Spring, After Snow.

We've had two snow squalls since Spring Equinox. They didn't amount to much and were quite lovely at the time, but still...

The local bunch of backyard birds, including this Carolina Chickadee,

were happy for a long-overdue refill of the feeders.

The water snails were out and about, never mind that 24 hours previously their pond was full of slush. The hovering one is actually using the underside of the surface tension of the water to get around...

The former property owner of my acreage planted a lot of trees to fill in what once was an agricultural field. She got it half right, with hemlock (above) and other natives or at least near-natives. (I must admit that I do like the Mediterranean Cedar, however; so does the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.)

The silver maple is still in flower. I really liked the look of this fallen bunch that landed in some water.

The snow didn't bother the crocuses one bit, either. The "dew" drops are melted snow, though...

We now return you to our normal...

Season. Ick, blah, yech. Typical cold, damp, dreary, raw spring day here in the coastal Mid-Atlantic region. So I give you a few bright spots from a couple of weeks ago...

An azure-colored, um, azure. (Large group of little blue butterflies, Azures.)

He's real, even if he likes to pose like he's a pond ornament.

Blue Corporal, who may or may not turn blue as it/s/he ages.

Happy to report that last time I checked, the big green ogre above had not eaten the wee little Painted Turtle. So long as they each stick to their own ends of the pond, all should be well.

Why do the invasive non-natives have to be the first things to bloom? (Well, getting a head start over the locals is probably part of what makes them successful invasive outsiders.) Top is a Quince. False Quince? Oh, it just gets too confusing... Bottom beauty is some kind of crabapple. Maybe. Needs further investigation. But in the meantime, it's lovely to look at.