Spring is inching in

Well, the pond has filled in nicely, and it is clear that we will be able to plant the upper edges as it has not come anywhere near the top rim. The overflow pipes are working well. We haven't decided on what to plant yet, but things are greening up so I'm "pondering" the question.

Lately I have been thinking a lot about Michael, our nephew who moved to the high Artic to work in Resolute and Grise Fiord as Canada's most northernly social worker. I mentioned him in my other blog as well. I can hardly imagine the hardship that the original settlers faced when they were forced to move there to help maintain Canada' claim on the far north. He says that the sun peaked through today, so I can't help think of the contrast with our own weather.

The robins are back now. They have busy eating the pyrocantha berries, and are pecking the ground, gathering nesting materials. There was a flock of about 2 dozen starlings today, and last month we saw quite a few of the finches at the feeder. I keep trying to catch the nuthatches at the window feeder but I can't get a clear photo through the glass.

So inspite of what the ground hog says for the east coast and central Canada, spring is on the way. The daffodils have quite visible shoots, as do the crocus, and the heather (picture above was taken today) is almost radiant.