Chaffing at the bit

When the weather is gorgeous like this, all I can think about is getting out to see the spring wildflowers. I know there are several species in flower now and spring is actually tumbling along. It could be over before I can make a good escape. In brief moments last week, I saw the blossoms of Indian plum dangling in the wind, and watched rufous hummingbirds foraging among the salmonberry flowers. At Finn Slough recently, we saw the skunk cabbage in bloom when the tide was out. All sorts of weedy things are flowering too, from the first flowers of Scotch broom (although, does this actually ever stop blooming in our area?), to the purple hordes of introduced purple dead-nettle, to masses of shepherd's purse everywhere we go. In Vancouver gardens, flowering dogwoods are in full bloom and it won't be long before our native one brightens up our forests (by the way, take a look at this great photo by Tim de Lange Boom on E-Flora BC). In my garden, the eastern trout lily (Erythronium americanum) is now in flower. I watched the snow geese on the weekend as they took off in large, singing flocks, heading north, then changing their minds and settling back down in the marsh at Sturgeon Banks. They will be gone soon. There are robins singing, eggs hatching, and young in the nests for some species. Out at UBC last week, I watched a raven make its escape with a hatchling crow, followed by the very vocal parents who vainly tried to stop the raven. Today the sun is shining and the sky is an endless blue, perfectly setting off the still-snow-covered mountains on the north shore of Vancouver. Up there, spring will be later, and I might be able to catch it before it rolls on by.

Purple dead-nettle with chickweed.