May 1, 2016

I guess am going to witness the entire transition to spring after being away for a couple of weeks.  To make sure I get the full effect, mother nature provided one more taste of winter, painting the world white and covering the budding trees with ice.

A touch of snow on April 27

The black cherry received a good coating of ice.

Cherry Buds encased in ice

I will watch these buds for the next couple of weeks to see how they develop.  I'm guessing they have evolved to be able to survive a late spring freeze and still produce fruit, unlike the more fragile cultivated varieties of fruit trees, but we'll see.... 

It didn't take long for the snow to disappear as soon as as the sun came out.

7:00 am and melting quickly

I did some boundary monitoring in the Eames Conservation area and was treated to some beautiful blue spring skies.

Views in the woods are still expansive with no leaves on the trees, but the black flies have come out.  They don't last long, but the mosquitoes will follow shortly.

I also saw signs that moose have been in the area.

Moose droppings among the dry oak leaves

The blueberry bushes have started to bud, rendering the first of many teases of the long awaited treat of fresh blueberries this summer.

Warmer spring temperatures have roused the very first of the wildflowers, the Trailing Arbutus. 

These tiny fragrant flowers grow only about one inch above the forest floor

It is just the start of a captivating season on the lake, pretty enough to make it worth the torment of black flies and mosquitoes to witness the artistry of nature.