Spring is sprinkling!

Driving home last night in torrential rain last night there were frogs all over the road, another sign that spring is really here. Of course, today there are not many roads left as the rain washed many away. Still fine for the frogs though.

Spring Fling

The spring bulbs are starting to bloom, such a wonderful and joyful sight! Each day another green shoot appears and I try to remember what it is!

The cats are more than ready to spend time outside and drive me crazy begging to have a leash on and go for a walk. Smokey is my tough cat and more than happy to tramp through the snow still remaining under the trees. Solomon has to be carried across the snowy bits!
I heard the geese back a week ago and this morning, being it was a toasty 40 F out I took coffee in the screen porch. The bird song was glorious and I was delighted to hear loons calling down on the pond!

Yesterday was a spring celebration in Belfast, Maine. Stores were offering tasty snacks and a group of mostly fiddle players were wandering store to store playing wonderfully joyful music. It really feels as if spring is here!

Spring is in the air

Lake St George in March showing signs of the ice melting, it is so lovely at this time of the year!


One of the true rites of spring in this area of Maine, the St George River Race. I spent a happy hour crouched on the icy shore shooting photos. See more photos


And what a delight!!! The first snowdrops reaching up through the melting snow!!! The crocuses are up in the warmest spot, although not in bloom yet. It is so exciting to see the plants appearing where the snow is melting, to see what survived and what is actually appearing to do well. The proceeds from the composting toilet have been of great benefit to the garden and I am looking forward to another season of harvesting compost and exploding flower gardens.

Winter is here!

Yesterday I noticed that the pond has started to freeze over after several very cold days and nights. Winter is definitely setting in and there may not be any more kayaking until spring.


Looking down towards the pond this morning it has turned white in the first real snow fall we have had this winter.

Brrrr! Here we go!

The Coming of Fall

Smokey and Dryad are cousins and Smokey seemed to recognize this immediately. He loves his wild little relative.

This shot was captured during an idyllic evening kayak on Trues Pond.

The seasons of Maine are magical. In spring, the red maple blooms compete with all the different shades of pale green. As summer progresses the greens blend together until late summer and early fall when golds, yellows and reds begin to creep in until once more every tree is a different shade.

Here the changing trees are reflected in the water of Ruffingham Meadow in Searsmont with the reeds starting to blend into gold.

Pastel early sunset over Ruffingham Meadow

After a few days of rain we had a huge brush burning session and cleared much of the front yard.


Another "mistake". Dryad's brother Nixie on his terrified first day. All the remaining kittens were taken to the shelter, but it was full and Nixie came to join my family.

Fiddlehead ferns begin to change color quite early.

Red maples on the edge of a wetland

Red maples on Trues Pond during yet another magical kayak trip.

Late Summer

It was with delight that I greeted the return of our pileated woodpecker to the tree outside the bedroom window. Hopefully he will stay for the winter.

Later summer mushroom hunting was rewarding after some heavy rains. The black trumpets below are delicious and easy to recognize.

And this is Dryad, a strange looking kitten with dark, charcoal gray striped fur and huge tufts in his ears.

A Fox in the Flowerbed!

Early morning in Montville and a calm scene as mist rises from Trues Pond. There is a distinct chill in the air today. Some maples are turning color, fall is coming! When I returned to the house I spotted a red fox dashing across the flowerbed next to the screen porch! Sadly I did not have time for a photo.

The front garden, looking down the driveway.

Another gaillardia

A bee enjoys a small sunflower from a seed that escaped the bird feeder

Bee balm, a favorite with humming birds

My hibiscus that lives indoors through the winter.

Anemone

A toad, one of my favorite garden helpers with it's appetite for slugs!