Signs of Spring

[PedalUma]

That sounds like chick lit. Vampire romance stories are a non-starter for me. Amazon used to have a checkbox to filter out romance stories in the fantasy section, but that disappeared a year or two ago when they redesigned the search interface. Unfortunately, those are the best sellers even in the fantasy section.

I think it is chick-lit. And that is okay. I read it all. It is okay to know about the female mind.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Meanwhile in Poland... it's the time between the False and True Spring. As I went out onto the balcony early in the morning, I could see frost on the roof of a car parking nearby.
The day temperatures are manageable for the bike rides though, appropriate clothing required, temperatures such as 9 C. I hope for a warmer Sunday as we set off for another interesting ride with the support of the railways.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

One of the small lakes in our greenbelt gets baby ducks every mid-spring.

And every year, the whole neighborhood goes absolutely nuts over them. The cuteness these little ones pump out borders on lethal.

Don't get the wrong idea. After the 1st week or so, the parents aren't all that attentive.

In fact — to the outrage of some of the human mothers passing by — the parents are usually off doing their own thing, paying absolutely no attention. Wouldn't be the least surprised to hear that there have been calls to Child Protective Services.

One of this year's 2 broods out for a cruise. Sadly, the babies disappear one by one as the crows and coyotes take their toll. We're now down to 9 total out of 14+. Would more watchful parenting really improve the odds?

 

[Art Deco]

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[Jeremy McCreary]

Last of the baby duck photos, I promise.

The parents stayed close by this evening — maybe because it was getting close to dusk, when the coyotes tend to come out.

 

[6zfshdb]

Not exactly a sign of Spring, in fact, just the opposite. 81F here 2 days ago with trees & plants budding out.
Woke up this morning to 26F and this:

It's predicted to be below 20F tomorrow morning. I guess we can say goodbye to our peach and apple blossoms.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

"April Is A Weaver
It Weaves Some Summer With Some Winter" - a famous Polish saying. Yesterday, we had a lovely Spring day. Today, I've taken flower pots from the balcony indoor to protect them against the night frost...

Funny to think last Spring was very warm starting in March, and I was suffering from heat on my three day ride in the same days of April last year... The only exception was constant raining, low temps and wind just when we were on a race mid-May 2025

 

[stompandgo]

We had a few minutes of sleet today.

Ugh.

 

[Roamers]

Only the geese and us on the path today.

 

[DaveMatthews]

Only the geese and us on the path today.
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Quite the gaggle!

 

[PedalUma]

2&1/2-years-ago, in November, I found a box of dried figs from the Christmas before. I tried one while walking outside. I bit half and it was hard as wood, so put the other half in the dirt. It Sprouted a fig tree the next Spring. Last November I pruned it down to 18" sticks, 10mm in diameter. Now it is five-feet tall and just as wide. Each new leaf grows larger than the one before. The current largest is 11x11". At this rate it will be eight-feet tall by August. I hope it flowers this year. I might put soil in sealed plastic and wrap a branch so it will grow roots there, so when I trim it this coming Fall, I will have a rooted cutting for a friend.

 

[6zfshdb]

Each new leaf grows larger than the one before. The current largest is 11x11".

You can also use them to supplement your summer wardrobe.