Spring on steroids

April has been incredible so far. After a harsh winter, spring has exploded into a wonderland of color and new life. I call it spring on steroids. I look out any window and see flowers and blooming trees in every direction. The amazing thing is that many of these flowering plants almost never are out at the same time. Now they are all out in a frenzied blaze of color.

Usually, there is a predictable sequence. First daffodils in late February, then forsythia, then red bud trees, then flowering crabapple trees. Then in late April and May, we start to see dogwood trees and then in early may Azalea blooms. This year, the first week April greeted us with an uninterrupted string of 80 degree days. That gave the new growth a boost. We are seeing azaleas in bloom, along with the last of daffodils and forsythia.

Here are a few shots showing the unlikely combinations of bloomers. It's beautiful; enjoy your version of spring in Bittersweet Woods while you can.

March madness?

So many things compete for our attention these days - healthcare reform and March madness - NCAA basketball tournament, among others. I will settle for just being outside on these beautiful 70 degree days. We are clearing away some monstrous multiflora rose bushes. I played golf yesterday. The mud along the hiking trail is mostly dried up (for now).

I saw the first bluet and spring beauty wildflowers today. Toothwart is just starting to appear. There is a gnarly black-looking algae in the stream; hope it goes away soon. Heard the first rufous-sided towhee today. A small garter snake slithered along the stepping stone at the start of the trail. We saw several tick-size orange bugs today on elm trees and nearby ground ivy - any idea what those are? Some kind of mite, maybe. We have never seen those before.

Bittersweet Woods is coming alive again. Life is good.

Today

About now winter starts to drag. It's been more harsh than usual this year. No golf since early December; colder and a little more snow than usual. It becomes a waiting game - waiting for warm weather, for snow cover to leave so we can cut up some firewood piled up higher than normal, for the next day warm enough for golf (high temps in the 40's will be sufficient for desperate golfers), and until we head to Florida in a couple of weeks.

But constantly looking ahead robs me of today, of right now. Today will never come this was again, according to some song lyrics I remember. So make the best of every day. Actually, there is plenty to enjoy if I merely pay attention. Most of it I take for granted....like my faith, family, and friends.

And there is so much more. There is classical music, news from the BBC, and my digital picture frame. Our dogs are a constant source of amusement. Outside in Bittersweet Woods, deer and turkey have been active, creating energy-dissipating entertainment for Gabbie and Tess. Tufted titmice and Chickadees flit around in the tree canopy along the trail. And there is so much going on behind the outdoor scene. Beneath the heavy snow cover, snow bell flowers (left below) are getting ready to bloom; ditto for lenten rose (right). Soon we'll see daffodil shoots



Then there is the weather - often the archenemy in winter time. Yesterday's snowfall was beautiful. It was even better because our neighbor Dan plowed our driveway.


So, stop being impatient for the next big (or better) thing. Focus on the journey as well as the destination. Yesterday's gone; "...do not worry about tomorrow...(Matthew 6:34). Today's the day. The dogs would agree.

Critters in Bittersweet Woods

There are many different forms of animal life in Bittersweet Woods. Many are not native to the area. We have adopted some of them and brought them to live in Bittersweet Woods. They bring of lots of enjoyment and reminders of past trips and experiences. What critters are in your corner of Bittersweet Woods?

















Gabbie and Tessie

First snow

November was very warm, sunny, and dry - unusual from most years. We enjoyed golf and late day walks almost every day. But we are paying for that now with a stretch of 2-3 weeks of really (for here) cold weather. The first snow on December 5 was a mere dusting. It was just enough to silhouette downed trees in the woods and create a filigree on evergreen trees.



Today, December 19, a monster snow storm moved up the east coast. We caught some of the back side of that storm. Fortunately, it was not enough to require shoveling our rather long driveway. Whew - close call. But the wet snow and calm winds combined to created a beautiful lacework of snow covered branches in Bittersweet Woods.



Gabbie and Tess loved it, racing through the fresh powder, leaving rooster tails of glittering snow dust behind them. They are the consumate explorers; all smells and sights take on a new aura in the snow. In a few days all of this will disappear. Time to enjoy it now.