I have mixed feelings about the arrival of June because it spells the end of spring and the beginning of summer. On the one hand, I am dreading the hot weather and being trapped inside the house with the air conditioning. On the other hand, I am excited about the change and looking forward to things like the summer solstice, the chorus of annual cicadas, twinkling fireflies, and long evenings.
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When April Feels Like May
The first thing I noticed upon leaving the house was that all of the typical springtime flowers are done and gone. We already have quite a few of what I grew up calling “summer” flowers. Some iris, a few peony (although mostly spent at this point), and lots of roses are blooming.
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Watching the Evening Sky
The sun is setting, giving us yet another beautiful sunset. The giant glowing orb slowly sinks out of sight leaving a wash of color in its wake. Sitting outside on the balcony I can hear chickadees, chimney swifts, and the occasional robin still chattering away, even though it’s getting late. They sing as if to bid the sun goodnight.
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The World is Awake Again
Spring is well on its way and things are rapidly unfolding. Most of March felt like nothing was happening but now things are changing in leaps and bounds. Signs of new growth are multiplying like a fireworks display approaching the finale, with overlapping sounds and bursts of color everywhere you look. It seems everyday there is something new blooming or leafing out.
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A Delicate Green Veil
Outside the birds are singing. I can finally see tiny leaves appearing on the trees and I swear they were not there yesterday. The grass has started to grow again, showing short stems and vibrant green leaves. The wild Common Blue Violets (Viola sororia) have blossomed and their tiny blueish-purple flowers dot the grassy areas.
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In Search of Spring
The edges of the snow seem to be receding. Everywhere around me is the sound of water dripping as the snow melts. Soon, it will all be gone. Especially since the high for today is expected to hit 60°F, which feels insanely warm for February. Perhaps I should go for a walk later.
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From Frost to Thaw Again
Father Winter has returned, bringing with him cold temperatures and bitter wind (high of 28F). The birdsong from yesterday has vanished as if it had never been. I suppose the robins are all huddled in their beds and shan’t come out to play today. A few snowflakes are buffeted about on their way to the ground. They almost seem to fly upwards instead of down.
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Rain Turns to Arctic Blast
The wind is howling through the trees, causing their branches to sway wildly. The unseasonably warm (57°F) rain from yesterday has been replaced overnight by below freezing temperatures (26°F) and harsh winds. A smattering of ice pellets has been sprinkled about. I braved the cold and the wind to try to take a few photographs… I’m not sure it was worth it.
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More Winter Weather
Friday, December 12, 2025 Snow overnight! Looks like we got about 1.5″. It stopped falling sometime after 7 am. Somehow its already begun to melt, even though its below freezing (30°F). Maybe it’s the copious amount of salt on the road? Still, it’s enough to coat everything in a blanket of white. The air is a bit misty, but only when looking at things in the distance. I love it when the snow sticks to […]
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Birds Gather in the Underbrush
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 December Rain A wet and wild day with random strong gusts of wind. The sky was quite heavily overcast earlier, making for a very sleepy and slow start to the morning. It’s now past noon and it seems that the rain has passed, leaving everything outdoors looking damp and soggy. The understory shrubs have finally (for the most part) lost their leaves, so that practically everything outside my window has been […]
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