Spring flowers are feasts for bees

In years past, mid-April has been when the crocus peak, but the crocuses are already done. This year, most of the flowers are at least two weeks early. In fact, so much has been flowering in the last week, I’m having trouble keeping up. The bees are having a great spring. So while they are […]

Planted my garden plot today

Well, I’m finally recovered from NERAX, and plots are ready in the Watertown Community Garden, so today I went over to plant mine. Besides, Earth Day is a day to spend in the garden. Things are looking pretty spartan still at the community garden, and I had to circle around a few times to find […]

It’s not too cold for peach blossoms

The peach tree has clusters of pink blossoms poking out from the ends of its branches like brightly painted fingernails on fingertips. The plum tree is still covered with fluffy white blossoms, but it’s been too cold for many bees to show up. On one sunny day last week, a honeybee visited the plum tree […]

First flowers herald plum blossoms

First flowers are opening everywhere. The first forsythia. The first periwinkle. The first tulips. Even the first white puff of the cloud of craziness that the plum tree is preparing to unfold. Yesterday, while I was outside admiring the flowers, a downy woodpecker came to visit the feeders It flew almost directly at me, only […]

Surprised by daffodils

I’m not used to springlike weather in March. I’m not used to whole clumps of daffodils bursting open at once. I’m not used to spending the vernal equinox wishing I had put shorts on. But with the flowers coming up and the bees coming out, I sure could get used to this!

Bees in the spring

I saw a honeybee visit the crocus today. A bumblebee seemed to be looking for a good spot under the crocuses to start her nest. Crocuses nestle in the sheltered pocket where snapdragons have stayed green all winter. Crocuses bloom around the plum tree, which has so many buds of blossoms to come, you see […]

Maple shoot raises a flag

I caught the first maple shoot popping out of the ground today. Thus warm weather has drawn it up to slowly unfurl its little green flag. It’s enough to make me think about spring. And pulling weeds.

It’s too warm for crocus

It’s just plain too warm today to get excited about crocuses, but here they are, the first ones in my yard. Oh yeah, and the snowdrops are looking very happy. Warm, cold, they don’t seem to care. They have flowering to do!

I’m dreaming about my Community Garden plot

I just got word today that I have a plot in one of the Watertown Community Gardens! I’ve been hoping to join a community garden for years. There’s plenty of room in my yard for bees and flowers and fruit, but not enough flat, sunny space to grow much by way of vegetables. Soon I’ll […]

Leap Snow

It’s snowing! For real snowing going-to-fall-until-tomorrow-morning snowing. Just now, it’s in the stage where it’s sticking to branches and looking pretty. It’s particularly nice on evergreens with that dark green and white contrasty thing going on. The ground is warm enough, so it’s not sticking to the paths yet. Yet.