April 21 2011
Tulip and daffodil leaves and buds
A Song Sparrow
Notice the dark spot in the middle of his breast
- this helps you to identify it as a Song Sparrow.
There are many different kinds of sparrows.
By the way, he does have a nice song!
Here he is again!
Or she...male and female look alike.
A Robin
...who doesn't look very pleased.
It must be a little hard to find worms through a snow cover!
Waiting it out in a spruce tree.
A Goldfinch
His plumage looks a little less bright than normal.
He may be a young bird,
or just waiting for his summer feathers.
A nest from last year.
Last year's burdock seeds.
In the garden...
....a cover to protect.....
....parsley plants that have overwintered,
protected by straw and the plastic covered frame.
Last winter we had very little frost in the ground,
and we had a good snow cover which kept the plants
from freezing and thawing, which would have killed them.
Spinach plants that overwintered,
covered now with a plastic covered frame,
which keeps them warmer
and encourages them to grow faster,
so we can pick the leaves sooner!
We have found spinach to overwinter well,
even if the ground freezes,
especially if planted in the late summer.
