Out and About: Spring is Here

I got out of town for a week in early May to Shenandoah National Park. It was a camping and hiking trip filled with beautiful views, waterfalls, birds, bears and wildflowers. When I got back to Round Lake everything had leafed out and sprung up. The migrant birds were back, including the hummers. The grass was tall, the dandelions and maple seedlings had marched through the garden and my favorite flowers, lilacs, were in bloom. The Carolina Wrens had fledged and left the garden shed so I could get in there again. I hung their nest in the hanging basket outside on the shed's porch, in case they are considering a second brood. I have spent time watching a male hummer defending the sugar water feeders in the garden. He sits on a dead branch in the apple tree, watching and waiting for a second male to zoom in and then chases him away. He was out there guarding the feeders past sunset one night. Enjoy and Happy Spring at last!

Showing Jamis the view he hiked for.  Hawksbill Mountain Shenandoah N.P.

Overall Run Falls Shenandoah N.P.

Johnny Jump-ups

Mourning Dove Juveniles

Jack-in-the-Pulpits Peck Avenue Woods

Another Jack

Euphorbia

Trilliums

Lovely Lilacs

Bleeding Hearts

Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird