Tuesday, March 15, 2016

After the rain comes Spring. . . . . .


The rain came down in buckets last night, thunder crashed directly
 overhead, nonstop lightning illuminated the trees off and on for
several hours.


Earlier in the afternoon the sun was shining and it reached 81F.
Looking through the window upstairs (sorry, there's a screen so photos
 are a bit grainy) I noticed how the trees were extending their beautiful
 buds toward the sunlight.

I was also able to catch this male White-Breasted Nuthatch on a branch.
This is the bird we usually see hopping headfirst down tree trunks which is
apparently a way to see insects that birds climbing up the trunk might miss!
Incredible agility comes from the extra long hind toe claw, nearly twice the
size of the front toe claws - if you look closely you can see it wrapped around
the little twig.  Mated pairs remain together all year defending small territories.
 The female is similar in color but has a grey cap and neck. Together they build
 the nest and have one brood of 5-7 eggs per year. Both parents feed the young.




The sun is brilliant this morning and the garden is radiant with the buds
bursting and fresh leaves unfurling.
Sadly many of the daffodils were flattened in the storm - the ones that
refuse to stand up again I'll be cutting later for a vase. 


"Is the spring coming?" he said. "What is it like?"
    "It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling
 on the sunshine". . . . . . 

                                    Frances Hodgson Burnett ~ The Secret Garden


7 comments:

  1. You caught spring storming in with these wonderful photos. I think she should waltz in, but a
    thunderstorm entrance is quite spectacular. We had a rare February thunderstorm some weeks ago...the first of 2016.

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  2. Love the nuthatch's and spring. Not the buckets of rain.

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  3. I didn't know that about the white breasted nuthatch's hind feet. How nice to see green leaves unfurling. I hear tomorrow we'll need umbrellas and Thursday, the shovels need to come out again. xx Pam

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  4. Wonderful photo of the nuthatch. He looks as if he's drinking from the sky. Our rain is letting up for a few days so it's time for outdoor activity!

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  5. Your knowledge of local birds always amazes and captivates me, Mary! We simply don't have these varieties here or your warm weather which I'm sure plays a huge part. Your pictures are always beautiful...screens or not!

    Very severe storms headed our way as I type...A and I will be keeping watch until late tonight. March is always odd here.

    Jane

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  6. Oh, The Secret Garden, my favorite book growing up. Deacon rules!
    Amalia
    xo

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  7. We've had a lot of rain here lately too, but temps only in the 40's. Beautiful photos, Mary!

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