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.

Urgent Call to Be More Mindful of our Resources

The U.N. has come out with this report on population and the environment - follow the link and take heed!

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/world/europe/25iht-environ.4.8056185.html

Summer is Spring

Wood frogs - town hall, March 21
Wood frogs - beatitude Pond, March 23
Poly wogs - beatitude Pond, March 23
Newts breeding - beatitude Pond, March 23
All week, temperatures up in the 80's during the day.
Now, Sat., back down to 50's
Fluctuations
Normal? I don't think so!

Spring has arrived early!

One major storm March 1, after a lull between storms of about two months! winter went by in a blink, literally. I feel as if I have awakened from a long sleep to discover spring (today actually felt more summer like) suddenly arrived.
Two mallard duck couples are feeding in the beaver pond. The beaver is back making his rounds, checking his dam, making sure he is the only beaver in the pond etc...

Living things are swimming amongst the last melting bits of ice. I think the frogs will be singing a couple of weeks early this year. The daffodils are starting to come up, too.