Not many yet. Nights are still dipping into the low 40s/the occasional 30s, and most days have been chilly, cloudy, and windy.

These spring beauties (Claytonia virginica) have been popping up every spring for at least the last 10-12 years. They occupy a little patch right beside the driveway, blooming, fading, then dying back to nothing until the next spring. I really should move them eventually, but I’ve read that they don’t transplant well. Hoping that carving out a large, deep square of surrounding dirt/lawn lessens the level of disturbance.

spring beauties

The crocuses said “so long” a couple of weeks ago. The hellebore are still going strong. The daffodils. Unfortunately, it’s been too cloudy, chilly, and windy for the pussy willow catkin scent to waft through the backyard.

catkins!

It’s a lovely, underrated scent, like milkweed—when it’s warm and the catkins are open, it draws all kinds of bees and butterflies. I’m disappointed that the current round of wind and cold prevents that.

I’m looking forward to the crabapples blossoming. I can smell them from the back deck on still, sunny days. Also, bees.

One unexpected sign of spring has been the regular visitation of the neighborhood Cooper’s hawk. I used to see it no more than once or twice during any given Spring, but this year it’s been dropping by every other day or so. It has…succeeded in nabbing a meal once or twice; other times, the sparrows and finches manage to flee, leaving Coop to sit and wonder where everybird could possibly be.

Coop!