The weather has been unseasonably warm and (mostly) sunny for almost a week now, and we’re all trying to keep from being seduced into thinking that spring has arrived. It hasn’t.
My Facebook memories today showed snow on March 12, 2017 (before I started this blog), and when I looked back at my March blog posts from the years since then, I saw photos of redbuds, forsythia, violets, etc. This year—besides the weeds—only the daffodils and hyacinths are blooming around my house, and the trees are still bare, except for a big Red Maple (Acer rubrum) and a single Box Elder (Acer negundo) of the many, many in the Hollow. On my ramble today, I did see bees buzzing at a Winter (Bush) Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima). I may have overlooked the witch hazel, but I know the forsythia has yet to bud out.
After I started writing, I realized that I hadn’t taken many deer photos lately. They are almost always waiting in the meadow (looking up at the house) when I get up in the morning. They keep me busy when I take the food down, and I haven’t thought to take photos, especially on those mornings when it’s in the 20s and my coffee is waiting in the house. I wait until I see them before I take food down in the afternoons, when they more often come in small family groups. The missing ones usually come when I call.
They are skinny this time of year, and their coats are rough-looking. Friendly still eats from my hand and lets me rub her. The other one above (“Muley”) is from the herd that lives on the other side of the road; she wants to get close but hasn’t yet worked up the courage. (I think she’ll come around.)
And what about the cats, you ask? Yesterday was the first anniversary of adopting the muchachos. Here they are a few days later:
And here they are a few weeks ago:
They have been a wonderful diversion over the past year.
Noel, the little black stray, was removed from the Asheville Humane Society adoption floor after his respiratory problems returned and has been living—and reportedly thriving—while being fostered. I’m told he’s expected to be back on the adoption floor soon.
So that’s what’s going on around here. Maybe I’ll have more spring photos next time (or maybe more snow photos!)
French Broad Hollow Ramble 