sorrowfully This afternoon I hear red-winged blackbirds at the pond for the first time this season. Last year I didn’t hear them til March 27. So this is three weeks earlier! I wonder if I should adjust my planting calendars by three weeks?

A pair of mute swans arrived today too. The ice on the pond melted about 2 weeks ago. We’ve had buffleheads and ring-necked ducks diving since then. Also flocks of Canada geese making all sorts of noise all night. They’re starting to pair off now. I think the swans keep the geese away, so maybe it will be quieter at night now.

I’ve had a bad cold so I haven’t posted (or planted) in a while. It seems to be gone so hope I can catch up.