Tangled Branches: Cultivated
happenings in and around my zone 6b gardens in northern Virginia and in central Virginia
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Spring or Winter?
Every time I declare spring, it snows. I was just thinking of declaring spring after last weekend in the country, so snow is in the forecast.
Last weekend in Central Virginia, the weather was warm enough to open the windows and air out the house. The sound of spring peepers (or something) drifted in on the breeze (more like a gale, actually). I wandered around the woods looking for wildflowers or fiddleheads, but it was still too early. The maple trees are starting to bud out. The birds were singing noticeably more than the previous weekend. Our well-fed suburban birds have been singing for weeks, but I think the rural birds were still just trying to stay alive. Now the bugs are starting to come out and they can think of other activities. I didn't see any deer, but did find their tracks in the mud, however those were nowhere near the recently planted woodies. So far, so good.
Back to those spring peepers for a moment. According to what I've read on the internet, spring peepers are nocturnal. So then, what was I hearing during the daylight? They started about 10:30 in the morning and went until late afternoon. The sound was coming from the brushy side of the stream. I tried to look for the critters, but could see nothing. I found a site with sounds of a dozen frogs and toads, but none of these sound like what I remember. So the identity of the croaking creatures remains to be discovered.
In Northern Virginia, a few more crocus flowers popped open yesterday. I do mean popped open. Sunday I swear there was nothing there - hardly even any leaves; Monday - flowers. And some of the very early narcissus are open. Pictures soon.
A rare bird stopped by this afternoon - a pine warbler. I guess they really aren't all that rare, but this is only the second time I've seen one in the backyard. Not rare at all, but very welcome, a large flock of robins was rummaging through the leaves in the woods late in the afternoon.
Did I mention there's a snow advisory for tomorrow?
4 Comments:
Technically, bullfrogs are nocturnal, but that doesn't stop them from being active in the day. Frogs just like to sing, especially in mating season.
Nice presentation, look forward to reading more of your obsevations. Flara and fauna seem as perplexed as we are by this unseasonal weather!
They used to say it was safe to plant when the lilacs leafed out in Northern Illinois, but they were fooled once in awhile.
The pecans are pretty good at avoiding late frosts here in Austin. The peaches are opening, but the pecans aren't swelling so I'd bet it's not safe to plant the tomatoes quite yet.
Annie
Millionbells: We can look forward to frog serenades all spring then, right?
Colin & Carol: Thanks for the compliment! Just this afternoon, I heard a science fiction writer on the radio, talking about the possibility that the Gulf Stream ocean current might weaken or shut down. He speculated that we could end up with more intense cold spells than we're used to. I imagine there would be even bigger problems in Europe if that happened.
Annie: I always think the native plants are smarter about when to emerge than the garden imports. Our redbuds and dogwoods still look like the middle of winter. I haven't even planted my tomato seeds yet.
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