Red admiral
A slower Sadie and a lot of boot-sucking mud meant we lingered a little longer on the trail in recent days.
Sadie had developed a limp and needed to take frequent breaks. I didn’t mind the pauses on the sunnier days as they allowed me to do some dawdling. I tarried here and there taking pictures of various spring scenes.
Sadie had developed a limp and needed to take frequent breaks. I didn’t mind the pauses on the sunnier days as they allowed me to do some dawdling. I tarried here and there taking pictures of various spring scenes.
Red admiral
The definition of tarry according to www.merriam-webster.com is to linger with expectation.
I did this exact thing while trying to photograph some early spring butterflies. One red admiral taught me to slow down and enjoy the moment. It sat there with its wings closed as I waited with expectation for it to open them.
Other butterflies we observed as we paused on the path included gray commas, mourning cloaks, and red admirals. The red admirals seemed to be everywhere and in greater numbers this year. I had a comment on a post in Butterflies and Moths of Pennsylvania Facebook page that backed up my observations. A group poster from Erie also reported seeing more red admirals this year as well.
As spring lingered, nearly every butterfly I saw was a red admiral.
I did this exact thing while trying to photograph some early spring butterflies. One red admiral taught me to slow down and enjoy the moment. It sat there with its wings closed as I waited with expectation for it to open them.
Other butterflies we observed as we paused on the path included gray commas, mourning cloaks, and red admirals. The red admirals seemed to be everywhere and in greater numbers this year. I had a comment on a post in Butterflies and Moths of Pennsylvania Facebook page that backed up my observations. A group poster from Erie also reported seeing more red admirals this year as well.
As spring lingered, nearly every butterfly I saw was a red admiral.
Gray comma
Meanwhile some of the spring blossoms that the butterflies and the bees feed on didn’t linger too long and faced the threat of frost.
The peach tree had dropped its blooms by late April. While this appeared to be disappointing, it may mean more peaches this summer.
Spring frosts after the blossoms have set or are done blooming aren't as much of a threat to the survival of the fruit.
The peach tree had dropped its blooms by late April. While this appeared to be disappointing, it may mean more peaches this summer.
Spring frosts after the blossoms have set or are done blooming aren't as much of a threat to the survival of the fruit.
Crabapple
Bleeding heart However, the flowering crabapple tree was ready to burst forth in pink flowers while the National Weather Service issued frost warnings for the county. A few apple trees were also flowering under the threat of frosty nighttime lows.
I frantically covered my bleeding heart plants to protect them from the frost.
They spent several frosty nights under blankets propped up with stakes. I spent a lot of time under the blankets in the colder weather as well. However, I just propped them up with cats instead of stakes.
I frantically covered my bleeding heart plants to protect them from the frost.
They spent several frosty nights under blankets propped up with stakes. I spent a lot of time under the blankets in the colder weather as well. However, I just propped them up with cats instead of stakes.
 |  Lil' Bit |
According to Almanac.com, the median date for the last spring frost in Franklin is May 9. A check of records at Climate (weather.gov) listed the median date for Franklin as May 10.
The earliest date for the last spring frost was recorded on April 17, 2008. According to the records in 2003 there was a frost as late as July 29. Last year the final frost occurred on May 18.
Back In the garden, the daffodil flowers have wilted. Nonetheless, the tulips took their place in providing a colorful spring display.
The earliest date for the last spring frost was recorded on April 17, 2008. According to the records in 2003 there was a frost as late as July 29. Last year the final frost occurred on May 18.
Back In the garden, the daffodil flowers have wilted. Nonetheless, the tulips took their place in providing a colorful spring display.
Serviceberry
In the woods, serviceberry shrubs were aglow with snow-white blooms. The mayapples unfurled their green umbrella-like leaves as early as April 21.
Halberd-leaved violet
 Vinca Violets of every color started to appear on the forest floor and in the fields. A hillside in an old strip mine nearby was covered in a carpet of light blue blooms. The display was courtesy of creeping myrtle or vinca minor. The ground cover is not a native plant and can be considered invasive. However, it occupied a space where no native plants had taken root. Like dandelions, the bees and butterflies made use of their nectar for a food source. |  Bumblebee on vinca  Bee on dandelion  Mayapple |
Chipping sparrow
While some bees and butterflies were out, I was still awaiting the arrival of the region’s hummingbirds. No orioles had shown up at the feeders either as of April 25.
Meanwhile. white throated sparrows, chipping sparrows and towhees have returned to my feeders.
Meanwhile. white throated sparrows, chipping sparrows and towhees have returned to my feeders.
Tadpoles and eggs in a vernal pool
Woodfrog tadpoles Along the trail, I often paused to check on a vernal pool that was near the strip mine. I hoped that the water would linger in the puddle that not only is home to several wood frog tadpoles but some growing salamanders as well.
I posted a photo on the Pa Herps Facebook page and a user posted a helpful link. It helped me identify the cloudy egg formations as spotted salamanders. I don’t think I have ever seen an adult.
That was most likely because they live underground most of their lives. A link to photos of the spotted salamander can be found here.
Last year I had wished in vain that the vernal pool wouldn’t dry up before the wood frog tadpoles were able to transition into frogs. I watched as the water level got lower and lower. After a while I just stopped checking knowing that their demise was inevitable.
There was hope this year. The abundance of April showers has kept the water level high. I hope to be able to see the tadpoles progress into frogs and see the salamanders hatch before the pool disappears.
I posted a photo on the Pa Herps Facebook page and a user posted a helpful link. It helped me identify the cloudy egg formations as spotted salamanders. I don’t think I have ever seen an adult.
That was most likely because they live underground most of their lives. A link to photos of the spotted salamander can be found here.
Last year I had wished in vain that the vernal pool wouldn’t dry up before the wood frog tadpoles were able to transition into frogs. I watched as the water level got lower and lower. After a while I just stopped checking knowing that their demise was inevitable.
There was hope this year. The abundance of April showers has kept the water level high. I hope to be able to see the tadpoles progress into frogs and see the salamanders hatch before the pool disappears.
Sadie
Meanwhile, the slower pace on our walks appeared to aid in Sadie’s recovery.
Sadie didn’t mind waiting for the butterflies or the other walk stoppages. The breaks gave her a moment to rest her weary leg. Gus and Clem seemed to take the stoppage in stride and sat and waited as well.
Sadie’s self-prescribed daily hydrotherapy in the neighbor’s pond seemed to help her ease back into a better walking pace. Of course, some pain meds may have helped too.
Sadie didn’t mind waiting for the butterflies or the other walk stoppages. The breaks gave her a moment to rest her weary leg. Gus and Clem seemed to take the stoppage in stride and sat and waited as well.
Sadie’s self-prescribed daily hydrotherapy in the neighbor’s pond seemed to help her ease back into a better walking pace. Of course, some pain meds may have helped too.
Groundhog
Nonetheless, she, Gus and Clem lingered too long near some timbered treetops. They managed to scare up a ground hog. The varmint climbed far enough up of a tree to be out of the canines’ reach. The dogs were called off and an incident was avoided.
Our daily walks took a little longer. That was OK because the days were growing longer as well. As the sun lingered so did we. Those who wish to linger here a little longer can view a slide show below.
That’s just the nature of things ‘round here.
Our daily walks took a little longer. That was OK because the days were growing longer as well. As the sun lingered so did we. Those who wish to linger here a little longer can view a slide show below.
That’s just the nature of things ‘round here.
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