Last week's flowers, and a surprise visitor

 I've meant to post these pictures for nearly a week! The tulips are the most beautiful I've ever seen. I told the woman who grows them that the first week's were elegant, and the second week's were like a party! Such colors, and all mixed together. You'll also see a couple of poppies. I so love them even if they are often gone in a day or two.

I usually keep them in a big vase for a day or two and then break down the bouquet into little containers.

And the surprise visitor ...

After his snack of sunflower seeds, he headed over to the suet feeders and pulled them right off the poles and carried them off. 

Spring has sprung

It is in the mid-fifties which is not warm, and there isn’t sunshine every day, but I just love this time of year. The air is full of birds singing away - white throated sparrow, woodcock, thrush, robin, finches both purple (which are really red - why are they called that?) and gold, mourning dove, chickadee, nuthatch, junco, crow, and still a few turkeys, though the mating season has wound down and the ladies are in the woods on their nests. I heard a red-winged blackbird today which I haven’t heard here for years. And the peepers and woodfrogs! It is just glorious. Every single day there is something new popping out of the ground or flowering. The pictures become a bit clearer if you click on them. The forsythia makes me feel like I am immersed in yellow.

And the first CSA bouquet of the year. These are La Belle Epoque tulips, which the grower adores! And I do, too.

Ah, spring!

 We had an all day snow yesterday, and the weather folks say we got 22 inches. Best snow of the winter, and it isn't even winter anymore! I shoveled for a couple hours, and then Margaret and Hazel walked up while Matthew rode the four wheeler and plowed out the parking area, and a path for the oil delivery tomorrow. 

I don't think there is any day in a year that is so beautiful as this. Bright white snow, blue blue sky, and warm sun that is melting the snow. Perfect.