Early Spring Rain

It rained hard all night and morning, but around noon it tapered off enough for us to go outside with Gabe & Cynthia and have a look at the early signs of spring popping up here and there. The Indian Plum (Oemleria cerasiformis) is in full bloom around the edges of the yard.
Along the pathway out to the observation platform, the Indian Plum forms a thick understory beneath the Alder and Cascara trees. The alders are blooming with their brown catkins, but the Indian Plums remain the most obvious sign of spring at this early date. Their perky green leaves are so refreshing to see after the long brown months of winter.

Sanford accompanied us up onto the platform where he promtly demanded attention from Gabe, who wisely complied.

Cynthia brought a pair binoculars out to the platform, but despite a symphony of birdsong it wasn't a very good day for birdwatching. Even though the rain had let up, the birds were still staying undercover. We did see a pair of mallards take off from our pond and pass over us on their way to the next pond. It's a good season to be a duck!

Everything is super saturated right now. In the corner of our yard a small intermittant spring has overflowed its usual swampy depression and a fair sized stream is flowing along the edge of the yard.
Someday, I hope to dig a pond where the spring comes up, then landscape a little stream bed for it to flow through down to another larger pond which would occupy the lowest point at the edge of the lawn bordering the march. But today is not a day for actually digging or working outside in the yard. No, today is a day for staying warm inside, cooking, eating, and visiting with friends, playing board games, and, of course, updating the blog. :)