Month: April 2020

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If April showers bring May flowers, then next month should be spectacular! So far this month we’ve received almost 17″ of rain (which is much less than those of you in other parts of the Southeast).

As elsewhere, the rain often came in downpours with lots of wind. Overnight Easter Sunday into Monday we had 4.5″ of rain and winds over 40 mph, resulting in several minor mudslides and deepening the gullies already present in the road. Fortunately, a retired neighbor cleared the blocked ditch. The wind blew a large tree down across the new neighbors’ freshly laid asphalt, but they were able to get the road cleared.

The upside is that there are now lots of sticks. Why? Because the new neighbors have two LARGE dogs who want anyone who walks by to give them a stick, and now we have an ample supply!

The deer haven’t been coming as regularly, and one day I never saw them at all (although they may have come when I wasn’t looking). Sometimes, however, they wait for me.

They’re not waiting now, but the cats are. I know this is a short post, but it looks like we may have more rainy days ahead, which makes it easier to stay inside. Keep safe!

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Spring is a busy time, with lots of chores that need to be addressed—some new and some (many) left over from the winter, or even the fall. 🙂 But spring is also a time when things around us change almost daily.

Birds that visit for the winter are heading north, and others are returning after migrating south in the fall. More and different types of butterflies and other insects are around. I think I saw a monarch butterfly a few days ago, although it was gone before I could tell if it was a monarch or a viceroy.  However, it must have been a monarch since, according to journeynorth.org, adult viceroys don’t emerge until about 15 days after willow or poplar leaves have emerged, and those trees are still pretty barren here in the Hollow.

Different wildflowers are emerging, some trees are now in full bloom while others are dropping blossoms and leafing out. Below are Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium), Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), Star chickweed (Stellaria pubera), Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), Philadelphia Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus), American Alumroot (Heuchera americana), Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), Southern Crabapple (Malus angustifolia), and Chickasaw Plum (Prunus angustifolia).

Reptiles have begun to emerge from hibernation, including this rat snake that makes the rounds near my house. (It’s on the wall!)

The turkeys feel spring, too, and the toms seem to gobble most of the day. Evidently they are having some success, as I also see hens in the meadow several times a day.

The deer are changing to their summer coats, and the pregnant does are getting bigger. Bambi’s taste for apples hasn’t changed!

Remember Cisco and Pancho, the new muchachos in my house? They’re changing, too. They seem to be interested in housework and also enjoy birdwatching, but they’re still just kittens (large ones!) and get tuckered out.

https://youtu.be/IHK0nhDHlFI

Many of the changes we’re experiencing in the world these days are sad and scary. It’s comforting to realize that some changes are beautiful, interesting, and/or amusing. My hope is that the changes you experience bring you comfort, combined with laughter and love.

Some of you have seen—and heard—me feed the deer. I thought others might wonder about it, and here are some photos captured by my trail camera in late February. As you can see, I’m quite the fashion trendsetter! If you want a closer view, (although I can’t imagine why you would), I think you can click an individual image. BTW, I love my white shrimp boots! They are a bit too large but are perfect for slipping on when I head down to the meadow!

I didn’t walk yesterday (Tuesday). I felt fine, but it was rainy and cool, and I decided to take a day off. Instead, I spent an hour or more working on what was, I’m sure, my very best blog post ever. And then I somehow managed to delete it and save only the very first part! I’ve reconstructed it as best I can remember. Maybe I should have walked after all. Today’s weather is about the same, but I will be walking later!

I wonder what I missed by not walking yesterday. Monday I found this tiny dead Ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus) in the road. At first I wondered how someone could have run over it, since there is very little vehicle traffic on our road these days, and these are nocturnal snakes. Looking more closely, I decided that some other critter must have killed it.Before the latest return to winter (when we were setting record high temperatures), the butterflies were out in force, even some that usually aren’t around until the summer. Mostly they are too quick for me, but this Common Gray moth (Anavitrinella pampinaria) had been attracted to the porch light the previous night, and perhaps the warmer weather had made this Sleepy Duskywing butterfly (Erynnis brizo) drowsy. The tiny Grapevine Epimenis moth (Psychomorpha epimenis) was resting, too. The Eastern Comma butterflies (Polygonia comma) flutter away when I approach, and the numerous Falcate Orangetips (Anthocharis midea) are much too swift for me, as you can see in the video.

As I noted in my last post, the warm weather had brought out the flies, as well as the butterflies. I discovered that several deer were fighting the heat and the flies by resting in the cool damp bottom of the ravine on the side of the meadow. Of course, they come out to eat!

And now the sun is starting to come out, too. I have to take my garbage and recycling to the landfill before I walk, so I’ll leave you with this for now.

And this bonus, if you’ve read this far!

P.S. It’s hard to record while cupping your hands around your mouth!