A strange Spring and other notes

Black locust blooming

This is by far one of the strangest Springs we have ever had. With the exception of 4-5 days in mid March, it has been unseasonably cool and extremely overcast for almost every day. Some days it is chilly and overcast up until around 3pm or 4pm, the sun comes out for a short while but is sporadic at best. The photo above of my Black Locust tree was taken in April of last year. I have yet to see a sky that cloudless and blue this year.

Black Locust blooms are fragrant

I wish that I could send you floral smells through the internet. These are fairly short-lived blossoms, 1-2 weeks is all they last. But they are very fragrant, especially in the evening

Mockingbird. Internet photo. wildlifenorthamerica.com.

We have a Weeping Pussy Willow that is one corner of our yard. We put it there due to the fact that they are supposed to like "wet feet" and this is an area that gets plenty of water. The Mockingbirds have tried and failed several times in our yard. Sometimes the neighbors cat gets them or their young, or they are first time parents and don't really know where or how to build a nest properly. They tried once before in the Pussy Willow only to have the cat get the babies. They tried in the Barberry bush next to the driveway, not knowing that we have to get close when we get in and out of the car. It disturbed them but they had babies, only to have the cat get them again.

3 very hungry baby Mockingbirds

I took this photo today of 3 new babies in the nest. Mom and dad did their best to scare me off, dive bombing me and screaming at me. I was worried about them due to the torrential rains we had last night and this morning. But I guess Mom covered them well.