The Daily Bucket is a place where we post and exchange our observations about what is happening in the natural world in our neighborhood. Bugs, buds, birds - each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the patterns that are quietly unwinding around us.
It was 88 degrees F here today in middle Missouri. more like late June than the end of March. Went mushroom hunting for two hours today with Mrs. burnt out and our grand daughter hoping for another nice mess like we found a couple days ago but my better half found only one and I found one less than she did. My grand daughter however had a better day , finding a weathered box turtle shell to add to her turtle shell/flower garden and a nice rock she named Termite.
After the walk I had just enough energy left to put a final coat of varnish on the bird house I built yesterday and then headed for my chair on the back porch where I spent most of the afternoon watching and listening to the back yard birds.
I found two new flowers on our walk that I didn't have in my earlier diary on spring wildflowers so I will include them here. The first goes by the common name of Bellwort. The second one I believe to be a larkspur but not absolutely sure about that so maybe someone can help me out on it. I also noticed that the Mayapples which have been up for a couple weeks still haven't bloomed but are very close, probably within the next day or two. Step over the thingamabob to see the pics.
Here is the Bellwort.
And here is what I believe to be a larkspur.
This Redwing has been waiting patiently for the last couple weeks for his better half to show up but she still hasn't arrived. But he spent a lot of time today practicing his greeting song for her and was proudly showing his colors as he proclaimed that this backyard was his. He was willing to sit still only long enough for a couple of real quick pics so I'm including them as well. They aren't the best quality but he wasn't nearly as willing to sit still for me as the flowers were.
Here is a nice side view of him wearing his Sunday finest.
And here he is flaring out his epaulets as he sang his heart out. Wish I had a sound track so you could here his sweet song.
So tell us where you are and what spring is looking like in your area. Have a couple places I have to be so today will be in and out.