OK, it's still really cold. But spring is here... the turkeys are showing up in the yard regularly. And there is an opossum jonesin' the birdfeeder. We've strewn some "wildlife grain" for the turkeys (broken bag from g.m.'s employer) and I put out some moldy cheese for the 'possum. The buds on the red maples are fattening up and the Forsythia and Magnolia stellate are showing signs of awakening, too. What do you see out your windows?
Spring is here
- Thread starter Bobbin
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bag of hammers
Minister of Fire
4' of snow.
According to Weather channel, coldest day on record here for Mar 16 was -21 (1950). Beat that by 2 deg this morning. But Its sunny and bright outside - I think spring is trying but old man winter ain't lettin' go just yet.
We have some overwintering couples, Anna's Hummingbird. How they make it when it's 20 outside is beyond me, but they do. We keep the feeder thawed out to help them get by. We also get Rufous in spring. Most will be migrating but they stop off here to feed on spring flowers. They love salmonberry. That's when our feeders are packed with 2-3 feeding at a time. It gets pretty noisy on the porch and in the yard with their aerial acrobatics and dogfights.
Cracks me up that so many think spring means 65 degrees. "Spring" is the nearly imperceptible change in light and the equally imperceptible changes in the biochemistry that occurs in plants and triggers similar changes in indigenous wildlife. It all happens WAY before 65 degrees occurs (at least with any regularity!). I love this time of year. Yeah, I long for warmth... but I also love the foreplay... . Count me one of those "frosty" New Englanders. 
Spring and summer are my favorite seasons. We're fortunate here to have very long lingering springs. I was just checking the lilacs and see nice fat buds developing. Our red maple is in flower. Spring is definitely here and it's only 45F right now. (Ok it got up to 60F yesterday.) Here are some happy hellebores.
Ahh... what you presently enjoy, Be., will arrive here in its own sweet time. For me, though, there will be several weeks of "foreplay". Wonderful sunny, warm days followed by cold nights... and the lingering possibility of a late snowstorm (4/15!) that will bury emerging spring bulbs. So, even though I see spring all around me, I'm not deceived! we've a way to go yet. But I know it's on the way and I love these confused winter/spring days all the more because of it!
hossthehermit
Minister of Fire
No kiddin'! ease off on the strychnine, Hoss.
I really dig wildlife. And I'm not usually one that favors feeding them, but for some reason I just couldn't resist spreading the "gone by" stuff for the 'possum. I'll prolly regret it when/if the 'coons show up.
I really dig wildlife. And I'm not usually one that favors feeding them, but for some reason I just couldn't resist spreading the "gone by" stuff for the 'possum. I'll prolly regret it when/if the 'coons show up.
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
Cracks me up that so many think spring means 65 degrees. "Spring" is the nearly imperceptible change in light and the equally imperceptible changes in the biochemistry that occurs in plants and triggers similar changes in indigenous wildlife. It all happens WAY before 65 degrees occurs (at least with any regularity!). I love this time of year. Yeah, I long for warmth... but I also love the foreplay... . Count me one of those "frosty" New Englanders.
Still no pushy willows ... so it isn't Spring yet for me.
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
I heard that opposite had worked their way into southern Maine ... Haven't seen any up this way yet though.
Dix
Minister of Fire
'possums are pretty common down here in the "banana belt". Sadly, the only times I've had a chance to really study them was when they'd been hit by a car and were dead in the road. I noted the different tracks in a fresh dusting of powder and was surprised to see one chowing down on fallen seed beneath the bird feeder mid-morning. More surprising was that our cats were happily hanging out in the garden area right along with Mr./Ms. 'possum. Neither seemed the least bit bothered! Anyway, I spent too much time on the business end of the binoculars and have decided that 'possums are way too cute for words!
(marsupials are VERY cool animals)
(marsupials are VERY cool animals)
Coming back from the mailbox as the last snow was melting I picked the only bloomed Crocus and brought it up to the little brown haired girl. She asked me to bring more. I told her "You don't understand. That is the only bloom of any kind on the whole five and a half acres.".
Possums and cats get along just fine. Interesting thing about possums is that scientists believe that they don't get rabies because their body temp is too low to support the virus.
I scoped out 'possums on the internet and was surprised to learn of their resistance to rabies, BB! Much less apt to be carriers than are 'coons. I know cats and 'possums tend to "get on", my brother has several photos of his kitties and the local 'possums sharing a food and water dish. Ditto skunks. He even had a skunk come into his house and only discovered it when he hit the kitchen lights and startled it. He shut off the light and went to went to bed, lol! It was gone in the morning, no harm done.
Yep Spring has sprung. Just looked out the window and the Saint Patrick's Day snow storm has begun. Coming down like crazy.
Seasoned Oak
Minister of Fire
Official spring date Mar 21 is calling for sunny and 53 Deg. Sounds like spring to me. But tomorrow will be 32 for a high,snow showers and 15 overnight. Were not there yet.
Dix
Minister of Fire
boomhour
Burning Hunk
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