The Caterpillars Are Out

 We have a tree in the back yard that attracts caterpillar nests and there are a bunch this year.  The nest have started spilling the caterpillars all over the yard.  But some seem attracted to a hanging flower pot sitting next to the shed.  In the first picture they are coating the top of the hook and the second they are massing on one side of the pot.  These things really creep out my wife.  Hope they finish their life cycle soon.

Beautiful Kwanzan Cherry Tree

 If you look back two years, this Kwanzan Cherry tree was much smaller.  It has grown nicely in the past two years and is producing a wonderful display of flowers.  Meanwhile the Rhododendron we planted in a pot on the front patio rewarded us with a full covering of flowers.  The Rhododendrons planted next to the fence haven't bloomed yet.  The pot must have warmed much faster than the ground.  The other night we finally had frog night - about a month later than last year.

Wild Ferns Uncurl

 Another interesting springtime adventure involves the various wild ferns we have growing around the yard.  As they emerge from the ground, the leaves are all curled up.  They slowly uncurl exposing the leaves until they look like a normal fern leaf.  The first picture is a fern just starting to uncurl and the second is one that is almost done.  Very interesting plants.

May Apples Crop

 In the past week several bunches of May Apples have popped up around the yard.  It is interesting how bunches of these plants are scattered around the yard widely separated from each other.  Soon they will be sporting beautiful white flowers under the canopy of leaves above.  In the second picture you can just see the flower bud below the leaves.

Saucer Magnolia Blooms

 Our Saucer Magnolia are blooming again.  The color is quite lovely as spring starts.  This year after the blooms fade, I plan to remove the fence that has been keeping the deer out.  I hope the deer don't develop a taste for these plants.  They are supposed to be deer resistant.

New Eggs in the Small Pond

 Yesterday I decided to clean leaves and algae from the ponds and there wasn't any problem in the large pond.  But I was surprised to see a bunch of frog eggs on the small pond so I couldn't clean out the leaves.  There were two different species of frog laying eggs.  In the first picture are strings of black eggs and the second shows more of a white coloration to the strings of eggs.  Soon we'll have a bunch of tiny tadpoles swimming in the pond.

Spring is Coming

 We have been waiting for spring for a long time.  I expected frog night yesterday but there was only one young couple who thought the time was right.  The problem is they were 30 feet from the pond and laying eggs in the yard just won't work.  Meanwhile today the Star Magnolia in the front is blooming like crazy.  The picture doesn't do the display justice.  When you look at it the flowers are so bright white and fresh that it is really impressive.