removal!
