Counting the signs

The robins came back last week.  The spring peepers (frogs) started singing this week, at night.      I think I saw the first barn swallow this morning, returned from South America.  The forsythia bloomed today.

George said he'd like it if I started writing these things down, when they happen, so we could keep track from year to year.

Later edition:
4/19/2012:  first dandelions

Spring: Geese, Onions, Winter Rye, and Warm Morning Windows

We are having an early spring, maybe.   I've heard Canada Geese flying over at night this week.    The last two mornings there was a flock in the hayfield resting in the early morning.   The geese are lovely, but I didn't get close enough to get a picture, since they need their rest.

I've been wandering around starting to make mental lists of winter damage, and things to do. 


The old wind vane on the garage is still pointing straight out into the hayfield, northwest, which is the direction the hard winds come from in the winter, most of the time.

Some of the smaller cedars in our house's windbreak bowed over in the opposite direction from that wind this winter, and probably won't last.    Should plant some more.

The onion seeds have sprouted under lights; the first seedlings up for the spring garden.

The vegetable beds are green with winter rye, and the old lawn is brown.  All the snow if off the beds.  The one in the front is old, and the one along the fence was started last year.  This year, I want to expand out into the old pasture, beyond the fence.

And, the most reliable indicator of spring:  the two baskets in the east windows in the living room both had cats in them this morning.   If this spot is this warm....wow, maybe an early spring.