Emergence, when, or not?

This morning we enjoyed a pleasant surprise as we went to rehang the bird feeders. A herd of about half a dozen whitetail deer were knoshing their way across the yard and into the woods' edge. Later, while returning from an essential trip to the bank so we could complete an essential visit to the food co-op, we noticed a pair of swans flying away from the Carlos Avery Sunrise pools. Against a cloud-covered sky, swans in flight are enough to make me believe in angels. Moments ago a trio of ducks whisked past the treetops toward the open water pools to the West. Thunderstorms are in tomorrow's forecast. Regardless of #Stay-At-Home orders for humans, life in the other than human world goes on without a hitch.

marsh marigolds emerging

Photo by J. Harrington

Soon, I hope, marsh marigolds will begin to emerge. Then they'll come into bloom. I always find they bring an extra dose of cheeriness to the countryside in early Spring. Sometime shortly after Easter I expect to see a marigold bloom begin this year. We'll see how close I come to estimating peak marigold bloom occurring late this month.

beach plums, condition largely the same as last year

Photo by J. Harrington

Meanwhile, I'm growing concerned about the beach plum plants that spent the Winter in  pots in front of the downstairs windows. The two that had some green leaves when we brought them in  last Autumn still have some green leaves. The two that had no living leaves still have none. None of the four seem to be showing any signs of life. It's getting to be fingers crossed time. It's almost as though bringing them into the house put  them into a state of suspended animation or  arrested development.

Don't forget to check for the (almost) full supermoon tonight and the full supermoon tomorrow.

Marsh Marigold 

by Jennifer Schlick

Caltha palustris

Nectar oozes from a pair of pits
beside each carpel in the crowded flower
variously known as water gowan
or meadow gowan, marsh
marigold or Marybuds,
water dragon, solsequia,
great bitterflower, king cups,
crazy bet or leopard’s foot,
May blobs or water blobs,
mollyblobs, pollyblobs,
cowlily or cowslip,
soldier buttons, palsywort,
water bubbles or water-goggles,
meadowbouts, capers,
water crowfoot, verrucaria,
gollins or the publican,
drunkards, gools. 

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