AND WE'LL HAVE SUN, SUN, SUN......

Not a t-Bird but the black-capped chickadees are a-singing this morning, in the midst of the city. Mourning doves a-cooing...can it be...spring is near...can I count the snows? Lemme see the robin-snow, the smelt snow....

I HATE WINTER IN ATLANTIC CANADA!

As I live on the ocean, see below, I can have 3 seasons each week. From the photo below we acquired 15cm of snow. That is 6inches! It is not that cold -6C, but gob-smack me, I can't get out my driveway! I'll find my camera and post the white out.

SUNSET over PENNANT BAY

We are fortunate enough to live on a narrow cove off this bay. Heading towards the sun out of the cove, it opens onto the Bay. A-port is the Atlantic Ocean with all its seasonal fury. Spring and fall we can expect several tropical storms and even a H-storm if conditions are right to the south of us.

Last night's sunset was crisp but subdued. Colors can be dramatic as can the shadows, as the sun reaches higher in the sky. Snow is but a dirty crust in obscure corners.

Today I must complete the conifer chapter in my book and edit the ferns. Ta!

BLOOD-RED MOON

The lunar eclipse over Canada last night led to some phenomenal pictures. Here in the Maritimes, I'm afraid 11:00pm was too late for me. I am dependent on the goodwill of others. Below is a shot from the Pacific coast of the near-total eclipse.






Thumbnail enlarges.

WELCOME

As a botanist my work is primarily visual. Certainly there have been times when I could have sworn the plants were talking just to me. Generally I concur that plants are mostly silent beauties.

Tactile for sure 'though. I think of the soft velvet leaves of Verbascum marking the shoulders of the highways. Stinging nettle leaves a skin sensation most of us won't forget!

But the plants we share our lives with provide a visual smorgasbord. Over the next few months I hope to introduce you, to my office in eastern Canada.

So welcome to my diary, as I welcome the dawning of a new growing season.

Enlarge the image above by clicking on it. These are the expanded leaves of rhubarb....I can't wait until mine pushes through the loosening ground. Rhubarb pie.....sweet and sour dessert!