Report on Spring
It's coming. I know it's coming. Last week we had the big thaw. It was above freezing for several days, the snow and ice melted, and everything turned to wonderful springlike mud.

Sunday I saw the first robin. It looked a little cold, but happy to be here.

Wednesday I saw the first bluebird. It was a beautiful flash of blue flying off the top of one of the nestboxes as the dogs and I approached. The bluebirds huddle together in the nest boxes while Michigan flips back and forth between spring and winter during the month of March.


Today it is winter again. It never got above freezing and it's been snowing off and on since last night. The forecast calls for snow through next Tuesday. The low temperature tonight will be 13F/-11C.

Not a temperature range that promotes nest building. Mr. Robin is somewhere trying to keep warm and wondering why he was in such a hurry to get here.

This morning I took this picture of some "February Gold" daffodils. Obviously the name doesn't apply when they're planted in Michigan.

These brave little daffodils are the first out of the ground in the spring. They came up under the snow. When the snow melts, there they are growing away just like they'd had sunshine.

They bloom the first week in April and it's an exciting moment to see the bright yellow color in the garden.




This Hellebore is as good as it gets for current blooms in the garden. These amazing plants start blooming even before the first major thaw and continue blooming on through the spring, long after they're overshadowed by the more showy flowers.

This little guy lives in the deep dry shade of a large oak tree in our front yard where nothing much else will grow. My garden is full of plants that don't need coddling, and this is one of the toughest.

After months of winter, it was fun to take garden pictures. Another harbinger of spring. It won't be too long now. The next garden pictures will have more green than white. Spring is coming soon.


What's up in your garden?