March 30, 2025

Over the past week, Spring has inexorably inserted itself into the life of this part of the country.  Well, whatever inexorably means!   Over the past few days, we've seen Winter Aconite burst into patches of light purple Crocus and Honeybees (that's Western Honeybees, we only have this one species) turn almost overnight into dark purple Crocus and Honeybees.  What I didn't know is that the gorgeous Winter Aconites are NOT Native here, but have done a great job of turning themselves Native, whatever that means.  I don't know how I feel about having that brilliant yellow out there in front of my eyes earlier as opposed to never. 

Here is another color of Crocus.  And to the right is a small outcropping of Psylla.  I love this blue!

After a few days of quite warm weather, March 20 has become cold but the Pond water is getting into the 50's, and so it is now possible to offer a few shreds of fish food to the Fishes and they will have an eager nibble.  The water heater isn't coming on so it is probably time to pull it out.  But the water temperature hasn't quite stabilized.  Yesterday, March 19, was an interesting viewing day.  I had a good time waiting for the Frogs to come out.  Here is a little fellow at about 10:48 am.  At about the same time, on the other side of the pond, this sizable Female (maybe 5 or 6 inches long) came out to check on us.

The Frogs didn't seem too shy, so I just clicked away. I particularly like this second little photo showing a little male Frog.  A friend asked today if I had spotted the one I called Tonguesy who was so obvious last year.  I have to admit I haven't seen him - yet. Have you?  He seemed to have bitten his tongue.

This was a good week for all manner of creatures.  I don't know how many of you have ever heard that one particular Butterfly is fond of showing up in a an early spring or otherwise surprising setting  - the  Mourning Cloak Butterfly (below left) is the one, and it was out back for several hours on March 19th.  There were several other unusual creatures spotted lately.  The second one seen below is an example of a Snail-killing Fly (genus Sepedon).  Are you surprised?   The third one is a Marsh Fly in genus Dictya.  Actually both are Marsh Flies.  The shape of the antennae shows the relationship, I think.

Here is the Eastern Boxelder Bug - have we seen it since Fall?  Only indoors!  But here it is outdoors again.  Picture 2 was a surprise - the bell-like creation seems to have been made by one of the many kinds of Typical Paper Wasps.  

The Hellebores out front are actually budding  and beyond.  See especially pictures 2 and 3.

Also out front, the Orange Poppies that were so beautiful last May (?) are growing nicely too.  I believe that shortish plant is Grape Hyacinth.

Ants all over - but they all seem to be the same species - the American Winter Ant!  And the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Halyomorpha halys - another common common Bug!  Hmm, I wonder what Beetle or Bug I could find to fill out this row.  How about an Asian Lady Beetle?  Where might I find one of those?  

Here is something we don't see every day.  But today it was apparently warm enough - I went out with the can of Fishy Food and sang the Here, Fishes Fishes Fishes song - and guess what!  The fishes came over to where I was standing and did their best idea of acting interested. When I sprinkled Fishy Food (seen here as whitish dots) onto the water, they went running to get it.  I do believe this changes the Fish Food situation for the Springier!

So, my friends, it does seem we have turned a corner on the Spring thing.  I do hope you will be able to get out and enjoy whatever is happening in your neck of the woods.  Please keep your thoughts turned to Nature and have a wonderful week!  Love, Martha