I know it is still Winter, but I'm ready for Spring.
Here is a male cardinal with snow on his tail.
I had many of the usual birds on my patio, and on my feeders, such as this white-throated sparrow.
I also saw this lovely song sparrow.
And this cowbird, which tried every feeder, as well as the patio.
I often have photos of the flower arrangements in the Niche, but the smaller bouquets add so much to our public spaces.
Each of these "little things" has been carefully arranged.
Always with fresh flowers.
Even in the Ladies Room! Thanks to the committee that takes care of this for us.
The Maris Trail is very muddy in many places, but walkable with good boots or shoes.
It was worth it to see and hear all the blackbirds in the trees. I think they were mostly red-wing blackbirds and grackles.
There is still a tree across the path. Actually it is two trees, as the one that fell took down a dead tree with many critter holes in it.
I continued onto the Loop Trail and admired the crocus that we planted yesterday.
And this lovely male robin tells you Spring is right around the corner!
Here are the crocus in my garden, and if you look closely you can see four bees. The bees were all over the crocus in my yard. It can be an important source of pollen at this time of year, and they need pollen to start raising their young.
There are many crocus in bloom on the bank near the Beaumont House. That is where the bulbs in my garden came from. So a group of us met today for the arduous task of digging up some of these bulbs.
We managed to dig up a basket full and more.
These bulbs we then planted on the Loop Trail, near the bee hives. Now the bees won't have to travel as far to get spring pollen for their babies. And some of the crocus bulbs from the Beaumont House are saved from the bulldozer when they start to work up there. If you want some free bulbs and have the energy to dig, there are plenty left.
Here is a bee with pollen heading back into the hive!
My neighbor now has a parking lot bird feeding station. Here is a pair of house sparrows feeding there.
But then I also saw a white-throated sparrow and a song sparrow, and a cardinal in the bushes.
Does all this activity mean that something is going to happen here after eight long years?
The "trees" next to the road were removed.
I expect to see work starting on these eyesores soon.
And do the snowdrops say that somethings coming soon, either snow or Spring.
Foulkeways residents and staff have an annual art show in March. This can be viewed in the gallery in the Community Center.
This year the show seems especially varied and spectacular. Kudos to the committee who arranges all the material.
The talent is overwhelming, especially a collage made of maps, and a photo taken with an IPad!
It takes time to see it all, and it is worth going back to see again and again!
Not all of the show is pictured here, there are many more works of art to see. Don't miss it!
