Another sign of spring in southeast Michigan today:

Forsythia in bloom.

First wood duck sighting of 2025! It’s the official start of spring for me.
This male is waiting for its mate, who is creating a nest in a duck box close by. Soon they’ll come every day so she can start laying eggs.

#Today
#SignsOfSpring

There was a real sense of spring in the air today and it was very welcome.

The crocus were basking in some sun, I spotted bees and even a butterfly, and the birds were singing out.

So lucky to have garden in which to escape the world and the current madness.
#bees #gardens #gardening #pollinators #signsofspring #cotswolds

More #snowdrops in #bloom at #victoriapark #belfast.

Riverside alder trees are getting ready for another year of reproduction. See the alt text for details. #SignsOfSpring

#SignsofSpring

I've been noticing the increase in birdsong.

Today I had my first close encounter :)

I met a queen bumblebee, newly out of hibernation. As big as my thumb, she was busy feeding on the one plant I sneaked past my landlord.

Winter-flowering honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima), a feast for her and a fragrant pleasure for us.

The non-vintagey edit of the image I uploaded earlier-- this one is sans grain and haze and is pretty much exactly as-shot. I love the super dramatic grainy version but this is the image I saw in my viewfinder and fell in love with. <3

This image is available for print purchase here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1717833969/dark-and-moody-spring-tulips-and-lilacs?click_key=39aff003b0f72246a2dc3af68bcd703e1edbbc14%3A1717833969&click_sum=60be880b&ref=shop_home_active_1

Every time I think about posting a whinge about how discouraging it is sometimes to be a creative (especially for the wallet) I remember no one likes wallowy posts and that if they did, sales would be through the roof but my roof is currently intact so I’ll just go take a nap instead.

And, and add my etsy link for prints, puzzles, spring scarves and other great stuff: https://museandmaker.etsy.com

If you enjoy seeing my work in your #Bloomscrolling feed please do take a gander at my etsy or Society6 (in profile). Support an artist who works hard to create meaningful, joyful images that's (mostly) spam free.

Click see the full view from this bucket of sunshine fresh from the garden. <3

Just over the moon about all the pretties I got to pick this morning from my own yard.

Can't wait.

Snowstorm bound for N.S. could bring outages, treacherous roads
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-weather-apr2-1.7161078

A spring display of everything in my garden at the moment. Not much in terms of variety, and not the most harmonious color palette with the random pinks of the hyacinth, but I'm treasuring them all the same.

'Tis the season for maple syrup making. For any who are curious about the history and process, I made a slideshow video about the process and you can watch it on Vimeo here:
https://vimeo.com/548606103
It's just under 6 minutes watch. My voiceover.

This week's #WildflowerHour challenge was #SignsOfSpring so here are some from yesterday at #Ravensroost Wood #Wiltshire #WildlifeTrust reserve. The (tiny) pink female flower of Hazel, plus Blackthorn, Lesser Celandine and Primrose.
#Bloomscrolling #botany #plants #flowers #wildflowers #photography

@BroadforkForVictory I know we’re all concerned about climate change. But I’m going to take this as a positive. It’s been a pretty crappy start to the year, at least on this side of the pond. So I’ll just enjoy. Beautiful. Lucky you. #signsofspring

It's #dandelion season in my backyard...

(It's #HootinTootinTuesday again! Post some jokes or funny memes under this hashtag today, and bring lots of smiles to #Mastodon.)

A description of the #month of #April in #earlymodern England.
From Fantasticks, Nicholas Breton, 1626.

Read by Peter Kenny

Image from the #Trevelyon #Miscellany (Folger MS V.b.232), c1608

#17thCentury
#laboursofthemonths
#seventeenthcentury
#commonplacebook
#commonplacebooks
#nicholasbreton
#history
#socialhistory
#morrisdance
#morrisdancers
#historical
#seasonal
#seasonalcustoms
#plumblossom
#porpoise
#nightingale
#pastoral
#bees
#lambs
#signsofspring
#histodons
#histodon
@histodon
@earlymodern
@histodons

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBWPcooYTZM&ab_channel=Passamezzo

The #snow is gone, except where it has been shoveled or plowed into piles. On Wednesday, it was 50F (10C) and #UVM students were sitting in the Adirondack chairs on the campus quad and enjoying the #spring #sun.

Right now it is snowing.

Tomorrow, it’s supposed to be 60F (16C) and #thunderstorms.

It must be spring.

Watercolor wildflowers

Art - https://deborah-league.pixels.com/featured/watercolor-wildflowers-1-deborah-league.html

Spring Lilacs, watercolor.

art - https://deborah-league.pixels.com/featured/lilacs-in-vase-deborah-league.html

Some early flowers on campus. One of the best seasons for a short walk. #biodiversity #SignsOfSpring #flowers #bees