Clematis bud on the arbour...since the roses have not done so well, I am planning on removing them and planting some other clematis' so the different colours can intermingle...

The American Goldfinch are back, and it seems that we have a few couples. So nice to see them in their vibrancy!

The gardens are coming alive in plant and creature and it does my heart good to open the windows and hear the sweet songs of my friends. Looking out and seeing colour all around me, even if most of it is green, cheers me deep within. I am so looking forward to all of the days ahead when I can just revel in the glory of it all!!!

fringed bleeding heart amonst some ribbon grass....

lungwort in the pink stage...

and some lungwort in the bluse stage...this has got to be one of my favorite early spring offerings...

ladie's mantle happily holding onto the rain...

anemone....
violets....
solomon's seal with a bit more anemone...
bleeding heart and a raindrop...
the pics are in sideways as I had to retrieve them from somewhere on the computer...I don't have time to straighten them...I guess you could say that I am feeling rather lazy...

raindrops on columbine.....

pretty little crocuses greeting the morning sunshine....

daylilies....

puny peonies...

Irises making their way into the sunshine...

Tulips peeking out to see if it's time yet....

Poor chap doesn't realize that it is supposed to get so much colder this afternoon...

One of many climbing hydrangea buds....oh this does my heart good!!!!

Common Redpoll come for tea time. She stood for ages on the feeder, then hopped down to the deck edge where she continued to stand for ages more! I was zooming in on her from the diningroom door, and since she was sitting for so long I began to wonder if she was hurt.

Quite content to munch away while I watched, so I decided to venture out and see if she would talk to me. She was happy to oblige and I was able to get closer and closer...

and closer still...

...until I was right beside her. I had been afraid that the crunching snow would frighten her, but she was content to remain still, just watching me come closer and closer still. We had a little chat and it wasn't until I reached out my seed filled hand, and a bit of contemplation on her part that she cheerfully bid me good-bye. I do hope that she will return and we can resume our chat... what a gift our tea time was today!

The troops have arrived!!!! A Redpoll army!!!

Two going at each other as though there was not enough room!

Hairy Woodpecker hard at work...

Hairy Woodpecker trying out the posts on the deck...

Bohemian Waxwing trying out the crabapples...

and a very chilly Robin...

Blurry through the diningroom doors our wee common redpoll...such a lovely chap.

We have yet to figure these ones out...they are here for the first time this morning.

Isn't he grand?

I have no idea whose foot prints these are, but they made me smile as they came right up to the diningroom door....

a wee chickadee loving the peanuts...

and a bluejay not to be left out!

the hungry mob at one of the old feeders....comtent to stay put!

A very blurry picture as I was tripping over myself trying to get a shot before he flew away...these are all taken through the kitchen window as well...this is one of the new feeders the kids gave me for my birthday and it has taken a few days for the birds to catch on but the peanuts are a big hit!

A common repoll enjoying the peanuts as well...

deciding that the niger seed is preferable!