Nature Notes: Breathing Easier

Now that we are past the mid point of April, I'm breathing much easier because I think we'll squeak by without a hard freeze this month.

The pecan tree above with the house finch in it is one example of what I was worried about if we had a hard freeze.

I've mentioned before that one April the pecan tree lost all of its first leaves to low temperatures and had to start over again.

In the NC piedmont, our average last freeze date is mid April and although it can be later the forecast looks good. The American Robin above was enjoying a bath and the squirrel in the second shot was enjoying bird seed I put out on a cold morning.

The mourning dove above was having a stroll on my deck. I bought bird seed in late February when we had a little snow and had saved what I didn't put on in case we had a spring snow. I'm pretty sure we're long past any snow so on the colder mornings I put out treats.

I like the touch of yellow on the sparrow above. It makes me think of a little jewel above each eye.

The brown thrashers are so much fun to watch.

I got several wide open mouth shots of the brown thrasher and used one on my other blog and saved the one above for nature notes.

I think the brown thrasher above looks like its taking a bow.

The American Robin above looks like its preparing for a dive but I need to fill up the pool.

The sparrow above is walking on its shadow.

The house finch couple above make a cute pair.

In the shot above the sparrow has expanded with its bath.

The evening primrose (shot above) usually bloom in May but like many flowers are early this year.

The money plant above is blooming in my wild jungle of a garden.

The hydrangea above is forming buds and the red rose below is considerably earlier than most years.

The bumble bee below was enjoying the kolkwitzia blossoms.

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