Spring Squills

 

The first flowers of spring

in our yard

are the squills (scilla bifolia).

 

They pop up in the places we planted them

and in the places

where the squirrels moved them...

always surprises.

 

 

They grow in a circle under the crab apple tree

and in waves though the grass.

 

They don't stay long,

but long enough to comfort 

my heart's hope for spring.

 

What We See in the Yard

 

Each day in winter, we feed the ducks.

  When the snow is too deep for them to forage on the river marsh,

it is essential to remember to throw

the cracked corn out for them.

Our biggest problem is to avoid attracting pigeons.

 

 

However, for the ducks, the larger issue

is avoiding becoming lunch.

 

 

In the past week, hungry Bald Eagles have patrolled

the tallest evergreens near our home.

 

 

We don't always see them as their heads

look like snow in the trees and their dark bodies blend

with the branches.  Can you see two?

 

 

Once we spotted them and began to take photos,

the eagles moved to another tree. 

We'll stay inside from now on;

we don't wish to disturb them.

 

 

We feel lucky to live in a place where we can enjoy

 such magnificent birds from our kitchen windows.

 

 

I wonder if we could entice the eagles

to eat the pigeons.

 

I can live with that.

Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Where have our birds gone?

We've suspected a predator must be near.   The American Black Ducks and the Mallards, the Common Redpolls and the Black Cap Chickadees haven't been making their morning appearances to feed.  Even the squirrels and the pheasants have been hiding or skittering quickly over the snow.

Last weekend, a Sharp-Shinned Hawk sat on a maple in our yard for hours.

And something happened...some of the ducks must have flown in close to see if there was cracked corn on the snow for them.  Something happened because Gary says there's a female duck lying dead in the neighbour's yard, a mess of blood and feathers.

And every day since the weekend, we've had a lone Mallard sitting in our yard.  He comes early and stays all day.  Unusual behaviour.  He eats a bit, but mostly he sits and sits, and searches the sky.

Is he waiting for her to return?

Spring Blues

Spring Blues

In the morning

when I rise

to the songs of Nina Simone

and the burr of beans grinding,

to the fragrance of magic,

as it drips in my cup,

I look outside and see

the spring blues. 

The blue squills are

everywhere.

Some are where I planted,

most are rearranged

by squirrels.

Ah, the mornings of spring,

the drifts of blue stars

and Nina's voice, an aching fire,

and darkness steaming in my cup.

Spring morning…

dripping,

drifting,

singing

spring blues.

Words and photo are mine.  If you want to know more about Nina Simone, click here.  Squills in my yard are "scilla bifolia"; the squirrels change their locations where they will...always surprises.