Yes, it's official: today is the first day of Spring. But with temperatures below freezing at night and barely making it into the 40s during the day, it feels as if the season has taken a step backwards. Tree buds had started to swell, Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs had begun their noisy courtship, and even some flowers had opened their blooms, because of unseasonable warmth. But they'd better just hold their horses!
I went looking for Hepatica buds in the Skidmore woods yesterday. It's easy to find the plants because their green and maroon leaves winter over unchanged, making them quite visible on the otherwise brown forest floor . But pushing aside the leaves and peering down at the bases of dozens of plants, I found only this one, with its furry buds peeking up from the warming earth. I'm glad they are wearing their warm wooly coats, because they're going to need them these next few days.
I wondered what those were when I saw the picture! Hepatica buds - I'll have to watch for them.
ReplyDeleteHappy Spring!
ReplyDeleteNo snow here this morning, and I expect there will be none today at this lower elevation. The air is chillier like winter woke up to realize it doesn't want to give up yet.
Stay warm on your walks!
Spring has sprung and a lot of buds are breaking here. They may have to wait a few days before expanding more, by expand they will.
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