MaineNatureDiary

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We have switched blogging hosts: Well, we are no longer going to be posting to Tumblr. It’s been a good 8 years, but it is time to move onto another venue where I can share my posts with my students and fellow teachers at school. Apparently,Tumblr has a bad reputation and my school has blocked it. So, onto Blogger we go! Farewell our fellow Tumblr users. I have appreciated your “Likes” and communications. Keep sharing those fantastic nature photos with the world. I’ll still be checking on your posts and will enjoying your websites. We are now found at mainenaturediary.blogspot.com.

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Northern Flicker: Drew spotted a pair of flickers poking around in the ground for grubs. Unfortunately, the window that I took the video  through has a screen on it, so the quality is, well...It is what it is...

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Welcome to springtime in Maine: While I am in Florida, for Spring Break, Drew is manning the home front. He and the pups are going to be super bummed by the lack of sunshine for the entire week. And the amount of rain we’ll get is going to mess up the yard big time as it is still thawing and settling after all the frost heaving. Ugga Bugga... (Click on the chart for a larger view.)

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It’s official: Houston, we have ice out! (and a blurry loon).

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Ice out: Almost there..still a little ice in the south cove.

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A lone peeper peeping: The first audible peeper of the season. Also heard is a rope tapping against the neighbor’s flagpole.

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Ice out: One day closer.

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Just a tiny bit of snow left: Due to warmth (days in the low to mid-60s) and sun for the last four days, the only snow we have left is located on top of my two main flower gardens, directly in front of the house, a bit of snow along the wood pile, and a few piles in the backyard.

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No spring peepers yet: My colleague, Paula, informed me that she has been hearing spring peepers since about Sunday, in her neck of the woods, (about 2 miles southwest of us, as the crow flies.) We haven’t heard a peep yet!

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Whoo Hoo, is that open water I see? Yessiree, the ice is thinning and there is open water on the northern half of the pond. I took photos from the dock and then walked up to the put-in near the north side of the pond. We might just have ice-out by the 17th as was my second guess on April 12th. Now, I just have to get myself a dinghy and some waders to allow me to get into the boat somehow. This is all going to be quite the operation as you can see that the dock is in pretty bad shape. I figure it is cheaper to get waders that a new dock! Danged knees...it’s all their fault! We are hoping to sell the kayak (which I can no longer use) to a neighbor sometime this spring or summer. I am going to miss that kayak as it gave me so many wonderful adventures...sigh...

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Gardens revealed: I spent a couple of hours raking the flower gardens that are currently exposed (on the north side of the property.) My two major gardens are still under about 3 feet of snow. I found lots of pleasant surprises. The first grouping of crocuses were still open in the front stump garden. There were many groupings of daffodils spread throughout the northerly located gardens (and I am afraid that at least one clump will bloom while I am in Florida.) I jumped for joy when seeing the bloodroot shoots, and the first trout lily shoot was poking up through the soil. I think it is going to be a grand spring flowering year!

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Caesar Pond ice is thinning: With another day in the low 50′s, the pond ice is continuing to thin. There is a bit more open water near shore, and the islands are being exposed out into the pond. I cannot see any open water to the north yet, but maybe tomorrow will bring us that pleasant surprise!

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Springtime is like Christmas all over again: Oh, the anticipation of unwrapping the presents that Mother Nature has hidden under the snow. I just couldn’t wait any longer. Today’s outdoor temperature rose to 65F, the sun was shining, and there was a light breeze. I grabbed a rake and some clippers and went to work! There was a layer of leaves over the garden surface (put there on purpose to protect the plants over winter.) I also did a bit of trimming back of some long stems from the last plants to bloom in autumn.

To my surprise, there was a tiny bunch of crocuses in bloom. They had already closed up for the day by the time I had uncovered them, but their purple beauty pleased me greatly. I also uncovered some mystery shoots that will reveal themselves in due time. Do you know what they are? (I’m not telling;-) (Click on any photo for a larger view.)

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What a difference a day makes on the pond ice: I still don’t see any open water at the north end of the pond, but it should occur soon. Check out the pithy texture of the ice.

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A loverly day in April: The temperature soared to 63F today. Drew was sporting his first shorts of the season, while I had a short-sleeved shirt on. Ahhhh....warm sun... Now, we just need a solid week of warmth to melt the ice on the pond and in the yard, and it looks like we are in luck. I revised my ice-out date to April 17th! Let’s hope I’m right. The sooner the water appears, the sooner I get out onto the pond. I miss the water sooo much.

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Ice-Out Dates since we moved to Maine: I count ice-out to occur when the south cove opens up. I am thinking that I might be in Florida before ice-out occurs this year. That means that Drew is going to be held responsible for checking the pond on a daily basis. I think ice-out is going to be around April 17th. Anybody care to make a wager? 

April 15, 2014 April 6, 2013 March 20, 2012 April 17, 2011 March 18, 2010 April 9, 2009 April 19, 2008 April 20, 2007 March 26, 2006 April 11, 2005 April 8, 2004 April 16, 2003 March 31, 2002 April 22, 2001 April 8, 2000

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Snow Totals over the years we’ve lived in Maine: (as measured on our snow table on the front deck)

2014-2015 = 103″ 2013-2014 =   72″ 2012-2013 =   83″ 2011-2012 =   61″ 2010-2011 =   99″ 2009-2010 =   57″ 2008-2009 =   87″ 2007-2008 =  127″ 2006-2007 =   74″ 2005-2006 =  No data for some reason 2004-2005 =  No data for some reason 2003-2004 =   30″ 2002-2003 =   No data for some reason 2001-2002 =   42″ 2000-2001 = 100″