The Edge of Spring

Here it is the 2nd day of April and things are really  changing fast .  I knew it was going to be a good day when I woke up to the sounds of a male cardinal calling and robins singing their hearts out .My morning walk took me to a vernal pool shaded by hemlock and the pool was still 70% covered with ice. The water temperature was 3 degrees C and the air was 14 C.

Red maples have burst their buds and started flowering .

                            

 same tree April 20 08

The spotted salamanders have done their spring migration to the vernal pools .

 

Both the wood frogs

 and peepers started calling yesterday if their body of water had any sun on it.

                 

 There is an alder like mystery  shrub in flower but no catkins. Any ideas ?

              

Hobble-bush vibernum is leafing out after being broused by deer.
            

            

The poplars have fuzzy catkins .
 
 







 Some areas of the woods must have been on the down-wind side of a hill of flowers , the aroma was like a beautiful ... perfume.
                                     I suspect May flowers .... Enjoy the Wonderment !