Randy, I think you're right, because yesterday I saw a female Eastern black swallowtail, about 5 or 6 Mourning Cloaks, several cabbages whites, a little yellow, and others I couldn't ID yet. I was shocked! It's WAY early for the butterflies. Of course, last year we didn't get any until June or July, which was later than usual.

I'm so frustrated, though, because those obnoxious crows have taken over my pine tree in the front yard, which used to be home to my cardinals, the wrens, and the mockingbirds. They won't go near it now. Have a remedy for getting rid of crows?

Susan

Susan

I've been seeing bumble bees for about a week now and the pair of Eastern Phoebes that like to nest under the eave of the house showed up yesterday. It was nice hearing their shriek like call today.

randy

I saw a female Ruby Throat yesterday morning. She flew into my kitchen garden, hovered for a sec, then zipped on to the south side of the yard and disappeared! I about flipped! I didn't see any others, just the female. Usually one or two males will zip over to me, hover by my head to let me know they're back, then zip off to help build a nest. I wonder if she lost her mate on the journey here? It is still way too cold at night for them. Not enough of those blue-green lichens available yet for their nest material. Darn! I will try to capture an image of her with my digital camera so you can see for yourself. She probably won't be out today tho'- too chilly. What a miserable weekend for them to return! Everything seems so out of sinc. It is a bit perplexing. Don't know what to expect next. My Lady Banks roses are budding to bloom. They don't normally bloom until late April or early May - ever! They are very tender roses.

This crazy, upside-down weather is global. I have a cousin in Dublin, Ireland. We talk gardening and family history back and forth "over the big pond". She e-mailed me that it was very cold and damp there this morning with "sleet showers". She decided to just stay in and watch the festivities on tv today and not venture out!

Hope you have a great day today.
~Annie

HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY!

Poor little hummer. I sure hope she flew back South! Never saw her again so hope she did.