Out and About: Spring is Here

Despite all that is happening around the globe concerning the coronavirus, Mother Nature continues to provide daily beauty, interest, enjoyment, peace, and a schedule of spring offerings. Signs of spring  can be seen right from our windows or on walks, runs, and bikes around town.  The first wildflowers are up those being skunk cabbage. Ask Samantha Rigney where she spotted one. Hint: they like it where it's wet. The next wildflower out is Coltsfoot. It opens on sunny days, is yellow

Skunk Cabbage

Flower is Hiding

Coltsfoot

and can be seen on Herlihy Road. If you go to look for coltsfoot, give a listen to the Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs in the pools over there too. When it's over 50 degrees they are usually very vocal. You can see masses of frog eggs in the water along the roadside. Garden flowers are up, like snowdrops, crocuses, squill, and hellebores. Walking around you'll hear a lot of birdsong and maybe see birds deciding on nest sites. Bluebirds have been checking out my nest box and Barb Haynes says they have been doing the same down by her house on the lake. Wood Ducks are out and about and looking for a tree cavity to nest in. If you haven't heard Deb Rice's Wood Duck stories you have to ask her! Bob and Linda Connors have hosted these ducks in a tree in front of their property. Two adults and 24 babies! Another story. Bill Ryan has seen the Red Fox around in the mornings and I have seen fox scat in the middle of the road on Janes Avenue. They do that to mark territory. Last week I heard two Barred Owls calling to each other in the woods west of Herlihy Road. I have been out for hikes at Moreau State Park and have found that people are keeping their distance on the trails and are in good moods. Dan and I saw Bennett Haynes on the top of Moreau Lake Overlook! It took me a few seconds to realize it was him. You never know who or what you'll see out and about at a six foot distance. Hope everyone is doing ok and enjoying a bit of spring.

Flat Snow People by the Green Hour Group. When it's not good packing snow

Stream at Anchor Diamond Preserve in Burnt Hills

Stream Ice

Waterfall at Moreau State Park

Some Creature's Hoarding Leaves Like Humans Hoarding Toilet Paper

Snowdrops

Crocus

Daffodils

Spring!?!?

March Twenty-third Snow

Maple Branch

Red White and Blue at Bog Meadow Preserve

Moreau Lake Overlook