Spring is in the air

[new 2 this]

Looking at the birds in my garden today I could see lots of playful stuff going on, I'm no expert but it looked like courting behaviour to me. Lots of birds pairing off too. :D

It smelled spring fresh today too and I figure it won't be long until the chicks arive, our friendly robin has found a mate this year, last year he remained a constant visitor and bachelor, so hopefully we'll get more robins, according to an old book I have they will lay their eggs this month all the way through to July...5-8 too, fingers crossed the cats stay away, not seen any in our patch the last few days but saw some lurking in our neighbours garden amongst the bushes.....grrrr! :cat:

The Starlings don't start til June but they seem to be partnering up....could we be heading for an early spring...the birds would know this, yes? Crow in March, doesn't seem to be behaving differently yet. Lastly the Magpie is getting very noisy am, why? It isn't supposed to mate until April, do you suppose he is looking for a mate or is it a spring call. Suddenly lots of House sparrows about, again my book says February. They were all paired up so it looks like it's going to get steadily busier here soon. :cool:

Anyone else got any signs of spring? I noticed at our local garden centre on Monday that all the daffs were ready to bloom and all the spring plants are there, looked all stocked up for a Monday. :D

The wildbird food area looked very riffled, all the birdfeeders were reduced too so anyone wanting a bargain might get lucky, though I spotted some defects so beware. I resisted temptation and stuck to my list...plantfood, pots, soil and geraniums. I need a new tree, anyone know of a stockist online who sells plum and apple trees? The birds will love them...they are mad for our 3 small cherry trees! :bounce:

[IanF]

We had Coal Tits checking out the 'roosting pockets' yesterday and Blue Tits in both nest boxes thoughout the day. It's mild at the moment but still a bit early by about six weeks for us before the nest building usually starts.

[new 2 this]

Had a brilliant day on the bird front today, saw a Grey wagtail, it is the same small bird I had spotted before but couldn't identify, it moved too quickly last time. They are supposed to like water and there is a pond nearby so there may be more :-)

Bins working better today, I cleaned them...don't know why I didn't think of this before ;-)

Glad everyone else is enjoying the spring goings on, it is my favorite time of the year too, so nice to know we are moving away from winter dullness. :-)

Got to dash, internet access hours almost gone.

[T0ny]

Flung open my door today, to be greeted by Skylark song from the field over the road - spring is sprung, all right !

Tony

[seb_seb]

if your roosting pockets are that brush material then keep a look out for squirrels and make sure they cant get to it....they like to destroy the pocket.and the worst bit eat the babies and eggs inside. any americans want their squirrels back id be happy to export them to you!

[Paul 42]

I'm starting to get fed up now with all this talk of Spring "up North". Down here in France we are still in the grips of Winter. Below zero again this morning and snow forecast for this afternoon. Only signs of Spring have been Great Tits checking out sites in the yard. Oh, yesterday two male Blackbirds squabbling over a female. Looks like Spring is gonna be late here this year.

[MikePearson]

Bright sunshine here after two dismal days. Also had some new guests in the garden, long tailed tits.

It just gets better and better.

:t:

[LuBird]

I'm sorry Paul 42, but I feel better somehow, after reading your post. We have had a real Pennsylvania,USA winter,but no temps were below zero so far. Today it started out 6 Degrees above Zero, and is steadily rising. I watch the Birds in the drive for signs of spring,but so far they are still in their winter mode.

"Pauxatauny Phil" says 6 more weeks of winter,but I am not going to pay any attention to any ole "Groundhog" for weather predictions;)

[BirdWatcher]

Despite having one of the snowiest and coldest winters in the northeast USA I can remember, we are seeing a few signs of Spring 2003.

Longer daylight hours
My cat has started shedding
American Goldfinches are showing a few areas of brighter yellow feathers
Red-tailed Hawks are displaying courtship behavior
I am hearing Owls hoot-hoot-hooting for mates

BirdWatcher

[Rosah]

It shouldn't be long until spring here in south-central Texas. My goldfinches are also getting their bright yellow and black colors. They look pretty funny right now with just patches of bright color here and there. Only about 4 more weeks until my hummers arrive for the summer! I usually get them on March 15th or 16th.

[wandalf]

The mockingbird is singing later and later each evening. As you stated the goldies are showing deeper coloration and we know that means they will soon be leaving the area.
The plants are all sporting new leaves so hopefully they will not be burned with a light freeze before spring is truly here. Of course in Houston winter is more like spring than winter to the rest of you.

[MikePearson]

Yep the spadgers are definately getting frisky, one very cocky male was outrageously flirting with a couple of hens on my shed roof this afternoon.

;)

[Gaye Horn]

Robins are displaying here and flickers are drumming... ducks are in full breeding plummage and the smaller birds are really gearing up as well .. we expect that the meadowlarks will be here in about ten days and maybe sooner. The Mountain Bluebirds are back and the hummingbirds are three weeks away!!!
Bulbs are up and crocuses are blooming and I am in Canada!
Spring is definitely in the air...

[LuBird]

GAYE!!!! Hummers! Three weeks away! OH!OH!OH! I can't stand it! Wait for me,I will be there soon as I can!!!!!!!!!!!!!:bounce:

[new 2 this]

We had minus 5 last night and the ground and trees are very frosty but the courting and preparations for spring are still in full swing in my garden.

I saw a couple of sparrows pulling with their beaks at some pampus grass in my neighbours garden this morning. I am looking around the house for ideas of things that I could leave out in the garden to help them with their nests, I need to brush the dogs hair, so I'll put that out, anyone got any iother deas?

It is warming up now (12:14pm) and things are thawing out at last, but in the shade the weatherman says it won't thaw, so a cold day nevertheless.

The starlings are out in my next door neighbours garden preening and sunbathing in the sunnyiest part of the garden, the lovely sunshine must be a welcome sight for them after last nights cold, they take it all in their stride.

[Paul 42]

Well I decided if everybody else in the Northern Hemisphere is in Spring we should be too. Went out this morning, result- even colder than yesterday! Even Canada's looking at the tail-end of winter-not France. When I ring my family in England they think I'm in the deck-chair with me shorts on. I wish!! I blame global warning (or the government!! Still I met one of my mates from the council gardeners this morning who reckons we've only got about six weeks of winter left Didn't half cheer me up (not)!!!!

[new 2 this]

We had the mildest day yet for 2003 in the garden today. The birds were busy eating bugs am and only came for some food in the afternoon.

Lots of nest preparations going on, neighbourhood cats are loosing their winter fur everywhere which is a welcome thing for the birds. (At least they have some use, now if only they would only sleep all day like they should!!!, I keep shoing them away).

I noticed lots of buds on one of the trees in our neighbours garden, Lilac, it won't flower until May but it is always the first tree to get buds.

Lots of happy bird song around today too, the birds seem to be taking it in turn at my kitchen window to sing sweetly, first I had the robin then the sparrow, then the starling, felt very special.

Ripe fruit is very popular in the garden too, their was a que for it :-)

[Beverlybaynes]

The thought of lilac buds just makes me green with envy!

Aside from the longer daylight (had to discern through the falling and blowing snow of the last couple of days), I am hearing robins and cardinals beginning to sing. And this morning, in spite of 19F temps, I even heard cardinals singing before daylight!!

In the summer, the cardinals around here will begin singing as early at 4:15 a.m. on some mornings!

My goldies aren't turning yet, and anything with new growth is covered with snow. But it's basketball sectional time in Indiana, and only 3 weeks to NCAA Selection Sunday -- so spring can't be far away!!

[new 2 this]

Awww Beverlybaynes as much as I like Spring, I would love a bit more snow so my kids could make snowmen, and snow angels, go toboganing etc mind, the poor birds wouldn't like it....I bet your neighbourhood birds are very hungry at the moment, mine are dining on bugs, slugs and such, as well as my offerings, we even had a bumble bee fly into the house yesterday....I got it out alive and thought 'yup, spring is here'.

Indiana gets hot summers doesn't it? Ours are like American's spring unless we get a heat wave.

[Yve_M]

Ok, ok, that's enough, you've made me totally jealous. LOL We are still in the grips of winter. Two weeks ago we had our 500km sled dog races where we volunteer to be time keepers. It was -30C that night and we had to stay out until the last team came in at 02:28 in the morning! Needless to say we had two big fires going and ran the Land Cruiser every couple hours. This weekend it is the big Saskaloppet Cross Country Ski Race. We get 700 skiers in town skiing from 13km to 90km, with all sorts of distances in between. There is an overnight race too where they have to camp out overnight and the temps are predicted into the
-24C range. We won't be volunteering for a check point this year cause we are babysitting our 4 year old granddaughter. We'll be relegated to broomball, snowshoeing, kick sledding and long afternoon naps. Yeah, right, she who must be obeyed at the age of 4 years is a going concern, wish I had half her energy.
Hmmm, gone way off track here, signs of spring, longer daylight hours and yes the birds are courting, especially the Ravens.

[Tammie]

Don't worry Eve. You're not the only still in the firm grip of winter. It's a balmy -11C here right now and it's only been warmer than that (-7C) once this month! This 'warm' weather is only supposed to last a day or two, then we're dropping back down again. I have no sign of birds pairing up yet or anything and nobody's singing either. Their vocal cords are probably frozen! Only thing I've noticed is that my hairy woodpeckers have disappeared this week.
Obviously, Gaye isn't our part of Canada. Hummingbirds? I won't be seeing them for another 2.5 months yet at the earliest!
Keep warm!!

[new 2 this]

Wow, I didn't realize it got that cold in Canada, I have heard it is a dry cold not damp like here.

I grew up in cozy Vancouver, B.C., Canada from age 4yrs to 26 yrs then came back to England 13 yrs ago,(fell in love with a Brit who was backpacking around Canada) I never got past Edmonton, but that was in the Summer. Salt Spring Island is like home for me there, that is where we stayed first with family,but it is too built up now. I wish I'd done some bird spotting there in my childhood, it was so isolated then and I'm sure there were lots of varieties.

The thing I find hard to get used to is the small robins here, they are slightly larger than finches, just as lovely.

[Andrew]

When I went to Toronto and Niagara I saw the pictures of the falls completely frozen solid!!

[Paul 42]

Not as cold as Canada here but still at the backend of Winter here. Temperatures finally climbed above freezing for the last few days but I've just been informed by the lady in the corner shop it's forecast snow (again) for tomorrow! Still, I did see tangible signs of Spring last Sunday, a pair of Red-crested Pochard "getting it on". Actually the female didn't seem too keen I'm allways afraid they're gonna drown!!!

[LMG]

Spring is in the air in Somerset too. Yesterday I saw a magpie carrying a twig. The gsw has been drumming for weeks now. The dunnocks are displaying and many other birds are pairing up. The nest boxes are being visited and loads of birds are singing. It's great to hear their songs again. In winter it's only the robin who sings.

[T0ny]

You can tell spring's coming in Norfolk - the rain's warmer ;)

Tony

[Beverlybaynes]

Even though we've had four straight days of beautiful sunny days, it's remained quite cold. It's the warmest today it has been in quite awhile: I think it reached 30F!

But the most it is doing is just melting the snow.....

Cardinals are singing still, however, and before sunrise. Birdsong in general is increasing, but Mother Nature doesn't seem to be listening: we have below-zeros lows predicted for Sunday and Monday nights -- ICK!

And yes, Indiana summers do get HOT! It's usual for us to have several weeks in the high 80s and low 90s, coupled with high humidity -- the absolute worst weather, in my opinion. I always feel I can put on another layer of clothing in winter, or huddle under another blanket, but keeping a middle-aged, menopausal woman with hot flashes cool in the summer is a tough job! I stay as close to an air conditioner as I can! LOL!

[Andrew]

I saw a robin on thursday carrying a leaf twice as big as itself! It was struggling only taking two foot flights at a time across a lane into a hedge.

[LuBird]

The only place Spring has arrived in this part of PA. is in the cellar,the Water Iris are in full bloom:gh:

HAHA beverlybaynes,been there,done that and it is no fun. The age I'm at now is much more fun;) 56 is prime time:)

[elaine rowe]

hello everyone,missed you this week been babysitting my grandchildren and i am shattered.havent had much time to enjoy the birds just run out fill the feeders and birdtable then back to hungry mouths inside.going to enjoy it today though the garden (what ive seen of it)is a full of activity the birds are going mad everywhere ,so busy there are loads of blue tits flittering about in pairs all over the willow tree is full of catkins and i dont know if its them their after or the bugs that are waking up with the tree but the bluetits and wrens look like acrobats running and hanging all over it,wonderful.taking the back nets down today i do this every spring till winter so i can see the birds all the time and the plants of course.its been so mild ive already sorted this end of the garden but loads to do at the far end where the willow is so i should be in for a lovely day full of birdsong have cleaned my little pond with the goldfish in as theyve woke up and feeding but still the bath to clean (yes bath when i moved here id been visiting relatives in wales and came home to long grass and hundreds of baby frogs,knowing nothing about frogs i paniced,where were they going to go(idiot)so i got a friend to sink an old bath for them and yes its still a family joke but i get a lot of pleasure out of it) the honeysuckle has woken up too and thats always crawling with bugs so it really is going to be a lovely day.talk to you all later have a good day especially the ones who are snowed in

[new 2 this]

Oh, Beverly Baynes, hummidity is awful, we had some of that last time I was expecting, it was in the last few months too (2 yrs ago ish), and I had to keep inside the house and have many cool showers, didn't notice the wildlife being bothered, except our terrier who was panting and such, I got the kids to cool her down with a bucket of water, it went down well after her initial reluctance. Like you say it is easier to warm up than cool down.

Hello Elaine Rowe, I know what you mean about babysitting, my 3 kids, 11 yrs, 8 yrs and 17 mths can keep you very busy, mostly on the food and dishes front! Love the bath in the garden idea, bet the frogs were well pleased :-), I'm a novice at garden life too, I had no idea goldfish slept through winter and I would have assumed frogs need water, I would have given them an old paddling pool, sunk down etc. What are the frogs like? Do the birds go after them?

Our starling numbers have dropped considerably lately so I think our European visitors have begun their journey home. The sparrows are doing a lot of nesting preparations still. The mild weather was interupted for a few days but then it warmed up again and we got some rain...we've not had much of that of late so it was very welcome. I am trying to motivate myself to cut the grass so the birds have lots of bits for their nests...next week perhaps, I always let it stay long in the autumn to help the birds on the bug front, not sure if it works, but I read it somewhere years ago. There is lots of activity under our hedges there must be lots of bugs there.

I've noticed that the birds start the day looking for worms and bugs then at 10 am they eat all the seed and fat mixture then off for more bugs with a few eating before going off to bed, but I expect it to get very busy once the babies arrive, as it did last year.

Does anyone feed live worms to the birds? I'm thinking of doing this but it isn't cheap, can you breed them to lower the cost? Our supplier sells tubs and worm food, and of course the worms, which worms are best too? Anyone done this before? I don't mind an initial outlay but an extra regular cost is out of the question this year. Our regular visitors are collared doves, robins, pied wagtail, grey wagtail, sparrows, starlings, magpies, a few pigeons and crows. There are probably others but my bins are not so hot so I can't see the end of the garden where the trees are, or at least not in colour enough to tell different species apart.

Teresa

[LuBird]

Yes you can new 2 this. I keep a spot in the veggie garden filled with maple leaves and keep it very moist with dirt very loose underneath. The red worms multiply and are easy to grow. I leave them around the yard for the birds that visit here and hand feed them to Leo the Frog that lives in my 1000 gal. water garden. It is such fun,but boy are the birds and that frog SPOILED!

[new 2 this]

Lovely picture LuBird, thanks for the information on the worms, I'll give it a try. Leo the Frog is very lovely.

It is easy to spend a fortune on these creatures who give us all so much pleasure....but they're worth it, the garden wouldn't be the same without them!

[Andrew]

You can buy worms cheap in fishing shops, say about £1.50 for 50 worms and cheaper if you buy in larger quantities. I tried and couldn't keep them in a container. Some loose peat might work in a shallow green maggibox. I gave up and stuck to maggots or pinkies (small maggots) which I put out in a small glass dish and the Robin wolfs them down.

[new 2 this]

Cheers Andrew, I'll bear that in mind....fishing shops sound cheaper than my bird food suppliers though I'll have to double check that.

Teresa

[LuBird]

Finally,one lonely, tiny green shoot is level with the ground from the BlueBell plant and the stems of one climbing rose bush are just starting to turn green. What a late arrival spring is this year. I don't think the birds know it has begun here in this part of PA.:-C What a long wait this is turning into.

[Beverlybaynes]

What a handsome fellow Leo is, LuBird! I'd love to have a small water feature in my back yard, but it's a rental -- and I'm probably too out of shape to try digging anything on my own!

Maybe, if I get that butterfly garden going this spring, I can raising some worms in a small corner -- one that will remain shady because of the monstrous Rose of Sharon bush/tree that's there. Dig out some of the clay and replace it with some loamy peaty soil to help it stay moist. Our clay can get as hard as cement in drought!

[LuBird]

Thank you Beverlybaynes. My friend has a rental,but she bought 2 half whiskey barrels and liners and has the most beautiful water gardens. I love sitting by her barrels and smelling the water mint and watching the small fish swimming to and fro. I wish you could get a barrel and do that. Water plants are wonderful,hardy and need so little care.

I love rose of sharon, whatever size it is. Monstrous sounds inviting to me:gh: And a butterfly garden,I hope you have good luck with it. sometimes small is better,one can get so lost in a bigger garden.

;)

[Beverlybaynes]

This Rose of Sharon is beautiful, LuBird, and produces pink, white, and purplish blooms on a single planting. But it's the most invasive thing I've ever seen. If I turn my back, it's coming up the driveway!

[SarahC]

I sympathise with Beverly. Here is the Arkansas Ozarks it is usually in the nineties or higher with the 90% humidity, ALL SUMMER! I hibernate most of the summer.

The snow melted here last week and I have seen the Robins are back and the Titmice have been chasing around like they are courting. A pair of Nuthatches was checking out a box in the pasture. Its one the Bluebirds never have wanted and last year a Titmouse family grew up in it. I need to go out and repair a birdhouse roof and make another few one of these days. The flying squirrels like to enlarge the entrance hole and use the nests too.

[LuBird]

Hi SarahC! I absolutely love your hat in the avitar. Could you post if the Nuthatches use the birdhouse? For some reason I thought Nuthatches didn't use birdhouses. I wish I could find out where the pair that feed here live:gh: Thanks,enjoyed your post:)

[LuBird]

YES! You can tell Spring is in the air this cold,cold morning in PA, but not by the temperature. It is -2F. degrees and yet in the clear,stillness this morning at 7AM, the purest song of the Eastern Phoebe broke the silence. Such an elusive bird! I could not find him,but oh that Song! Beautiful!

The Juncos gathering at the food table on the deck are so cold they are standing first on one leg,then the other. I have never seen that before,but oh what fun it is to watch. It's 7:30AM now and the Sun is arising. It looks to be one of those perfect birding days I love so:gh:

[Tammie]

I noticed this morning that the air smells different outside. It's warmed up to a lovely -10C and is snowing but the wind carries that sweet smell of spring.
Of course, we're supposed to drop right back down to -30sC tonight but I sure enjoyed it this morning! :)
Not much change in the birds' behavior here just yet but it should become noticeable soon.

[Yve_M]

For fear of sounding like a broken record here (-35C, windchill is -43), I shall say it is a bright, beautiful, sunny day. Mrs. Woodpecker is checking out her favourite spots, the chickens are hanging out in their birch tree, Mr. & Mrs. Chickadee are flirting through the spruces and Enviro Canada says warming next week!yee ha, who hoo, yipee, gonna dig my shorts out of storage!

[elaine rowe]

new2this
all the frogs i have are common frogs(i think)they now arrive in different sizes i presume the babies i got from cadged frogspawn 6 yrs ago and every year since have grown up come back and produced their own offspring.a couple of years ago i was amazed to see a newt in the bath looked like a twig till it moved,the tadpoles were really big with a sort of fin on each side of the head they seemed to be chasing anything that moved and i had loads of dead froglets or they had bits missing,out came the book and i forced a friend to spend an afternoon helping me catch them,apparantly they are one of the most aggressive things you can have in a small pond or in my case bath.
ive had one or two toads as well but havent spent a lot of time watching them they are Gods creations but they are ugly and the way they walk instead of jumping ugh!
Lubird very jealous of the1000gal.water feature,havent named the frogs though too many

[Paul Rule]

Hi Elaine, Dont be to harsh on Newts, they do eat tadpoles but they wont kill off the entire population of frog tadpoles, and in general only a tiny portion of your tadpoles will ever survive to full size frogs. I have a small 8' x 8' pond which supports a large population of frogs newts and a few Toads . I love watching all these creatures, so If you get newts this year just leave them be, some of your tadpoles will survive.

I hope you had another pond available to release your captured Newt tadpoles.

[Harry Hussey]

Hi all,
Have heard Yellowhammer in song,also Ravens are holding territory,and there was that Hoopoe....;-)
No common migrants yet,but surely Wheatears and Sand Martins can't be far away now?
Harry

[LuBird]

Don't be jealous Elaine. I will share. You are welcome to sit with me by the pond on this thread till you can build your own:gh:Besides,I am jealous of all your Frogs and Toads even if you did not name them;)))

[LuBird]

OOPS! Wrong pic Elaine. We can't sit in the Bog,it is too guckyB (:

[Yve_M]

Hi LuBird, Oh I would love to sit by your lovely pond, heck I'd love to sit in the Bog right about now! The frogs here are still hibernating of course, can't wait for their chorus (I am very blessed to have a little natural pond/bog close by). It is so cold the redpolls are poking holes in the snow on the roof to stay out of the wind!

[LuBird]

Now I AM JEALOUS!!!! You have a natural Pond,Bog near-by. My Dream!!!! We kinda missed the boat on this part of our lives and stayed in town instead of moving out into the natural world. HAHAHA! In my minds eye,I see you plopping yourself right down in the middle of the BOG!!!

But,the serenity of the pond,Bog,and I didn't mention the herb gardens. One is for aroma therapy and if you come to the pond,you will be healed of whatever cares or woes come with you. Ah,the healing smell of Mint ,Lavender, Pinneapple Sage,etc.etc. Just imagine holding and smelling a bouquet of about 50 aromatic herbs,sipping tea, watching or hand feeding the Koi in the pond, and swinging away in the swing, well I cannot begin to explain it,life doesn't get any better than this for me:gh:

[Yve_M]

Oh LuBird, just talking about the garden and the bog and the lake and the bush cheers me up. It is taking sooooo long for a sign of spring from the weather department. I am surrounded by natural bogs/muskeg. The other side of the lake is mostly muskeg and it is where the Sandhills live and the Loons, and most of the quacks(our term for those feathers with webbed feet) we have here. The little bog is along our driveway and has a good assortment of plants but is missing the Marsh Marigolds so I am going to plant a few this year. The mint grows wild along our lakeshore and I make tea from that. We also make tea from the Labrador Tea plants. I would love to have a herb garden such as yours, it must be wonderful to inhale all those scents. Do you dry them for use during the winter? I do have a great blueberry patch though and last year was a bumper crop. I can still feel my lower back!! LOL. Gonna go watch the last birds feed as the sun sets (brilliant pink tonight) in my ol' easy chair by the window. Spring? I can feel it in my bones, I think!

[LuBird]

Eve, your spot of the world sounds just perfect to me. Loons!!! I love Loons. Gaye says I have the personality of The Loon and I am flattered. You have a Blueberry Patch! Oh what I would give for that and yes,OW,my lower back has sympathy pains for yours. I love to go Berry picking. Yes,I harvest almost all my own herbs and spices. Guess how I dry them? IN THE MICROWAVE! In fact,even in this awful Snow and ice,way down under it all,there is the parsley growing,green and delicious. I use it fresh and dried. It puts the store bought stuff to shame.

I have Skunk Cabbage and Marsh Marigolds in the bog. They come up early and stay late. The bog is a bathing pond for the birds too. I Birdproofed the Watergarden because they poop so it contaminates the water. I felt guilty about it till I made little pools in the bog for them.

Labrador Tea Plants I have not had the pleasure of,but I will certainly be on the lookout for some to plant.

I just started an all medicinal herb garden last year. Hysop,fenugreek,St. John's Wort,all kinds of wonderful plants....it better warm up pretty soon,the gardens are really calling to me now:gh:In the morning,I will be in my easy chair too, with a hot cup of coffee, watching the Birds come in for Breakfast.

[Yve_M]

Loons, yes loons, we have lots of them up here, plus Grebes, Pelicans, Cormorants, Bitterns, Herons, Geese, Wigeons, Mallards, Pintails, Shovelers, Merganser, Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and then Sandhills. Can hardly wait for that first call!

The Labrador Tea (Ledum groenlandicum Oeder) from the Heath Family is very common here in the Boreal Forest. I believe it loves the acidic soil as the blueberries do so I do not know if it would do so well in your area. It is a shrub 1 to 4 feet tall with leathery leaves that have rusty/orange woolly undersides. It was used as a tea substitute by the early explorers as taught to them by the Cree Tribes.

The weather is finally warming up a little here, by Thursday we may even get close to the melting point. I am going to start a few seeds indoors this week, and make some plans for plants that the hummers will be attracted to.

[Paul 42]

Spring’s finally beginning to arrive here, after what seems to be the longest winter ever. This week seen and heard Yellowhammer, which winters here, Chiffchaff and Blackcap, which have just arrived from their voyages. Also heard Woodpeckers drumming, seen ducks and gulls mating, first Bumblebees seen, yippee!!!!!!!!! PS saw a flock of Firecrest the other day, a first for me, I think they’re just passing through on migration. Thought I heard a Serin singing the other day, but not 100% sure. Better get out and check my local patch tomorrow am.