En route

Redwing black birdLast weekend it seemed like a switch had been flipped and the dinge of winter was replaced by bright emerald – at least underfoot.  And the dimmer-switch of daffodils, forsythia and other harbingers of spring is all of a sudden being turned up and up and up. Those of you who received the Blithewold spring newsletter have already heard my spiel about spring and those of you who read the blog regularly know that I’m all for taking a break to walk around and take it all in.  This is exactly the moment in spring that I’d hate to miss – I want to catch every unfurl and you know if I could just sit and watch something open, I would.  — But what to choose?!

Hover over for captions and click on for larger image

Butterbur (Petasites japonicus) leafing outSpice bush (Lindera benzoin)Peony emergingTulipa 'Johann Strauss'Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)Autumn cherry (Prunus x subhirtella) 'Autumnalis'Red maple (Acer rubrum)Lungwort (Pulmonaria saccharata 'Mrs. Moon')

Narcissus 'Ice Follies'

Dog's-tooth violet/Trout lily (Erythronium)Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea)European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) in bud

The season is en route to summer and picking up the pace – but even though we’re ready to be warm, cool temperatures will keep spring in our step maybe a little longer.  Blithewold opens officially tomorrow!  And remember, even if the house is closed (like it is this Easter Sunday, and every Monday, Tuesday) the grounds are open.

Daff cam 4-10-09

Are you taking time out to catch the unfurl?  Is there anything you’d want to watch open if you could?