The Parade is Underway.

3-21-26 SHORT HILLS: ‘It’s Spring again.’ We’ve had gentle showers. The plants are back on parade, a slow parade. The sky is deep blue. The birds are pairing up. Bugs are flitting about. I have been outside without hat or gloves. 

Yesterday I did a couple hours of clean up, and today I’m sore and achy. Blanca passed her re-certification exam and is good for pet therapy for another two years. 

New blooms: elm, red maple, forsythia, andromeda.

Crocus among winter debris.

And another one.

Andromeda has thousands of cream-colored bells.

Looking upwards, I see pussy willow buds.

And our elm tree covered with flowers.

And red maple flowers. My nose told me these were open before I saw them.

The last drop of a massive snow plow pile on the first day ofspring.

Back in Winter.

3-13-26 SHORT HILLS: The summer days are over and we’re back in March. The thermometer hit 80, before crashing. It was T-shirt weather, and when the wind blew it was a welcome respite from the heat. 

This morning was 30 and windy after two days of rain and snow. The snow all melted on contact with the ground. One big plow pile still remains, although it much smaller than it was.

I did some pruning of broken branches while it was warm, and started on broken bamboo. There is so much that I will need to have the yard guys do most of it. I’m pleasantly surprised by how little damage we got to trees and shrubs.

Buds on the early shrubs are swelling and starting to open, but the cold wave put a freeze on it all.  

New blooms: crocus, vinca minor.

One crocus, lots of others are biding their time.

A few Vinca minor have opened.

One forsythia flower and many buds, waiting for a few more warm days.

A viburnum is ready.

Quince with tiny leaves and tiny flower buds.

Spice bush has round flower buds.

Hydrangea also getting ready for the ball.

Daffodil looks eager.

Melt Down.

3-8-26 SHORT HILLS: 72°F.! The snow is melting before our eyes. No sweater today, thank you, March. I did more pruning of the junipers, removing broken branches, I’m getting a nice pile. Some of the junipers are still frozen in snow where the plows piled it up. I pulled some of it off them with a hoe. I also repaired a broken leader and cleaned out the driveway drain. The yard is clear of the snow except for the plow piles, which are massive. The next several days are supposed to be similar to today. Less than two weeks ago, we were in a blizzard. 

The snowdrops are up and opening as are the snow flakes. They both responded to the season as soon as enough snow thinned.

Grackles and red-wing blackbirds are back at the feeders. They seem to travel together. There hasn’t been a huge swarm of grackles yet.

New blooms: snowdrops, snow flakes. 

Snowdrops. A welcome sight.

More snowdrops from the other side of the yard.

Snow flakes are usually a bit later than their cousins the snowdrops.

Red-wing blackbird upside down and eating corn.

The snow is gone revealing the 'knees' of a bald cyress, the trunk is in the back. They get bigger and taller every year. Function is unknown.

Nice sunset a few days ago.

Finally It's March.

3-2-26 SHORT HILLS: Except for today the weather has been warmer and the massive snow dump is slowly melting. Today is in the low thirties, but the next several days are warmer, maybe getting into the sixties, also we are scheduled for rain. it’s March 2, and I always feel the winter is over at this point, even though the solstice doesn’t arrive for a few weeks.

The junipers have snow damage, I pruned a few broken branches, but almost everything else looks OK, pending a closer look. 

We went to T of A for the Lunar New Year feast—delicious. 

The birds are still ravenous, and I fill the feeders every two days. They do pose for pix, so it’s a fair exchange.

Chickadees might be my favorites.

We have several cardinals as customers.

Downy woodpeckers are at the suet feeder everyday.

Lots of white-throated sparrows have been here all winter.

It's Still Going.

2-23-26 SHORT HILLS: Monstrous dump. So far we have18 inches or. It’s a white out and still going. The birds are swarming the feeders. 

From the dining room window.

Two benches and a table under there somewhere.

The dogs are not happy, look at the wrought iron table.

Judy leading the dogs.

That's enough of a walk.

Snow everywhere.

At least the birds and a squirrel are getting fed.

Another Blizzard.

2-22-26 SHORT HILLS: After several days of above freezing weather with melting snow, we are back in blizzard conditions tonight. This winter just won’t quit. We are predicted for snow totals in feet! Plus more later in the week.

This storm started with freezing rain, so I’m afraid we will get damage to trees and shrubs from heavy, warmish snow. Some years we have snowdrops coming up the end of February, but not now. 

Snowdrops are sometimes up in Februrary but not this year.

Vermont Extras.

2-17-26 SHORT HILLS: We drove down today. Heavy snow had us driving slowly for the first 50 miles, but the storm eased and then stopped. When we got to NJ, the sun was out, and it was in the forties.

Some follow up from VT—the plumber finally arrived on Saturday afternoon and fixed the ice blockage in a few minutes with a steam hose down the drain. After that, a bit of clean up had us back to normal. We all ate at home. 

Sunday the kids went snowshoeing, slogging through the yard and pasture. Danna did a trust fall backwards in the snow and made a snow angel, but when she struggled to stand up, they called her a snow whale. Dinner was at Three Tomatoes. They left on Monday and Judy and I did clean up, mostly Judy.

Thanks, Mike, for the FB comment. 

A blue sky day in VT. That's Lafayette in the middle looking very snowy.

Snowshoers before their trek, Matt, Danna, Lily, Harrison and Blue.

Nice sunset.