Acair Fearann

There is something remarkable, something beyond rational comprehension but not beyond human thought, in contemplating a Mourning Cloak Butterfly delighting in the first warm, still air of spring; while standing in a place where time is written in stone. One butterfly, three people discussing cemetery maintenance now and in perpetuity (a word so seldom used these days!), and all around the graves of four centuries in silence stand.

It is rare that we ask ourselves, or are asked, to do things which will bear fruit, for good or ill, in the time beyond our lives and the lives of our children. I think we are better for it when we do though.

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The wood frogs have started up in the ponds finally. Not a deafening chorus, but definitely determined. It must be spring! They have to wait till the ice is essentially gone, which it is now, except for some shaded corners of swamps. Though, the big reservoirs are still covered in ice, rotten but ice nonetheless. I suspect by tomorrow though, that ice will be gone, probably all at once.

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The answer is not much….

The new ‘Arnold Promise’ Witch hazel is, and for its first season it appears that it may be living up to the hype about it. Big, long lasting, gold, fragrant flowers.

A few species crocus where the snow is gone and the ground isn’t cold mud.

A few bedraggled snowdrops where the snow is gone and the ground isn’t cold mud…

Everything else is waiting.

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A fascinating archive of a great city (hat tip to Maggie’s Farm)

http://nycma.lunaimaging.com/luna/servlet/allCollections

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http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/blunder-leaves-gap-in-new-forth-bridge-1-3734874

Read it all the way!

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It is amazing how far one’s spirits lift with a little bit of sun, actually a Whole Day of sun, combined with temperatures sufficiently far above freezing to let the instinctual brain stop pondering the whole ‘too cold, could be hazardous’ issue, and No Wind…

There will be a few flowers for Easter, granted they will be some over-ambitious crocus near a southern stone foundation and not the swathe of daffodils that might be taken to a church.  But still something!  I uncovered, the snow having melted, a few of said crocus today. Most have had the good sense to still be waiting, one poor bulb had tried to flower (the sun was right you see) resulting in a limp, watery flower. I hope it can perk up.

In other news, the horse made a trip to the north hedgerow today. Poor guy, the drifts he has to plow through are still hock deep and he didn’t get anything from it; but hopefully, he feels less trapped.

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Quick! What is wrong with this bridge? (Hint, look at the right abutment).

I just wrapped a historical resource/mitigation report for this structure. You know, it turns out government agencies keep remarkably poor records of some things?

(for the requisite weather complaint: this was taken on the second day of spring and it was so cold the camera froze up briefly!)

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Snow!

And I think the state had taken the plows off their trucks already, at least judging by the drive into work this morning.

Thankfully, it was only a minor three inches and had melted by this evening. So I suppose spring is coming, but it is certainly taking its time.

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