Welcome to this week’s episode of Nature Friday where we join Rosy, Sunny and Jakey from LLB in Our Backyard.
Spring finally sprung in the 303 and apparently decided to do double-time to make up for her slow arrival, while the upper Midwest and Northeast decided to take a step back and revisit Winter. Meanwhile Spring lasted about a hot minute with emphasis on the hot and now has decided to confer with her cousin, Summer. The Ranch has once again traveled to the family homestead in Southern Colorado where temperatures will reach the low 90’s today. And yes, that’s 9-0, as in too freakin’ hot for April. Why, oh why does Nature punish the Front Range with hot temps and low moisture is far beyond my paygrade so I guess I’ll just move straight to some of the things we saw around the ‘Hood this week.
For those few moments Spring was actually in town, welcome sights greeted anyone who took the time to check them out. Last week I had intended to share a pic from the cold hardy magnolia a tree from down the street but was unable due to computer issues so because they’re so pretty, I’m including one today. This tree had been zapped a couple of times with chilly temps (and thus some browning around the edges) but managed to show why it’s worth sharing this week. When it first started blooming a few years ago, the blossoms were a light creamy color but now they are more yellow in recent years. Still, it’s a lovely sight to behold. The only shortcoming is it doesn’t have the typically divine scent that magnolia trees have in the South. But when you look like Sophia Loren, people don’t criticize you. No one.
Flowering trees showed why gardeners enjoy planting them. This crabapple tree was covered in blooms apparently so yummy as to beg for pollinators to nosh on their sweet nectar.
A visit to a local garden center showed some stunning Ranunculus asiaticus, as early blooming perennials are beginning to arrive. These double flowered beauties heralding from the eastern Mediterranean region are simply stunning in the ornamental garden.
The Ranch Hands appreciated some ‘breezy walks’ this week (which translates to windy as all get out) among some showy Creeping Phlox and even posed nicely together. Apparently miracles do happen and not just in hockey. Imagine wrangling two squirmy dogs not all that keen on touching one another while holding their leashes tightly so they don’t chase a nearby squirrel, focusing a cell phone in between hands also holding a full bag of poop ready to be ditched in a bin and this is one extraordinary image despite its less than stellar composition. Yeah, I’m bowing now and patting myself on the back, you betcha.
The Ranch Hands and I have been keeping our eyes peeled for wildlife. Yesterday while Norman was playing co-Grand Marshall with another pet therapy dog leading a parade at a hospital event, we spied a goose who was roosting over 6 eggs in a planter near the front entrance. Mama Goose was not pleased with the people or their dogs and hissed warnings at us. A quick unimpressive snap and we off we went after she made it clear we were not welcome. Next week we’ll share pictures celebrating the National Pet Therapy Day.
Well that’s it from the Ranch this week. We hope those of you who received a blast from Winter are now enjoying better Spring days and we are praying for all those in the western US dealing with wildfires. Hope you are able to get outside this weekend and enjoy all the beauty Nature shares. Go forth and enjoy.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Hi Monika,
Hard to believe another weekend is about to start up again. I don’t feel I achieved anything this week. We’ve had more heavy rain which torpedoed my walking efforts, but I’m relieved I got down to the beach this afternoon. It was actually sunny today. I was in shock and so was my step counter on my phone. I think it was on zero for the last two days.
Well done getting both dogs looking so photogenic in the same photo. You did exceptionally well. I was thrilled with a recent photo of me reading a book with Zac and he’s looking right at Geoff.
Hope you have a great weekend.
Best wishes,
Rowena
Hopefully the weather now has become more moderate with just a hint of extremes as you morph toward summer.
As you know, photographing multiple pets is always a challenge. You should see the many outtakes! Ha, ha.
We can smell your spring!
39ºF seems a tad bit ‘crisp.’ LOL
It sure does look like spring exploded while as you say we, the upper midwest, are still in winter like conditions. Spring will come, it is just late this year.
We were pretty jealous of the snow you guys received. The Gulf Stream foiled us again. Hope spring starts its appearance in your area soon.
**BellaDharma** swoonss………
A minute later: *** BellaSita Mum swoonss***…….
87 umm…… a few minutess later BellaDharma comess to!
Deerest Norman you are so furry hansum an Elsa yore so purrty…what a lovelee foto you tooked Miss Monika! You werk well under stress 😉
An such lovelee flowerss bloomin….nothin bloomin here….it iss still sorta Swintery here.
That Meowmy Goose sure picked a funny spot to set up home! Mew mew mew ….
Wee are followin Greta Goose who tooked over THE Decoarh (Iowa) EAGEL nest an set up home! Eagelss have been couteeuss an moved to their other nest!
Life sure iss funny issn’t it???
~~~hed rubsss~~~ BellaDharma~~~ an {{huggiess}} BellaStia Mum
First come, first serve, right? LOL
Toetallee Miss Monika an Sweet Norman an Elsa!!!
Lulu: “Dada says he’s pretty sure Mother Nature has been on a bender for a while and is still hung over, what with all the crazy weather whiplash they’ve been getting back east!”
Your Dada is right. She needs professional help.
We feel ya on the wind…it was pretty bad here today!
Great spring blooms!
Now I know how Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz felt like when she landed on the Wicked Witch of the East. Scary winds-just grateful there was next to no humidity, otherwise the hailstorm would have been horrific.
Great photo of your “ranch hands”, and yes you deserve a BIG PAT on the back! 🙂
Beautiful flower!
LOL at the goose. Guess she told you!
She sure did…and then some!🤣
😂!
We are still in April Showers mode…but tomorrow and Sunday we will be catapulted into midsummer as we are expecting temps in the low 80’s and upper seventies. Not sure how long that will last, but it will make our weeping cherry to explode with its blossoms…and then all the buzzing when the bees discover it.
That sure is a beautiful magnolia, I didn’t know they came in a yellow color.
When the danger of frost is over I shall start my seeds that you sent me…if they ‘take’, I will send you some pictures…or post them in my blog…I need to restart my Dahlias, now too. They are several years old, and seem to be thriving, still in the same pots as when I got them!
Good luck with the seeds. I culled a big bucket of plants last fall and deadheaded like crazy-they we’re becoming way too invasive and began to find new homes in all the wrong places. This year, they aren’t as bad yet, so fingers crossed.
Today’s high winds were the strongest I’ve ever experienced. I don’t know how people handle being in a hurricane or tornado.
Great pictures of the pups! That goose was a silly one to nest there!
I know, right?! But I sure as heck wasn’t going to be the one to tell her. 😉
Spring is playing hide and seek with us too. Yesterday was cold and I could see my breath in the air and today it’s sunny and warm. Tomorrow rain is coming…..not sure what to make of it and the plants/trees all seem a bit confused too!! I guess patience is the key – it’s just that we’re all tired of winter/cold right? Right! Love the photos.
Hugs, Pam
Thanks, Pam. I wouldn’t mind the yo-yo temps if there was some moisture to go with it. It’s soooo dry and the wind is howling today (30+ mph).
Great shot of the fur kids! Love early spring for the beautiful flowering trees, so pretty.
Thanks. Flowering trees mean Spring has definitely arrived.
Totally off topic, but I’ve been catching up on Dr. Jeff episodes. So good to see him doing well, I always think about his health when the show is off the air! Seems like the practice is thriving too.
Funny you mentioned it. I ran into him at Parisi’s the other evening. He does look good and they’re busier than ever.
That’s awesome!
Great shots, especially considering the circumstances! A goose who laid her eggs in a flower planter. Hmmm. A good story or song could come out of that!
Heh, heh…a great country song. 😄
Geese pick interesting nest sites, don’t they? I recently saw posted a pair that decided an old osprey nest was just the spot… until last year’s tenants showed up to claim their territory!
Happy Earth Day!
Yikes, that’s not the kind of landlord you’d want, though I’ve seen some pretty fierce geese! 🤣
Beautiful spring shots and then there are the precious pups, especially handsome Norman. Co-grand marshal? I’m impressed, Norman.
Love the goose int he planter. Adorable.
Have a fabulous day and weekend, my friend. Scritches to the pups, a smooch to Norman and a big hug to mom. ♥
When you’re as big as Norman, it’s easy to push your way to the front of the line, especially around the little dogs who move out of the way post haste. 😆
all the good luck for the goose in a planter ;O) …we need more hands to maneuvre two dogs, a phone and car keys and whatever we have to hold
At least I can put away the gloves and mittens now. That makes for some interesting juggling when you’re trying to pick up poop. 😁
I also offer you a pat on the back for the great shot of Ella and Norman. They are both smiling, too! I know how hard that is to capture. Good job.
Thanks. Trying to get photos of dogs can humble a dog mum. 😄 Have a great weekend.
I admire your dexterity! Knowing me i would have been squeezing the bags rather than the camera button…
That magnolia is just lovely.
LOL-hopefully I never squeeze the wrong hand! That made me burst out laughing. Have a wonderful weekend, Helen.
We’ll also give you a “pat on the back, you betcha”. Beautiful photos, hands full or not!
Aww, thanks. Whenever I can snap a pic with the two of them on a walk like that, it’s a bloody miracle nothing crazy happens. 😆
Have a great weekend y’alls.
Thanks, hope you have a super weekend!