It was so beautiful in February, and now here we are halfway through April practically and it's cold. Okay, it's only the 4th of April. But still. It's been raining steadily all day. Hasn't stopped a robin from finishing it's nest, though. I found out about the construction when a robin landed on my windowsill with a beak full of twigs and stared me down. I waited until the bird dropped below sight and then discovered they built it conveniently under my living room window in a nandina bush. I'm looking forward to my own bird's eye view of the eggs.
I
think this is a blue gray gnat catcher. An ungainly name for such a delicately pretty bird. A pair of them took refuge in the Harry Lauder's Walking Stick, which has just started to sprout tiny leaves and buds alongside its hanging catkins.
Me, I'm inside where it's warm and dry. But out on my screened in porch, hostas are pushing up through the soil of the planter boxes. Life returns, whether it feels like spring or not.
"and now here we are halfway through April practically and it's cold."
ReplyDeleteI know, can you believe how strange the weather has been? The wonderful spring weather we had last month has suddenly turned back to winter. It's not raining here, but it's windy and cold. I have a feeling when May hits, it's going to suddenly turn summer, with 90 degree temps.
Great photographs! LOVE the one of the blue gray gnat catcher. Wonderful close up!
X
I was so optimistic in February and now just sit and mutter about the weather. Practice for when I'm old, I guess.
DeleteAnd thanks!
Like everything, it's relative to expectations I suppose. Spring is an elusive thing up here, the past three days have been up to 60, tomorrow it's supposed to snow. This is the time of year that makes newcomers twitchy here, they expect spring, it shows them a bit of ankle, then snows a foot. They inquire earnestly when spring really gets here to stay, their shoulders slump when they hear 'June', maybe.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weather, and think kindly of the residents here who are looking out their windows, hollow-eyed with a tic at the edge.
As a Southerner, my expectations are high. I live here for a reason and that reason is warm weather. Not getting Spring until June would send me into a state of despair from which I would never emerge.
DeleteThose hosta buds look hopeful!
ReplyDeleteThey're hardy things, that's for sure.
Deletecool that the new life is starting to push through...we got a freak snow storm tonight...no one was calling for it...but we got 5 inches...insane...in april...not good...
ReplyDeleteYuck - then I guess I'm thankful we only got rain!
DeleteIt only feels like bad weather to you because you want it to be nice so badly.
ReplyDeleteNo, I think it feels like bad weather because it IS bad weather. It's April - that's late Spring for us.
DeleteFeels just like spring to me! That is, cold and rainy. Should be right nice by July.
ReplyDeleteNot here. It should be warm and sunny. And sweltering in July.
DeleteYesterday was our first nice day. I'm feeling hopeful!
ReplyDeleteToday the warm weather finally rolled around.
DeleteSame here, it’s warming up when the sun’s out but there are cold Easterly winds (all the way from Scandinavia) which go right through you.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you celebrated Easter, suitably seasonal. The birds are at it too.
The birds, the squirrels - everyone's at it.
DeleteI don't know what to wish for! Cold weather means blue skies and sun, warmer means grey skies and rain. I just WANT Spring. Love the birdy news, photos of Robin's eggs as appropriate please.
ReplyDeleteDon't you get clear skies and warmth? We get tons of those days.
DeleteI do hope to get some egg and, with any luck, baby robin photos.
Those birds weave some nifty homes for themselves, don't they? I'm always fascinated by how well they build nests.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid and we lived in a house with a front porch, we had various birds stop by to build nests on one of our windowsills on the porch. They struggled. The nests would slip off during construction and they'd have to start again. Then once the nests were built, the birds (especially the bluejays) would get territorial. I loved being able to look at the babies through the window, though, without getting pecked myself.
I am, too. So intricately woven.
DeleteI usually get a birds' nest in hanging baskets of flowers. I love that.
What wonderful pictures you shared. Love the nest with the red berries right there. Had to look up the Harry Lauder's Walking Stick, I had never heard of that before. Enjoy your weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you. The Harry Lauder is one of my all-time favorite shrubs.
DeleteThe plants here know it's Spring, even if the weather doesn't! ;)
ReplyDeleteYes they do. They have more faith than I do!
DeleteSpring has arrived ! No more snow! I predict you will soon be very very very happy--in days, not weeks
ReplyDeleteYou and me both, partner
Love
kj
I'll be happy with the weather anyway, and that's a start.
DeleteI'll trade you. It snowed today in my city, I'd like that rain please and thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou keep offering, but I'm not making that trade.
DeleteWe've recently had a garden make-over, with loads of new shrubs and two new rowan trees. We're also waiting for some warm summer weather so the new shrubs will start seriously growing. At the moment it's sunny but still pretty cold.
ReplyDeleteWe started getting warmer weather yesterday, and I'm thankful.
Deletewe're having the same weather problems. i'm a little afraid we're going to skip spring and go directly to summer.
ReplyDeleteit will be fun to watch the bird's nest though!
I'll take that, but I hope for a least a spell of Spring-like weather.
DeleteWeather. Here is volleys between overcast dampness and summer heat. Sometimes in the same day. I guess that is what passes for Spring :)
ReplyDeleteIt will be so fun being able to watch that bird nest!
We get days like, that, too. No sign of life in the nest, which worries me.
Delete