Winter? Spring? and a little pond surprise

Those who live farther north usually know what to expect regarding weather. Snow, ice, or cold temps until April, with a few warm days in between. Winter is holding on up there, still, but the heady smell of spring drifts by, giving promise. When spring arrives, it will hold on and blossom.

Not so, here in southern North Carolina where winters are milder but spring is a tease. It visits for a few days then Old Man Winter throws a punch. Freeze nips new growth. I had planned to switch my crystal in the kitchen from snowmen to marine mammals this weekend. I’ll postpone it for next weekend, perhaps?

Bare-bellied Bostons don’t adapt well to gray skies and wind chills in the high thirties. Heck, we’re all a bunch of sissies down here. Even golfers cancel tee times if it’s below fifty degrees but Michael will suit up and play in any weather because we’re originally tough northerners. But I will admit my blood has thinned since living here and I chill easily.

The only photos of the weekend:

I stood a few feet away from a Mourning Dove on the front porch. Maybe a little slow-minded, ya think?

His molt is almost complete! I giggled at Iris’s description of Goldfinches as “Flying Lemons”.


I'm going back to Friday when it was seventy-seven degrees before the overnight plunge to thirty-nine.

The pond had its annual cleaning a few days ago. Notice the varied colors of the pond rock and how crystal clear the water is.

The build-up of algae was washed off rocks, the bio-filter was cleaned, and the pond looks bright once again. Soon, the Canna will surround the waterfall and hide the bio-filter, giving it a tropical look. Throughout the year I net debris from the pond but I hired someone to do the heavy cleaning. It’s worth saving my back and the knowledge I gain from a pro.

Notice that I choose small areas of the pond to photograph, because, believe me, the weeds are dreadful and the flowers have not yet begun to bloom. There’s a real mess to clean up. That’s a job I look forward to soon.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a garden snake slither across the water surface, smooth as glass. Small - less than eighteen inches.

Harmless? To humans, yes. To tadpoles, no. To Koi, probably not. To small goldfish, yes. If I should see it again, I might get the rake and a bucket to relocate the cute thing. You see, I enjoy tadpoles, bullfrogs, and toads too much. Thoughts on or experiences with garden snakes in ponds are welcome!

Michael and I headed to south Charlotte in the rain yesterday to visit the best pond supply store and nursery in the area. I only wanted to purchase some plants and bacteria (and browse...). It was an eighty-mile round trip and Mapquest screwed up the directions. Being lost for a good twenty minutes gave us a nice tour of upscale Ballantyne. That wasn't enough frustration. We arrived at the nursery a week too early for plants and bacteria! Without making a purchase, I skipped in the drizzling rain to keep up with the impatient and irritated Italian who rushed out of the place. He was already in the truck with the engine running when I snatched up a crisp twenty dollar bill from a small evergreen near the sidewalk. Climbing into the passenger side of the truck I said, “Did you lose any money? Count your twenties.” Without pause, out came the money clip and he flipped through, “No.” I said, “Good, the twenty is MINE!”

Best photo of the week – taken on Friday while it was almost eighty degrees. Bumble Bee had a crush on me, or my sweet perfume.

Davidson just lost by one basket (ugh) and Gina quizzed me in basketball:

It's Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, and Final Four, right? Go Tarheels!