On early summertime flowers, thoughts about noticing, and a season feeling out of step.
A Note to the Reader: First of all, thanks for being here! You are greatly appreciated. The following post covers a span of about 2 weeks, from the end of April into May, as well as the bits and bobs I’ve been noticing along the way. I’m sure I am not the only one who has been observing things happening extra early this year, which leaves me feeling a touch out of rhythm with the season. It’s a little disorienting when mid-April feels like the end of May, and May feels like June.
Monday, April 27, 2026
Mostly sunny but cool to start the day. The sun made it’s presence known when I sat outside the coffee shop and I was glad I had put sunscreen on. On the bright side, I didn’t get a headache, so that is a really good sign! (I tend to be sensitive to bright light, and going outside on a really sunny day often gives me a headache). The better part of the day was quite comfortable and I had the windows open for a long while. Somewhere between 5:30 and 6 pm, a storm system slowly moved in. Thankfully, it was not accompanied by strong winds. It did, however, bring some much needed rain along with the occasional rumble of thunder.
A few other notes:
- The peonies down the street look like they are about to burst any day now.
- There was a robin singing outside our bedroom window at 5 am this morning. Typical.
- Yesterday, I saw Chimney Swifts flying over the path by the playground, which is a new location for me to spot them in. It seems they are around all day long, over the entire hilltop.
- And I keep finding these odd little black bugs with white spots.
Turns out the tiny black bugs were juvenile Spotted Lanternfly nymphs (the larger one with red is closer to the adult stage). Upon discovering this, I submitted a report of my sighting to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Having never reported something like this before, I was curious to see if anything would come of it. A few minutes later, I received an automated email response, “Thank you for reporting the spotted lanternfly (SLF). Unfortunately, Hamilton county is experiencing a widespread infestation. Nonetheless, reports from affected areas are valuable for monitoring the extent of the infestation.” Oh great! Not what I was expecting, but thanks for the information.
From April 28th: I’ve been watching and waiting, stopping by to check on them now and again. As of this morning, these gorgeous white peonies have just begun to open. Their petals are delicately adorned with droplets from last night’s storm. The orbs of water look like tiny beads of crystal. A small but precious moment of nature’s beauty.
Wednesday, April 29
It’s a dark and damp morning. A gentle mist is falling over the city. The distant hills look dim in a haze of low hanging cloud. The moisture in the air lands softly on my skin but it’s a bit too chilly and I am glad my walk is short today.
Upon returning home, I make a shocking discovery… locally grown strawberries are already available this season! What? It’s April! I can’t believe it. Apparently, they are about 2 weeks earlier than normal. Really hoping to go pick some soon. There is nothing quite like a freshly picked, truly ripe strawberry! (They also happen to be my favorite!).
Monday, May 11, 2026
The air is cool and crisp with a gentle breeze blowing. Currently, 69°F with mostly clear skies. Between the rainy weather and not feeling well, its been quite some time since I last went for a walk. Today is sunny and beautiful, so I had to get outside and see what I could see.
The first thing I noticed upon leaving the house was that all of the typical springtime flowers are done and gone (daffodil, hyacinth, tulips, etc.). 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. As I have mentioned before, everything seems extra early this year. It is like a strange premature summer, just without the heat and humidity.
The Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) trees1 have been flowering and many are slightly past peak now. They seemed to bloom a little bit after the Black Locust. Long before I knew it’s name, I have admired the Catalpa for it’s extraordinarily large leaves. It seems so different than all the other trees. For reasons I can’t quite explain, it makes me think of Jack and the Bean Stalk. Perhaps it’s because it resembles what I imagine a bean plant would look like if it were a tree.
Further along, I was surprised to find that the Mock Berry (Potentilla indica), also known as Mock Strawberry, have already produced fruit. Their small red berries create quite the contrast, nestled against the green grass. Unlike true strawberries, these have yellow flowers and their fruit points upwards instead of drooping down.
At the nearby park, some lovely purple Salvia is flowering in abundance. Red clover has also come into it’s own, vigorously blossoming where ever its been left to grow. The season has continued to shift and move onward. Even in a week’s time, there are so many new things to notice.
Later that evening I went out on the back balcony looking for bats again (this is a continuation from my recent Postcard No. 2 – Watching the Evening Sky post). Unfortunately, I didn’t see any. I think I was too late (~9:25 pm EST). I did catch a glimpse of something larger flying into the tree canopy. My best guess is an owl of some sort, but this is based purely on the size of it’s silhouette. It was definitely not a bat (way too big) and hawks are not active at night. I will have to try again tomorrow.
Big Brown Bats
The Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus),2 or should I say bigger little brown bat? The name suggests they are quite large, when in fact, they are relatively small. Using birds for comparison, they fall somewhere between a Sparrow and an American Robin, and are roughly twice as big as the Little Brown Bat, which is less common nowadays. Like most bugs and black animals, bats get quite the bad reputation. While some people may think they are cute, others find them terrifying. Personally, I enjoy watching them fly against the evening sky, pleased with the knowledge that they like to munch on mosquitos. Without further ado, a few bits about bats that you might find interesting.
Facts About the Big Brown Bat
- They are insectivorous, meaning they primarily eat insects, making them beneficial for controlling many pest populations. According to the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, “A small colony of 25 bats can eat a pound of insects every night.”
- Their preferred food source is beetles.
- They come out to feed before dawn and again after dusk.
- They use echolocation to detect their prey.
- Roosting sites often include caves, mines, tree cavities, buildings, and under bridges.
- The Big Brown Bat does not migrate like some species, but instead they hibernate over the winter.
- Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight.
- Generally speaking, these bats pose no threat and do not behave aggressively toward humans. However, they can carry the rabies virus.
- As such, you should never try to touch a wild bat. Especially one that is behaving abnormally or is active during daylight hours. If one gets into your house you should call animal control.3
Choosing Where Your Attention Goes
Lately, I have seen a great deal of discussion online about “doom scrolling,” switching to analog hobbies, and intentionally spending less time on our phones. While I am certainly in favor of leaving my phone behind, I think there is an opportunity here for something a bit deeper. Rather than drawing a hard line between “good” and “bad” technology, perhaps this is an invitation to become more aware of how we are using our tech, or perhaps, how we are allowing it to use us.
From my perspective, a smartphone is simply a tool. Like any other tool, it can be used for good or for bad, and everything in-between. Ultimately, it depends upon what the user chooses to do with it. Over the past several decades, our devices have become increasingly skilled at competing for our time and attention, which makes intentionality all the more important.
As I am sure you well know, time and attention are limited, precious resources. You cannot reclaim the hour spent mindlessly scrolling Instagram. Our lives are only so many minutes, hours, and days long. I say this as a reminder to myself as much as anyone else: you should be the one deciding where your time and attention goes. Do not let an algorithm or inanimate object make that decision for you.
Final Thoughts
Relating all of this back to Seasonfold and this post. A meaningful nature observation practice begins with learning to direct your attention intentionally. Noticing nature is, in many ways, an exercise in reclaiming your focus.
This does not require anything elaborate. Begin by simply setting aside a few moments each day to observe something happening around you. It might be as simple as looking out the window, watching the movement of clouds, listening to birdsong, or tending to a few potted plants.
What matters most is the repeated act of returning your attention to the natural world (or subject of interest). Like any skill, focus can be strengthened through practice and repetition. Gradually, this habit improves your ability to focus on one thing at a time, deepens your sense of connection, and helps you notice what is so often overlooked.
Nature has much to offer those who choose to pay attention.
“Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.”
– E.B.White
- Northern Catalpa Tree – https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/plants-trees/broad-leaf-trees/northern-catalapa-Catallpa-speciosa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalpa_speciosa ↩︎ - Big Brown Bat – https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/animals/mammals/big-brown-bat
https://www.batcon.org/bat/eptesicus-fuscus/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_brown_bat ↩︎ - Ohio Dept. of Health – https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/zoonotic-disease-program/animals/bats ↩︎