BS: Spring Firsts

Subject: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Raptor
Date: 16 May 04 - 05:53 PM

Today I saw my first Monarch Butterfly

Friday I heard my first Eastern Bluebird

Raptor

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Pogo
Date: 16 May 04 - 06:00 PM

:) Spring is such a lovely time of the year. My favorite season next to fall.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Pogo
Date: 16 May 04 - 06:13 PM

BTW finding this post is a refreshing break. I've been reading through some of the more politically inclined threads and while I am all for being aware of what's going on in the world, sometimes one does tend to get bogged down and depressed by it all.

It's nice to sit back and take a quiet moment to appreciate the small wonders of life that so often go unnoticed in our noisy, fast-paced mechanical world.

Go hug a tree everyone. Just...you know don't toy with it's emotions. |O)

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Cuilionn
Date: 16 May 04 - 07:45 PM

Spring fairsts:

1) Ah've seen ma fairst snappin turtle (twa days agae, in the middle o the road, nae harm dane!).

2) Last nicht there wis a wild thunderstorm, an Ah drove hame ower roads imperil'd by thoosands o lowpin puddocks (frogs). Ah've ne'er seen the like afore-- an Ah hope tae Guidness Ah missit maist o them!

3) Twa professional fairsts:
    We jist gaet notice frae the state o Maine that oor 501(c)(3) paperwairk is duly filed, meanin we'll sune be able tae seek grants tae fund oor cultural programs (an aiblin e'en get masel a paycheck noo an then!)
    We jist put in oor fairst proposal on an auld schuil-hoose that we hope tae turn intae a Celtic Cultural Centre ca'd "Ceilidh House." We're proposin that a nearby toon gie us a token lease-price, in exchange for us reddin the plaice up, fixin the roof, etc. We wairkit unco haird on the proposal, ettlin tae convince the toon that we'll bring a hantle o intangible & tangible benefits tae the local folk. Keep us Celtic Cultural Wairkers o Maine in yir guid thochts an prayers, aye?

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 May 04 - 08:55 PM

I have now collected over ten (10) very good golf balls from my back yard. Also, I've harvested about 4 pounds of good aspargus, have lilacs blooming in two shades of lilac, have planted tomatoes and basil (purple), and sown forget-me-nots.

And then it snowed.

Ah, life in the high desert region of Idaho!

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: pdq
Date: 16 May 04 - 09:09 PM

Good news, though. The cold weather will have no affect on the viability of the golf balls!

(also in high desert - Nevada)

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Mudlark
Date: 17 May 04 - 12:26 AM

Very nice to get vicarious spring vibes...here on the central coast of Calif. where drought looms large, we were hit by early, prolonged record-breaking highs of 100+ in late April/early May, which put paid to the always too short spring we usually enjoy. Except in rare, sheltered places, the wild grasses have all gone to seed, the few spring flowers that bloomed were burned to a crisp, including my ranunculas and all the wild larkspur and lupine. Right at the coast the poppies are still blooming, at least. It's so hot and dry I've decided to do a miniumum of gardening and concentrate instead on potted plants/flowers for the porch. I'm starting out with gloriously exhuberant geraniums, the big, fat old-fashioned kind, that seem to take the heat better than most. I look forward to reading more about "real" spring elsewhere...

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: CarolC
Date: 17 May 04 - 01:08 AM

I just discovered for the first time that a squirrel is eating our strawberries.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 May 04 - 04:10 AM

I found a crocus last week, the first time I've had one bloom in May - usually they are all done by March.

I sat in my garden this weekend for the first time this year - just sunning and contemplating. It was wonderful!

We went for our first picnic yesterday (Sunday) and it was glorious. On the way home I realised for the first time in 7 years, that you can see our service tree from over the top of the granny flat on the corner.

I might even spend today pottering around in the garden tidying up, now the bicycles have been removed, I have space to manouevre the compost around.

My garden has 15 or more different flowers in bloom, there is a clear blue sky and I'm in need of some therapy. Happy gardening folks!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 17 May 04 - 08:40 AM

the first bud on the peonies is showing colour.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: RangerSteve
Date: 17 May 04 - 10:36 AM

Every day there seems to be a new flower blooming in the front yard. The irises are getting ready to open. I saw my first goldfinch of the year two days ago, and a box turtle a day before that. Two of my neighbors buffalo just gave birth. (There's darned few people in New Jersey that can make a statement like that).
On the unfortunate side, we had our first car break-in and theft the other day. About this time of year, with the State Parks getting crowded, people come over from Pennsylvania to parks located near interstate routes looking for cars with valuables left on the front seats. The interstates make for a fast getaway. We identified the suspect, at least. I was almost involved in the first high-speed chase of my career, but some dumb yuppie got in between us, and she was on her GOD-DAMNED CELL PHONE AND COULDN'T BE BOTHERED NOTICING MY LIGHTS AND SIRENS BECAUSE SHE WAS ON HER GOD-DAMNED CELL PHONE AND WHEN A YUPPIE IS ON HER GOD-DAMNED CELL PHONE, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS, SO I LOST THE GUY, but I got the guys license plate number. This stuff will be going on all summer.
Sorry about that rant, I needed to vent my anger somewhere.
RangerSteve, lover of nature, enemy of all yuppies.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 May 04 - 12:22 PM

Hey, isn't failure to yield to an emergency vehicle a crime? Get her license number and give her a REAL thrill -- a court appearance!

We're headed into our fifth year of drought. Water emergencies will probably be declared this summer.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Sooz
Date: 17 May 04 - 02:00 PM

I've just walked round my garden and counted twenty eight different species in flower - and I didn't cheat and count the weeds! There's a lot to be said for boring flat Lincolnshire.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Raptor
Date: 18 May 04 - 09:33 AM

This tread is good threapy keep the posts comming folks(even police chases). But it would be helpfull to know where you are in relation to the climate zones when reporting blooms!

Raptor(in Ontario)

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 18 May 04 - 10:16 AM

Yesterday, I woke up at 5am so I could take three buses through London to get to Isabella Plantation, located in lovely Richmond Park. It is a special area, where one can see the most spectacular plantings of azaleas and rhododendruns imaginable.

Even though the blooms are patchy this year, due to the drought from last year (yup, even here, the weather can cause mayhem) it was well worth the trip and I spent the early hours wandering ALONE which was a tremendous treat. Nothing but me and the glory of nature. I heard my first woodpeckers, and saw my first rabbits, along with revelling in acres of more colours than I could put names to. A few camillias were left as well, and for the first time I discovered a Handkerchief Tree, brought all the way from China.

It was a grand day, and even when the place became full of other people and I resorted to putting on my headphones and listening to classical music thanks to Radio 4 (Bless em) I became drunk as a skunk with all that is truly Holy to me...Nature!..xx..e

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: mack/misophist
Date: 18 May 04 - 05:49 PM

Heard a cuckoo this morning for the first time in my life. I could be mistaken but the sound was obvious. Didn't think we had them around here.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 19 May 04 - 05:55 PM

This is an excellent site (and project)in the UK and an excellent idea to introduce elsewhere:

UK Phenology Network

(Nothing to do with feeling bumps on the head.)

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Scoville
Date: 19 May 04 - 07:02 PM

Spring is long over here. The first sno-cone stands opened in March. (Welcome to Texas!)

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 May 04 - 11:11 AM

My lilacs just opened and i have a fragrant pitcher full in the sun room.

And a large bear went romping through our neighborhood on Monday - ??????. poor thing was shot and killed.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 20 May 04 - 11:31 AM

First Peony out today - first Nova Zembla rhodie. first mowing of the lawn.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: GUEST
Date: 20 May 04 - 11:33 AM

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz................ time for bed said zebedi

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Flash Company
Date: 21 May 04 - 06:13 AM

You see some interesting things whilst lying in bed,Guest. ( now that could start a whole new conversation!)
Actually, looking out of my bedroom window this morning,I saw squirrel eating the newly formed pears on our 90+ year old pear tree.
Never seen them do that before!
Location suburban Cheshire.

FC

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: GUEST
Date: 21 May 04 - 06:36 AM

So here we are rhapsodizing about flowers and squirrels, and Sinsull trumps us all with a BEAR!!!

;-D

..xx..e

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Bill D
Date: 21 May 04 - 10:26 AM

the azelias have come & gone, the rhododendrons are starting to flower....and 423,832,915,321(latest count) cicadas are climbing all over them all! Last time we had cicadas, one grub ate into the tap root of a very nice Crabapple tree and killed it....

....ooops...423,832,915,423...(just re-counted!)

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Cuilionn
Date: 22 May 04 - 08:35 AM

Saw ma fairst Jack-in-the-Pulpit e'er, grawin in the wuids near a friend's hoose! Twa ither important Spring Fairsts aroond here are the annual re-opening o the "frozen custard" (ice cream) stand in New Gloucester, Maine and "Fat Boy's" drive-in hamburger stand in Cook's Corner. They're baith auld-style warm-weather food plaices, the sairt o plaices that ye pile aa the kinfolk intae the car an drive tae on a Sunday afternoon. Och, an the prices are auld-fashioned, tae-- even a folk musician can afford the food!

A few years back, pairt o the neon sign on the Frozen Custard stand burned oot, an for a few months--tae the grait delicht o some o the mair progressive locals-- the sign proclaimit, "ZEN CUSTARD." Mmmm, noo that's my kind o meditative exercise!

--Cuilionn (whae haed tae drive hame slowly last nicht, as there were mair "Spring Peeper" frogs on the road.)

P.S. SINSULL-- Sae sorry aboot that bear! Ah haird aboot them shootin it on the radio, but didnae ken it wis sae claise tae ye!

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 23 May 04 - 06:41 PM

Spring..When mans thoughts lightly turn to thoughts of love!!
Poetic ecstacy

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 May 04 - 12:59 AM

And when women's thoughts turn to "oh, no, four days left in the school year! Now what do I do with the kids for three months of summer?!"

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 24 May 04 - 05:52 AM

Is it my imagination in the UK or are there even more rape seed fields appearing each year? Beautiful Spring yellow..yes but why so much??

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Flash Company
Date: 24 May 04 - 11:09 AM

I'd second that, Georgiansilver, you never saw the stuff when I was a kid, where in hell has it all come from?

FC

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Raptor
Date: 24 May 04 - 11:10 AM

Philidelphia Vireo, Indigo Bunting today!

Raptor

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Mrrzy
Date: 24 May 04 - 11:21 AM

As things got warmer here:

First watermelon...

First night sleeping with all the windows open...

First evening warm enough to dance naked outside by the fire on which we'd cooked yummy bbq...

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 May 04 - 02:25 PM

RE: Rape - it's a high cash yield crop that can be grown/harvested 3 times in one year. Lots of income for very little outlay, three times a year.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: GUEST,Lilyfestre
Date: 24 May 04 - 02:29 PM

On Saturday, I saw the first bluebird of the season.
On Sunday, my daughter did the dishes without being asked...that's a first for just about any season!!!!!! *G*

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: keberoxu
Date: 23 May 16 - 02:04 PM

Spring has been a long time warming up in New England this year. I just saw the first WASPS and dumpster bees. I had forgotten how completely I do NOT miss them when they are not around.
When it is warm enough for dumpster bees, the cicadas cannot be far behind....anybody spotted their first cicada yet??

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Rumncoke
Date: 23 May 16 - 09:03 PM

My husband has been out in the garden bagging up green and (formerly) growing stuff to take to the tip, and planning to spray the forget me nots with weed killer.

I'm perfectly happy for flora and fauna to rampage around outside, but he seems to be against the idea and prefers gravel, paving and bricks.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Janie
Date: 23 May 16 - 09:29 PM

A first for this location where I have lived for going on 9 years now, the call of a whippoorwill. And the next morning, a mockingbird doing a very bad imitation!

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Senoufou
Date: 24 May 16 - 04:50 AM

While trimming our rampant honeysuckle which grows at our front door, I found myself eyeball-to-eyeball with a blackbird sitting on her nest. She flew off and I could see five lovely pale blue eggs. Our door looks weird now, as one side is trimmed while the other is overgrown. We can hardly get in or out. But she is still sitting, so the eggs should hatch.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Janie
Date: 24 May 16 - 08:39 PM

Keep us posted, Senoufou!

Just saw the first lightning bug of the season. A lonely batchalor, early to the dance. Maybe some more will join him tomorrow.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 24 May 16 - 08:58 PM

A huge great June bug came crashing into me last night. He wasn't there in the morning, so I suppose he survived.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Senoufou
Date: 25 May 16 - 02:55 AM

Ha Steve, we call those 'kittywitches' here in Norfolk! Weird things aren't they?

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Senoufou
Date: 25 May 16 - 02:55 AM

Ha Steve, we call those 'kittywitches' here in Norfolk! Weird things aren't they?

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 25 May 16 - 07:24 AM

They're amusing beasts close up. They don't seem to mind being picked up. Their underground infant stage appeals far less.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: keberoxu
Date: 25 May 16 - 03:01 PM

First day to wear open-toed bare-footed sandals outdoors.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 25 May 16 - 05:14 PM

That's all I ever wear all the year round apart from at the odd funeral or wedding. I hate socks and probably wear them on fewer than ten days a year. I must have fresh air about my person. I do not belong in tight tucked-in shirts and long trousers, let alone tight undies. Down, girls.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: keberoxu
Date: 25 May 16 - 05:43 PM

There's a character like yourself in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," if memory serves. But I think his name was Angus. You didn't see him in the film, that I recall. He was in Rowling's book, near the front, at the campsite of the magical people. When confronted about his loose garb, he retorted that Muggles dress that way, why couldn't he!

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 25 May 16 - 05:52 PM

Well I've never read any Harry Potter, though Mrs Steve is an aficionado. On the whole, I see clothes as a means of preventing me being arrested for public indecency. I could be the biggest scruff in Cornwall, but I care not a jot. Comfort first!

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: keberoxu
Date: 25 May 16 - 07:47 PM

My mistake: not Angus; the wizard's name is Archie Aymslowe, the president of F.A.R.T. , and he refuses to wear pin-striped trousers along with his flowery flannel nightgown that he bought in a Muggle shop. (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 25 May 16 - 08:00 PM

I'll have to check that with Mrs Steve!

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: CupOfTea
Date: 26 May 16 - 08:02 AM

First night of sleeping with the windows open. Despite lots of warm days, the quite chilly nights this spring have made this first somewhat later than expected.

Joanne in Cleveland

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 26 May 16 - 08:40 AM

Forcing me to sleep in any room with the windows closed at any time of the year is grounds for divorce.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 May 16 - 10:48 AM

Same here Steve. All year round, windows wide open in the bedroom all night. Staying in hotels or B&B where you can't open the window, I feel trapped and suffocated.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: MikeL2
Date: 26 May 16 - 02:17 PM

Hi

Due to the fine weather we have had earlier this year I left off my socks and will not use them again until October.

This is because I wear open toed sandals and Mrs Mike does not think that socks should be worn with sandals. As it happens neither do I.

Also short sleeved shirts were dug out although Yesterday here was bloody freezing so I donned a light long sleeved sweater.

Sun hat also appeared as I have to watch my noddle.

Cheers

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: MikeL2
Date: 26 May 16 - 02:29 PM

Hi

Due to the fine weather we have had earlier this year I left off my socks and will not use them again until October.

This is because I wear open toed sandals and Mrs Mike does not think that socks should be worn with sandals. As it happens neither do I.

Also short sleeved shirts were dug out although Yesterday here was bloody freezing so I donned a light long sleeved sweater.

Sun hat also appeared as I have to watch my noddle.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 26 May 16 - 04:52 PM

I do not wear socks with sandals ever. In fact, I wear socks on approximately four days a year, max, and never willingly. I have just one pair of shoes, black, with Velcro fastenings. I've had them for twenty years and they come out for funerals and weddings only. They are in pristine condition. I wear sandals with good treads that serve me well for going on long country walks. Merrell and Teva are my favourite brands, though I wear cheaper Karrimor ones for slouching around in. I do not possess any long-sleeved shirts. Further, I do not and will not tuck shirts into my shorts. I must have air circulating about my anatomy at all times. As far as I'm concerned, the only reason I wear clothes at all is to prevent me from being arrested. I have a coat with a fleece lining that I wear on cold winter's days, but even the thought of having to put it on makes me bloody miserable. A short-sleeve shirt with cotton gilet on top serves me well except in the coldest weather.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: keberoxu
Date: 26 May 16 - 05:45 PM

Archie Aymslowe says "healthy breeze" rather than "air circulating:" same difference. You sound as much a F.A.R.T. as he does, Steve.

Joanne, what about those Brood V cicadas? Are the nymphs crawling yet, as they are in West Virginia?

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: CupOfTea
Date: 26 May 16 - 11:53 PM

Steve, you must be from heartier stock or in a more temperate climate or both to sleep with windows open all year! I turn the temp down at night, but weeks on end of nights below freezing are hard enough on my central heating with the windows CLOSED. Might be more common in house without central heating? The only hearty sleep-in-the-cold person I've encountered in person was Margaret MacArthur, who repaired to her van to avoid the warm.

No cicadas in Cleveland so far. I can recall large numbers in previous cycles, but nary a one in Northern Ohio that I've heard.

Joanne in Cleveland, headed off to the first outdoor festival of the year ( where I'm not camping because last time I froze)

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Senoufou
Date: 27 May 16 - 03:16 AM

Steve, you'd love living in Africa. You could wear the long, loose 'boubou' with absolutely nothing underneath, and flimsy flip-flops. I wear the female equivalent when I'm over there, and it's bliss!

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Senoufou
Date: 27 May 16 - 03:22 AM

CupofTea, if you have a 13-tog duvet or downie, you could sleep in the garden in the middle of winter and still be nice and warm. Mine is filled with soft goose down. We never ever have the central heating on at night, and ALL windows wide open. Sometimes the curtains are blowing horizontally!.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: keberoxu
Date: 01 Jun 16 - 01:19 PM

First mosquito! It's LATE in the year to be seeing the first mosquito, tells you how cool it was before now.

Of all places to be hovered over, it was at the filling station, with the car next to the pump.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Jun 16 - 09:30 PM

Saw the first grizzly of spring yesterday. Old 610 and her two cubs.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Donuel
Date: 02 Jun 16 - 02:06 PM

The birds have just about wrapped up their sex orgy season.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Janie
Date: 02 Jun 16 - 09:11 PM

Ach! We have had mosquitoes off and on, according to temperatures and moisture, almost all winter. Not common in these parts. Maybe will become more common. Glad I am not of childbearing age.

Steve Shaw, what bug do you call the Junebug? Here in the eastern USA what we commonly call June Bugs are large, iridescent green beetles that fly during the day, not at night. When I was a kid, we commonly amused ourselves by catching them, tying a thread around a leg, and 'flying' them in circles.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Janie
Date: 02 Jun 16 - 09:22 PM

Didn't mean to hit 'submit.' This the beetle we call June Bug in the eastern USA. While the grub can apparently cause some considerable damage in some places, hasn't been considered a significant pest where I have lived or live, in West Virginia or the northeast Piedmont of North Carolina. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotinis_nitida

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Firsts
From: Donuel
Date: 02 Jun 16 - 10:21 PM

Janie we once had "winter" mosquitos too.

There was a leak under the sink.