This week showed the swings of spring. This week ended with Saturday temps in the upper 70s for most while a few locations reached the low 80s. One week ago, that Saturday brought snow - a few locations getting 7 to 8 inches (average here was 4 1/2 inches). Keeping life interesting!
We have moved into the mid-spring season, plants are coming alive in earnest. Trees are budding: sugar maple and Norway maples have gone from plump buds to opening and flowering. Dogwood buds are getting plump as is an ornamental cherry next door. The overall look of trees throughout the area are showing the more subtle greens and reds of their foliage. Azalias are either blooming or showing flower buds coming back. Rhododendron buds are getting plump. Lovely...
Spring flowers are still popping up including the very small bulbs that seem to have planted themselves at random. Little bright blue flowers are all over the yard. Bloodroot went from nowhere to a cluster of white flowers in less than a week. Blue flag iris are shooting up their foliage, a few hostas are pushing their "spears" up - just about even with the ground yesterday. The rest will be making their spring appearance soon.
Critters are showing up regularly again. Squirrels and rabbits congregate near the bird feeder and around the yard. Woodchucks are out again. I've seen footprints, but this week one larger one ran past, a smaller one sat in the front (oh dear, another generation) watching the world go by.
It's a busy weekend, lots of extra people around, even here, some 30+ miles from Boston. With the 250th anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord yesterday (those towns much closer), lots of people are out and about. The Marathon runs tomorrow, tens of thousands are here in the greater Boston area for that. While the "true" Patriot's Day was yesterday, the state holiday is tomorrow (that closest Monday thing). Easter is celebrated by many today, for many, a joyous day. Happy Easter to those who celebrate! The weather is nice, the landscape is coming back to life (as are allergies for some). For the most part though, it's all good!