Spring Movements

It is feeling like mid-spring here.

The early red rhodie is now in full bloom.

And the native bleeding hearts are getting started.

I saw my first bat yesterday evening, although I haven’t been keeping an eye out, so they may have been here for a while.

I went out to listen to the spring chorus a few times last week. Here’s who’s around (seen or heard):

  • Anna’s Hummingbird
  • Barred Owl
  • Brown Creeper
  • Chickadee, Chestnut-backed
  • Cooper’s Hawk
  • Crow, American
  • Dove, Mourning
  • (Finch, Purple)
  • Junco, Dark-eyed
  • Kinglet, Golden-crowned
  • Kinglet, Ruby-crowned
  • Mallard
  • Nuthatch, Red-breasted
  • Pine Siskin
  • Raven, Common
  • Robin
  • (Sparrow, Chipping)
  • Sparrow, Song
  • Sparrow, White-crowned
  • Stellar’s Jay
  • Towhee, Spotted
  • Varied Thrush
  • Wood Duck
  • Woodpecker, Pileated
  • Wren, Pacific

    I was surprised not to hear any black-capped chickadees. Maybe they migrate, and I just never noticed, since the chestnut-backed are around all year?

    It will be interesting to see who shows up in the next few weeks!

  • Spring is Springing!

    Spring is off to a bounding and early start here.

    Pacific Trillium. These native beauties were photographed at Cougar Mountain park in Renton 3/30

    Based on my photo rolls, everything is running 1-3 weeks earlier than usual.

    Earliest red rhodie at our home. Taken 3/30.

    Our early big red started opening a week ago, and is now in full bloom.

    Big red, 4/6/24

    Last year, it was at a comparable bloom point 4/22.

    I admit I’m enjoying the warmer weather, even as I worry about this summer.

    Rob helped me set up a new nursery area in some excess driveway space. I’ve been busily up-potting a lot of the native trees and shrubs that we’re growing on.

    A lot of them will go in the ground this fall.

    I have a lot of native seeds in the “wait and see” stage. They require both stratification and patience!

    Fortunately, I also have garden friendlies like signet marigolds to give me instant gratification in the meantime 🙂

    I grew them for the first time last year, and thought them utterly adorable, so I’m doubling down this year!

    I’m growing seeds from this beauty, some compact orange signet marigolds, and some burgundy signet marigolds. I have no idea how true they’ll come from seed, but only one way to find out!