Off Topic -- Japonica is Blooming! :)

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 10:22 pm

I thought this might encourage some who are getting awfully tired of snow.

I saw a few blooms on a forsythia bush, and the peepers have been going since mid-January, always our first sign of spring.

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 11:37 pm

That's a great photo Marlis, its good to know we all aren't frozen.. Peepers in January? We wont here those until early in May.

--Joe

ant · Post by **ant** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:02 am

Thanks Marliss

Totally on topic.......life is a celebration of what is beautiful........and the blooms are beautiful.....and when you look into the heart of this board.......it is also all about life......and the spirit here is......very, very beautiful

Best, ant

Post by **tex** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:11 am

Marliss,

Thanks for sharing.

Incidentally, nothing is off topic in this forum - anything is fair game.

Tex

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:39 am

I consider that a WONDERFUL topic.

Really gave me a lift and really happy that spring is coming somewhere. HaHa

It is supposed to be warmer here this week than it has been. Hope we don't have "snowmelt" flooding. It's supposed to be near 40 one day soon.

Loved the picture and glad to hear about the forsythia blooming. I may have to get one of those this Spring. I always loved seeing them bloom in the Spring but Bill wasn't fond of them so I never got one.

Last week while I was out shoveling snow I heard a flock of geese flying south. I also saw them once I figured out what that strange sound was in the middle of winter. I don't remember ever seeing geese flying so late into winter.

Love, Shirley

Post by **tex** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 9:53 am

Shirley wrote:I don't remember ever seeing geese flying so late into winter.

That reminds me - a couple of weeks ago when a cold front came through here and pushed the chill factor down to the single digits and below zero, and held the temperatures well below freezing for several days in a row, (it's unusual for temps to stay below freezing here for more than a day or so, this far south, so I had to make some plumbing repairs, after that one), on the coldest day, I noticed several pairs of bluebirds in the yard. I haven't seen bluebirds around here in decades. The next day they were gone, so I assume they were migrating because of the weather.

Love,
Tex

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:05 am

How delightful you were visited by the bluebirds. I really love them. We only have the Eastern Bluebird here. Do you remember what kind you saw? I'd love to see a Mountain Bluebird sometime. It's really different from Eastern and Western. They are all georgeous birds though.

I splurged on bluebird nest boxes for next spring. I have one up already. Bill made boxes quite a few years ago and the bluebirds liked them but when I saw the ones I purchased on the "net" I decided to go that route rather than try to follow Bill's pattern and try making more (His are getting in bad shape now). Anyway, they have a viewing side which opens and has a clear window so you can see the eggs and developing babies. I sure hope they like it. The size, construction and opening appear to be very close to what Bill made so I have hope that they will work.

This morning I had a wild turkey in my redbud tree in the back yard. She seemed to be eating something up there. I'm sure it's too early for buds but I hope she isn't eating something that will keep it from producing the flowers this spring. If so, I'm not going to be happy with her. Not that she will care.

Enough of my rambling. Well, one more notation...... Had 15 deer in the back yard last evening. They were fighting over the corn I had put out. I finally went out and scattered some more. I am ready for spring because this gets quite expensive!! With the snow + freezing rain/sleet we have had the snow cover is really hard and I know they are having trouble digging down to get anything to eat.

Love, Shirley

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:30 am

Wow, Shirley, you live in quite a nature reserve. It sounds very peaceful (except when the animals fight over the food).

Gloria

Post by **tex** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 9:24 am

Shirley,

It sounds as though your preserve is having a lot of activity. That's great.

I've seen Mountain Bluebirds here, now and then, but these appeared to be Eastern Bluebirds - with a lot of orange.

Love,
Tex

Linda in BC · Post by **Linda in BC** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 11:47 pm

After pretty long and cold winter here, though with not much snow, it was 46 degrees here yesterday and today half of our snow disappeared. I am so ready for spring. I think many of the more delicate birds went further south this winter because we have mainly just had chickadees, and I have only had to fill my huge feeder once since Dec. But they are back now ( house finches, nuthatchs, jays, and flickers ) by the dozens, and I've filled it twice in the last week! Heard geese flying north the other day too and DH saw his first robin and some crows. Yipee , spring is on it's way.

Linda

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 6:12 am

Linda, that IS great news!! My thermometer read 40 degrees when I got up this morning about 6 AM. That's something I haven't seen in a LONG time.

Love, Shirley

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 7:26 am

Morning All.

Marliss, the picture was wonderful and gave me hope for Spring. Japonica is such a beautiful blooming shrub and waiting for ours now to bloom.

I am getting right up there with Shirley for nature city. Yesterday we had 3 deer, 1 extremely large red fox at night (thought it was a big dog), an opossum, 1, wish it would go away, skunk. Thank God for no racoon.

Love, Maggie