Signs of Spring: 2012 Edition

Upon my return to the Ocean State, I was delighted to discover that spring had sprung.  Trees have flowers on them and the daffodils are dancing happily.  I also found a bird nesting in my mailbox.  I have no idea what kind it is -- it's a tiny buff-and-brown thing that makes a heckuva racket from the tree across the yard if I stand on my front steps too long.  I've only seen him fly out of the mailbox once, but the nest seems to be well-kept and tidy, so I assume he's living there full time.  Or she.

I don't think the mailman likes the new arrangement much, but he'll get over it.

My friends who live in warmer parts of the country might not understand how I can get so excited by green grass and some early spring flowers, but let me tell you: spring in New England can break your heart.  It can be cold and rainy well into June.  Western Rhode Island woke up to a sprinkling of snow this past Sunday.  Snow!  In April -- and no, this is not a belated April Fool's joke.

Thank goodness I live in an area that tends to be a little more temperate than other parts of the state.  If I'd awakened to snow on Sunday morning, I'd have been cranky indeed. And none of us want that.

Important Yard News

Look who showed up on Tuesday and brought five of his best buddies with him! According to my (admittedly unscientific) observations, he's a month ahead of last year.

Dare I hope that we are going to have an actual Spring in Rhode Island -- instead of the usual snow in early March followed by three months of cold and rain?

A girl can dream.

This Just In

Good news! I thought you, my gentle readers, would want to be the first to know that there is a robin in my yard. A sign of spring! Never mind that there is a possiblity of snow in the forecast for tomorrow. Robin is sending the message that warmer days are just around the corner.


Wait. Not that kind of robin.

This kind of robin. I said it was good news, not awesome news.

Signs of Spring

This makes me happy.

I've been watching this tree every day for weeks now. I noticed it had wee little buds awhile back -- long before anything else seemed to be moving toward spring. Gradually, they have grown and opened into catkins.

I've also been hearing songbirds in the mornings around here. Not Canadian geese, not crows. Songbirds. I know that winter is an important part of the natural cycles of the Earth, but I am so happy to see some signs of spring.

Mr. Robin Redbreast hasn't shown up yet, the slacker, but I'll keep you posted.