**** Spring's sprang, sprung!! ****

Well, I think spring has officially arrived this past week!! :) Almost wondered if summer was here, but alas we have some snow showers in the forecast for a few days ... so maybe not summer yet, but definitely spring! :)

I think it would be interesting to hear what's blooming where everyone is living ...pictures are nice ...I don't have any of those though ...so I'll describe my gardens! :) I've been working in the for the past week....didn't go anywhere on break, just in the yard ...returning to nature, call me crazy ...but I LOVE IT!!! :)

Yes, I love animals ...used to love the deer. Made the mistake of feeding them one year ...oops. Now we go out in the morning to find out what they decided to sample the past night! Pleasant surprise when no new little paw prints are in the soil and no plants are missing large amounts of foliage! Luckily this year they skipped the crocuses which they happened to mow down last year! :) Now, they're enjoying my transplanted bushes and some of my rugosa roses -- you would think the thorns would bug them at least a little.

Hmm... where do I start...since everyone is on the bird topic :) I'll go there first. We kept up one tiny feeder, probably because we had 50# of seed left that we don't want to store all year. But the chickadees are really thankful we left it up! They've been coming diligently -- I'm looking forward to seeing the families come once the eggs hatch and they start perusing the neighborhood. The chickadees are one of my favorites, so friendly and they seem to chat with you and are quite curious. Saw some titmice but they've kept more to themselves. The nuthatch has been around -- strange little bird, long beak and likes to stand on the tree looking down -- you'd think the blood rushes to his head! Which it might -- he never seems to fly straight -- flies in waves :) -- maybe if he'd walk UP the tree and not DOWN he'd fly better! The cardinals have been around -- they are quite reclusive -- come in early morning and evening for meals but don't like to chat with us. The mourning doves are like my "chickens" -- kind of dopey, no offense -- I love them but they seem a bit not with it -- have you seen their nests?! One breeze and poof its on the ground! Wonder how they keep the species going sometimes! :) But they're great -- kinda wander around the patio and just cute big guys!!

The goldfinches just came back this week -- still in their winter outfits so its hard to see them yet but you can hear them! :) The one I can hear the most is our resident red-winged blackbird -- loves the marsh in the back and likes to keep tabs of "his" feeder. Sometimes brings the lady with him but often comes alone. Granted it could be one of 10 red-winged ;) but they seem to space out or else get mad at each other! :) Northern flicker and blue jays still getting some acorns off of the ground. Woodpecker thumping away at our tree ...always amazes me! :) Saw the curious raccoon the other night when the neighbor's light came on so he's around. The groundhog opened up his "doors" on the hill and seems to have done his spring cleaning so he's ready to go as well! Everyone seems to be ready for the seasons to change as am I! :)

So....I think that's most of the birds ...that I like :). Hmmm...where to start with the flowers...

Well, I bought some bushes for cheap :) last fall -- quince bushes -- they have such pretty pink flowers this spring so we lined them along one border between the neighbors. The two pink, one red, and four white dogwoods in the front are blooming-- pretty and vibrant against the pine tree backdrop. The kwanzaa cherry is blooming for the first time so not as showy but glad to see it blooming!! :) Ummm...the eastern redbud is purdy too!! Just so pretty to see everything starting to take on shades of green against the humdrum brown background. The lenten roses are opening up. The wisteria is showing buds -- for the first time on two of them -- hope to see them open up!! :) Crazy wisteria -- no idea how to tame it above the swing, oh well -- it can do whatever it wants if I see some flowers! The tulips, daffodils, rock cress, and the creeping something -- can't remember what it's called, wow, I need a refresher in my plants!! :) Creeping flocks? maybe... Other flowers are starting to bloom too -- can't wait to see more of them!! :) Rose tree is budding so I can't wait -- it's my most favorite rose! It's a miniature rose -- looks like fire-- shades of pink, reddish orange, yellow -- sooooo fragrant -- called "hot tamale" -- loooove it!! :) Highly recommend it ;). Sad that one of my favorite fragrant roses didn't appreciate not being mulched this year -- but didn't want to hastle with covering them all. So I think we lost 2 -- that wasn't bad. Can't wait for my "playboy" rose to bloom. I love the red/orange/yellow bloomers. Ahhhh now I'm so excited for the flowers to bloom! I should get some for my balcony -- but we are northsided -- i could buy -- a hosta. booooring. :) I might get some limey green sweet potato vine (almost like limey chips) ...we'll see! :)

So what does everyone else have blooming??? :) Probably those south or on the coast have more ...just curious about plants and birds and everything springy ;).

Hope you all have a lovely week -- even though there's a cold chill in the air -- but remember spring's here!!!!

Hugs, Fran :)