We had flurries yesterday morning, but none stayed around to sully our spring. The crocus are beginning to bloom and the lilac bush buds are swelling. Whew – seems like it was an awfully long winter this time around.
Almost nothing here except one or two flakes. (snow, not flaky folks) Of course we still have piles of the old snow that will probably still be here in July.
It was lovely to see new green popping up … which is probably I haven’t been able to make myself go back yet to see if they survived the temps down in the teens.
The flowers and allergens of spring are already in full bloom down in Dixie. Usually, down here, we’re done with snow and ice storms by this time of year – in fact usually by late February those sorts of events become pretty unlikely. Now it’s time to face severe thunderstorms. It’s always something.
We had a brief downpour and some sky grumbling here a couple of hours ago. Much improvement over the ice and snow of the first three months, at least IMO.
Wednesday morning, I’m off to spend a couple days helping the teachers at my old school ride herd on their young’uns on the camping trip that we started 20 years ago. We’re hoping the weather forecast is wrong, but we can’t do anything about that. See you on Friday.
Hope everyone has fun and its not too soggy. Winter seems barely over and there’s already spring peepers along with their egg masses down in a wetland we were hiking around last Sunday.
I’m back from the soggy, soggy, soggy woods. We had about 3 hours on the last afternoon that we didn’t get rained on. In 20 years of going on the trip, this was the worst weather I’ve ever had. The kids and the camp’s staff were amazing. The staff had the kids singing “Singin’ in the Rain” and a bunch of silly camp songs as they tromped through the woods. They had them huddled around in ponchos and rubber boots or soaked tennies looking at bugs, fungi, rocks, benthic macro invertebrates and other curiosities (scat for instance) that aren’t usually… Read more »
Thanks, Bob. I woke up to 2″ of snow, and saw my first robin sitting in the woods as the snow fell and blew all around her. It’s nesting season and confusion reigns. I may have lost all hope of seeing live green grass again.
The weather forecast for the metropolitan Cleveland Area: Partly miserable with a 40% chance of bullshit. Growing darkness toward evening will lessen the reality of sucking weather
The pine trees are full of new green needles so I have the deciduous trees aren’t too far behind — past history suggests their leaves will start showing in 10-14 days.
I’m especially happy for the warmup, since my task this week is to go through Mrs. ID’s stored client files out in the unheated garage and select those that are ancient enough to be shredded. The solid waste district is offering a free shredding session Sat. morning, sponsored in part by us, so I want to get my money’s worth;-)
“April Showers” The view on the morning of April 16
We haven’t had so much as .25″ of rain, so far.
And we had record lows of 8F to 11F in many eastern ND cities.
Longest consistently cold winter in my memory, Dec, Jan, Feb, March, 2/3 April. Nearly 5 months, ackkk!
‘Tis going to be a late start for the garden this year.
We seem to be progressing nicely into spring here. The last frost we had was just a touch on the night of the 15th. The only damage I could see was the poor magnolias that had already bloomed. The pear trees exploded with blossoms a little over a week ago and they didn’t seem hurt at all. Its the most prolific daffodil year I can remember. Everything seems happy to be awake and growing. Hope this spreads out to your neck of the woods soon.
Long gone and decidedly not missed. Spring is really coming on here. I’m especially happy to see an abundance of dogwoods flowering (most of them didn’t last year).
He hasn’t been on the internet since last fall but we’d been talking every couple of months. Your asking made me realize that I hadn’t heard from him since mid-January. I tried to call him but his number has been disconnected. I’m hoping all that means is that he’s moved in with some of his family. If I hear from him, I’ll let you know.
We’ve been seeing them around our place for several weeks on sunny days, but their presence is decidedly intermittent so far. There are plenty of blossoms out for them whenever they show up.
We’re not seeing enough. The redbud trees usually are covered with wild bees, but this year there were only a couple of bumble bees on them. I hope whatever is causing the colony collapse disorder in the honey bees hasn’t infected the wild bees too.
I immediately thought about BooMan when I saw the acorn signs. This is a group of local Democrats getting ready to join a parade here yesterday. The spirit of ACORN lives!
Thanks Bob – BTW, the bride is playing Annelle in a local production of Steel Magnolias – opening night tonight. We’ll be there tomorrow night with our entire family.
Following Bebo over the hump…it’s snow covered here today as well.
I’m ready for daffodils now, please. 🙂
We had flurries yesterday morning, but none stayed around to sully our spring. The crocus are beginning to bloom and the lilac bush buds are swelling. Whew – seems like it was an awfully long winter this time around.
Finn was asking me “why is March SO LOnG?” this morning. Even he thinks this winter is out of control. 🙂
Almost nothing here except one or two flakes. (snow, not flaky folks) Of course we still have piles of the old snow that will probably still be here in July.
I’m happy this one seems to have passed us all by.
Lucky you!
Your wish is my command (sorry no flowers yet).
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Nice!!!
It was lovely to see new green popping up … which is probably I haven’t been able to make myself go back yet to see if they survived the temps down in the teens.
The flowers and allergens of spring are already in full bloom down in Dixie. Usually, down here, we’re done with snow and ice storms by this time of year – in fact usually by late February those sorts of events become pretty unlikely. Now it’s time to face severe thunderstorms. It’s always something.
We had a brief downpour and some sky grumbling here a couple of hours ago. Much improvement over the ice and snow of the first three months, at least IMO.
I’m jealous of your flowers — this time of year I am really sick of our monotonous “color” palette of brown, gray, and white.
I can’t believe I’m wishing for allergy season to get started. 😉
We’ve got nothing here. In fact there are still some patches of snow.
I think that yours are further along than ours at this point. We really need a couple of warm days to kickstart everything.
It was nice to see some honeybees out working the crocus blooms this afternoon.
Not so nice were the words coming from Mrs. ID when she saw all the little black ants trooping around the kitchen sink.
We’re getting a bunch of rain today and I’m hoping that convinces some trees to start seriously budding.
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I wonder what gave rise to those strange growth patterns.
Twister that blew through here in aught 6.
Was that the one with Dorothy and that witch?
Could’ve been. I think the bad witch stuck around – I keep running into her at govt. meetings.
Those are sassafras trees which tend to grow crookedly — mostly from shedding limbs and trying to get to the light (speculates Jim).
Wednesday morning, I’m off to spend a couple days helping the teachers at my old school ride herd on their young’uns on the camping trip that we started 20 years ago. We’re hoping the weather forecast is wrong, but we can’t do anything about that. See you on Friday.
Have a good trip!
Hope everyone has fun and its not too soggy. Winter seems barely over and there’s already spring peepers along with their egg masses down in a wetland we were hiking around last Sunday.
Unfortunately it is just as soggy in Martinsville as it is here.
What a shame for all the campers. Hope you packed him a couple of extra pairs of dry socks.
I’m back from the soggy, soggy, soggy woods. We had about 3 hours on the last afternoon that we didn’t get rained on. In 20 years of going on the trip, this was the worst weather I’ve ever had. The kids and the camp’s staff were amazing. The staff had the kids singing “Singin’ in the Rain” and a bunch of silly camp songs as they tromped through the woods. They had them huddled around in ponchos and rubber boots or soaked tennies looking at bugs, fungi, rocks, benthic macro invertebrates and other curiosities (scat for instance) that aren’t usually… Read more »
Sounds as if you had a productive and fun stay in the woods despite the less than ideal conditions. Glad it was a success!
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That spot is totally humped.
A beautiful day here in the Hudson Valley!
Flog is up, see you there.
Thanks, Bob. I woke up to 2″ of snow, and saw my first robin sitting in the woods as the snow fell and blew all around her. It’s nesting season and confusion reigns. I may have lost all hope of seeing live green grass again.
Snow?!! Yikes!
Peter Matthiessen is at play in the fields of the Lord now.
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It’s a bridge to nowhere!
Considerably less expensive than its namesake, however.
Bebo doesn’t care where the “bridge” goes so long as it gives her a good view.
The weather forecast for the metropolitan Cleveland Area: Partly miserable with a 40% chance of bullshit. Growing darkness toward evening will lessen the reality of sucking weather
62 degrees today! Woohoo!
I got my bike out of the shop today. I hope soon I’ll start racking up miles on it instead of on the ice at the rink.
You were warmer than us but we’re supposed to hit 62 today.
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Bare humps, hopefully soon to be full of green.
The pine trees are full of new green needles so I have the deciduous trees aren’t too far behind — past history suggests their leaves will start showing in 10-14 days.
Our lilac bush is all leafed out, blooms are emerging and (hopefully) all the snow is just a bad memory.
The toothwort are up in the woods but the flower buds haven’t opened yet. I’m hoping to see rue anemone and spring beauties soon.
Just noticed that our crocus is up!
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Everybody gone into hibernation because of the return of winter?
Thankfully, despite the cold temps, the snow we got didn’t last past noon.
We got some last night as well. It will probably melt shortly but my windshield is totally frozen right now. It’s mid April, right?
Happily, the cold weather moved through fast and we’re back to highs in the 50s today and the 60s by tomorrow
I’m especially happy for the warmup, since my task this week is to go through Mrs. ID’s stored client files out in the unheated garage and select those that are ancient enough to be shredded. The solid waste district is offering a free shredding session Sat. morning, sponsored in part by us, so I want to get my money’s worth;-)
And since the temps are in the 60s for the rest of the week, you don’t even have to feel rushed to get it all done in one day.
TGIF!
The Into Thin Air tragedy has now been exceeded on Mt. Everest.
“April Showers” The view on the morning of April 16
We haven’t had so much as .25″ of rain, so far.
And we had record lows of 8F to 11F in many eastern ND cities.
Longest consistently cold winter in my memory, Dec, Jan, Feb, March, 2/3 April. Nearly 5 months, ackkk!
‘Tis going to be a late start for the garden this year.
The lows were the morning of Wed April 15. It was 8F here at the farm in the wee hrs while I was out taking photos of the lunar eclipse.
We seem to be progressing nicely into spring here. The last frost we had was just a touch on the night of the 15th. The only damage I could see was the poor magnolias that had already bloomed. The pear trees exploded with blossoms a little over a week ago and they didn’t seem hurt at all. Its the most prolific daffodil year I can remember. Everything seems happy to be awake and growing. Hope this spreads out to your neck of the woods soon.
Spring finally seems to have truly taken hold here in the Hudson Valley. This has been a long miserable winter. I hope you get some warm weather soon.
Thursday evening April 17th
At least the snow from the 16th didn’t last long.
We still have drifts knee deep on the north side of the trees belt.
Bummer on the weather but good to see you!
This is pretty epic.
Having been a reader of LRH’s scifi work many years ago, I still feel a a bit weird even getting that close to the guy.
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About 70 degrees here today in the Hudson Valley! Sadly, back to the 50s again tomorrow.
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Your hump(s) is outlined by snow!
But at least there’s some green inbetween.
It must be gone now.
Long gone and decidedly not missed. Spring is really coming on here. I’m especially happy to see an abundance of dogwoods flowering (most of them didn’t last year).
Our crocus finally came into bloom. Spring is really here.
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Very cool!
That is just awesome.
Brown County gold – lovely!
Thanks all of you.
rue anemone
Perfect replacement for the icky snow picture up top (not-so-subtle-hint).
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Heavy rain and wind chills into the 30s here in the Hudson Valley. Isn’t it almost May?
Does Family Man still hang around here?
Any word on how he’s faring with all the flooding in Alabama?
Hay SN! He hasn’t been here in a while.
He hasn’t been on the internet since last fall but we’d been talking every couple of months. Your asking made me realize that I hadn’t heard from him since mid-January. I tried to call him but his number has been disconnected. I’m hoping all that means is that he’s moved in with some of his family. If I hear from him, I’ll let you know.
Hope you and all the family are doing well.
serviceberry
wild bee
It’s amazing that you are seeing bees. Winter finally seems to be giving up here.
We’ve been seeing them around our place for several weeks on sunny days, but their presence is decidedly intermittent so far. There are plenty of blossoms out for them whenever they show up.
We’re not seeing enough. The redbud trees usually are covered with wild bees, but this year there were only a couple of bumble bees on them. I hope whatever is causing the colony collapse disorder in the honey bees hasn’t infected the wild bees too.
toothwort twosome
AWESOME!!!
Stuff is just starting to bloom after this weird spring.
That is one, two, strange cool flower(s). I didn’t know flowers were made of tinker toys, pick-up-sticks, and false fingernails.
That sounds like a future FFF theme.
fiddleheads version of Heart and Soul
Welcome to the new Saturday Foto Flog. 😉
Hey, why not.
jack in the pulpit
I immediately thought about BooMan when I saw the acorn signs. This is a group of local Democrats getting ready to join a parade here yesterday. The spirit of ACORN lives!
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box tortoise with that gleam in his eye
Where did you get that photo of Mitch McConnell?
showy orchis
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Looks almost like a caterpillar hanging there.
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/jimferguson/2014/_DSC4613_zps5fa8d58c.jpg
a pair of jacks
a pair of jacks
Nice find, Jim. Is it my imagination or are the woods more lush than usual this spring?
I think we’re being rewarded for a cold and wet winter and spring.
dogwoods
Flog is up! Enjoy.
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That’s hilarious! 😀
Spring is still going on. I pulled 30 gallons of garlic mustard today at the nature preserve. Unfortunately it didn’t take long.
From a few days ago, before the storms.
dogwood
Pretty!
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Multihump!
🙂
Happy Friday and a good weekend to everyone.
sprINgdiana #12
spiderwort
Happy birthday, CG!
Happy Birthday CG…a fine day for monkeying around.
Great flog everyone, Indy, I didn’t get a chance to, but that is a nice set and a great shot of that fine young man and his equally fine bride.
Thanks Bob – BTW, the bride is playing Annelle in a local production of Steel Magnolias – opening night tonight. We’ll be there tomorrow night with our entire family.
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And one bite at a time.
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It’s a hidden hump!
The hump decor is quite lovely.
Too bad we had all that rain — the dogwood blossoms didn’t last nearly as long as they usually do.