Rain at last! the parched earth is finally getting a drink on Earth Day 2012. Already everything looks a lot greener. This morning I saw several ducks, black against the sky sweep upwards from Beatitude pond, make a wide circle and then descend to the beaver pond.

I have planted some peas, beans, onions and fava beans.

Parched

So little rain. The forest is parched. Leaves dusty. Sticks snap dry. Moss brown. But the beaver pond is providing sustenance and birds are coming to browse and feed in its waters. Fuzzy ferns are popping out of the ground and the usual vibrant green river foliage is now bordering the brook. On close inspection the leaves of these plants don't look quite as green as usual.
Wood ducks, Canada geese, mallard ducks are also frequent visitors.