spring

All posts tagged spring

That four-letter word that starts with “s”

Posted by Photonstopper on March 26, 2010
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Not Down for the Count
Not Down for the Count

Yeah, we got s*** last night! You heard me… snow! There, I said it! Two inches of heavy, icy, crap all over everything. It's supposed to be sunny today and the temps are over freezing now. I'm expecting to not have to deal with the frozen stuff –much– when we take Tasha to the vet late this morning. It's a followup visit and an expected second antibiotic injection. (She continues to improve, by the way.) In the mean time, as I've said before, it's a good thing those "delicate" spring flowers are really quite tough; look what happened to one in our patio garden.

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Thunderstorm?!

Posted by Photonstopper on March 23, 2010
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March Thunderstorms
March Thunderstorms

At 10:00 tonight we heard a low rumbling sound. I thought it was ambient sound effects on a TV show but it sounded like it might be coming from outdoors. I muted the TV and listened… more rumbling. I stepped outdoors into the cold, damp air. The overcast sky glowed the ugly red-orange of modern light-polluted suburbs, the night was quiet with little wind. I looked up, watched, and listened. Sure enough… a white flash lit the clouds directly overhead followed by the familiar low rumble of thunder. We've been hearing regular thunder for about an hour now! It's 38 degrees, quiet, misting, and there's a thunderstorm in progress as I write this! I guess it's spring, alright.

Image: National Weather Service

Update: Last night's storm went on 'til around midnight in our area ending with a crescendo of rain and thunder; the frequent booms startling me several times as I tried to fall asleep. Sadly a fire, apparently caused by a lightning strike, destroyed Cleveland's beautiful Euclid Avenue Congregational Church, A Romanesque building of Ohio sandstone dedicated at 9606 Euclid Avenue, in September 1887. Any portions of heat-weakend walls still standing will be demolished.

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I didn’t thin out their gene pool

Posted by Photonstopper on March 21, 2010
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On the way to the office today –yes, I worked yesterday and today– I spotted a great blue heron flying high overhead; the first heron I've seen this year. I also saw several male robins chasing each other around as they define their territories. One pair of robins nearly met their end as they eyed each other and hopped bit by bit, ever farther out into the road ahead of me! They seemed completely oblivious to the oncoming metal Bringer of Doom descending upon them. Or they may have been robins playing "chicken." This time of year many robins die on the roads as they get involved in their aerial territorial disputes that take them across roads and highways. I'm happy I didn't thin out their gene pool this morning!

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First flower

Posted by Photonstopper on March 17, 2010
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First Flower 2010
First Flower 2010

The first flower of the season opened at home today. We thought it would be a crocus budding nearby but, no, it was a miniature iris. Absolutely beautiful, even in the early evening shade, exploding out of the dark litter and mulch. Our worry over Tasha continues despite a fairly good weekend. While she did come out and welcome us home tonight, she continues to hide most of the time and, well, just doesn't act right. We fear it could be worse than "only" a skin problem. Kind of dampens our excitement over the flowers.

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An excellent, sunny day

Posted by Photonstopper on March 7, 2010
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The day dawned overcast but soon cleared to an amazing, dazzling intensely blue sky. We spent most of the day around the house: She, cooking, I finishing the publishing project. I ventured outdoors with camera in hand to enjoy the sunlight, shadows, textured snow, and fresh 45-degree (F) air.

Ice Planter
Ice Planter

Next to the door sits a planter, until recently covered in more than three feet of piled snow. The now-icy white stuff retreated gradually all day exposing a hopeful sign of spring… tiny green shoots poking out of the wet ground and out from under the miniature glacier.

Ice Plant
Ice Plant

We knew in our hearts those tough little plants would be waking up, even under the deep drifts; after all, they do it every spring. Still, it was good to see on this excellent, sunny day.

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A dandy day

Posted by Photonstopper on April 27, 2009
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I took the day off to tend to Observatory matters. After the work was done, it was time to relax and explore. The dandelion field is in a rural area of Portage County, Ohio. The skunk cabbage patch is along the Headwaters Trail of Portage (Ohio) Park District — a rail-to-trail conversion.

Dandy Day
Dandy Day

Eastern Skunk Cabbage
Eastern Skunk Cabbage

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We’re back!

Posted by Photonstopper on April 9, 2009
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Daffodils After the Snow
Daffodils After the Snow

Spring plants and flowers are tough… they have to be. The snow that had buried the daffodils a few days ago is gone now. The flowers open to greet a sunny morning. It looks like spring again! I grabbed this photo before leaving for work this morning to remember just how quickly things change.

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Hidden hyacinths, drooping daffodils

Posted by Photonstopper on April 7, 2009
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Hidden Hyacinths
Hidden Hyacinths

Just when we thought spring had firmly planted its feet in the warming soil, we got snow. Cold air from the north crossing the open waters of Lake Erie dropped several inches of fresh, wet snow on us overnight. It buried all those beautiful green shoots and gorgeous spring blooms. Now the hyacinths are hidden and the daffodils are drooping.

Drooping Daffodils
Drooping Daffodils

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First daffodil

Posted by Photonstopper on April 3, 2009
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First Daffodil of Spring 2009
First Daffodil of Spring 2009

Today was a fine day by 'most anyone's standards. The sky was powder blue, the air was warm (about 72 F) and a light breeze caressed the growing greenery.

In my travels home after work, I drove a portion of a nearby parkway. Wet areas in the surrounding woods play host to scores of spring peepers now singing loudly, advertising for sex. An amazing sound from such tiny creatures but the need is urgent for the puddle waters are temporary!

At home the tiny iris flowers (seen below) are shriveling and the daffodil flower buds are swelling. One flower, the first of the year, burst open.

I asked and She Who Must Be Obeyed steadied the bobbing bloom long enough for me to photograph it.

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