This evening marks the first break in the clouds we've seen since Sunday of last week. So far the week has been unseasonably cold, with temperatures peaking in the 40's.

Still lots of Red-winged Blackbirds hanging around the feeder, though we've seen the first Baltimore Oriole of the year just today, and the Eastern Bluebirds seem to have set up house in one of the two boxes. Loon calls can be heard from the nearby lakes and ponds, while the Peepers' chorus is still strident.

Last Friday's snow had a horrible effect on the native grape vines we had growing on the trellis. They seem to be making a bit of a comeback, but only time will tell if we see any grape production this year.

Native flowers seem to be doing quite well. Columbine, Blue-flag Iris, Swamp Buttercup, and Meadowrue foliage continuing to flourish (though no flowers yet), Prairie Smoke just starting to pop, stems of Butterflyweed and Bergamot finally starting to pop up. Mohican Viburnum just about to go out of bloom.

Snow Friday night! About a quarter of an inch collected on the grass, all of it melted by around 9 AM. Snow and frost killed back a few of my vines, though there's already new growth on most of them. The ones against the house seem absolutely fine.

Didn't hear frogs again until last night, when I only heard Spring Peepers.

Rue Anemone in bloom


Rue Anemone, Canadian Anemone, and Mohican Viburnum just began blooming.

Jacob's Ladder starting to come up, Columbine leaves huge but no blooms yet. Spring peepers still strident at night. Red-winged blackbird at seed feeders.

Flowers in Bloom:

• Purple Pasque Flower
• Black Cherry

Wildlife Spotted:

• Black-capped Chickadee
• Chorus Frog
• Cottontail Rabbit
• Downy Woodpecker
• Eastern Bluebird
• Eastern Chipmunk
• Eastern Goldfinch
• Green Frog
• Grey Squirrel
• Northern Cardinal
• Nuthatch
• Purple Finch
• Red-winged Blackbird (flocks!!)
• Spring Peeper

Prairie Pasque Flower currently in bloom. Spring Peepers downright strident in the evening; chorus frogs now joining in.

Prairie Pasque Flower currently in bloom. Spring Peepers downright strident in the evening; chorus frogs now joining in.

Green Frog spotted in the pond, while Columbine and Pasque Flower are cropping up in the garden. Black cherry starting to bloom in the backyard.