Spring Finery

Spring arrived a little late this year in the Catoctin Mountains, but now color and greenery abound.  It's always such a welcome sight to see the trees leafed out and the flowers opening up, especially after a long, stark winter season.

We've seen an abundance of birds already, too.  Pileated woodpeckers, flocks of bluejays, tiny titmice and chickadees, robins, phoebes, and cardinals are regulars.  Yesterday, I saw an indigo bunting for the first time since I've lived here in the cabin.  It was sitting atop the pole where I'd just hung a hanging basket of flowers I planted the day before.  These birds have deep purple blue plumage and are so pretty.  Their rarity around here make them an extra special sighting!

It's been a cool damp spring so far ... and the plants are loving it.  Below is a small sample of the plants that have come alive with color in the past couple of weeks.

Columbine Flowers

 

Ferns Around our Pond

 

Dainty Common Fleabane