Spring is peeling open

Yes, spring is revealing layer after layer, slowly. It hasn't suddenly descended. A cold front is slowly leaving us, as many of you know.

windy afternoon from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Bryony, bless her little heart, was 6 yesterday. Our Vancouver grandies were in a Panto last winter. They were in a photo shoot for advertising for this year. Such fun!

 

Sunrise on Tuesday!

Song of the white-throated sparrow, "old Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody!"

No sign of phoebe eggs yet! They've been really active here. This is last year's nest.

The poor rhododendron folds its leaves in the cold, then opens them when it warms up. 

Tuesday afternoon it was a balmy 16 ℃ then the clouds rolled in. It is still raining today. I am never going to get that water fountain cleaned up! I had a client yesterday, and it's been too cold up until then.

And still the Northern Flickers are hanging about this dead elm tree. I think they will nest here. 

They are the most beautiful birds. One flew into the window one day in 2012. I took the opportunity to take some photos. 

 The goldfinch is eating lilac seeds. It looked so proud of itself! 

It is pouring rain, and the daffodils are in bloom.  Fred popped out from under the shed Tuesday afternoon when it warmed up. He prefers fair weather!

Monday began with frost

 That was a shock: frost. The poor daffodils! When I put garbage out at 7:30, they were droopy!

I went back out for a walk after things warmed up. Look at them holding up their little heads!

They are so droopy! Poor little tulips.

The peony were falling over! Later in the day they perked up. Whew! 

Grecian Windflower

The Lenten Rose is tricky to photograph. I used the iPhone. If you could picture me bending over, trying to get them in focus! You can see my blue sleeve in the top left corner of the first photo below.

I tried again on Monday... We've rain on the way, I was happy to see the sun.

Grape hyacinth

We had deer visit. They are happy grazing.

There was a trio of bucks. 

We'll see what today brings!

Cats and birds

 There was a bit of a fight on the railing. Cinnamon chose to walk away. He's a good cat!

I noticed our turkey hen again.

I looked out a 7:30 in the morning the other day, and spotted a doe.

I am back to bird watching from the front window. Soon I'll have to put the feeder away. 

The flicker was happily finding food.

Five years ago the Flickers nested in the dead elm.

Flicker from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Apparently it is a popular tree. The European starlings appear to have taken it over this year.

 

dead elm from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I took the garbage out this morning. I bundled up! It was -4 ℃. I am afraid for my daffies, even the peony stems are falling over. We shall see!