Not as planned

My idea of what spring weather should have looked like obviously wasn't shared by Mother Nature. The National Weather Center Climate Prediction Center's six to 10-day outlook for May 5-9 showed regional temperatures leaning toward below normal.

However, an updated graphic for May 8-12 showed a trend toward warmer than normal temps. 
​Both graphics listed a chance of near normal precipitation in spite of a nearly continuous forecasts of rain.

The rain was forecast to give way to some sunnier skies. However, that was only after the region suffered through a couple of cold days which included snow.  In fact, the National Weather Service reported Tuesday that "the coldest high temperatures on record for May 2 were observed today. The high at Pittsburgh was 44. The previous coldest high temperature recorded was 47, which was set in 1897. "

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Hence, my plans for yardwork and mowing were again put on hold. Forecasts of warmer weather for the weekend got me optimistic. However, Mother Nature often has different plans than that of the meteorologists.  Honestly though, I wasn't in too much of a hurry to mow as most of the yard sported lovely crop of violets. 

Kennedy worked to help out with the mowing. However, he's not very thorough and doesn't discriminate between grass and landscape plantings. 

I had schemed to take a few photos of the dogs underneath the flowering crabapple tree before it succumbed to below freezing temperatures at night. To my surprise, it survived several cold nights with many of its blooms still intact and filling the air with a sweet fragrance. 

As far as the dogs and blooms photos, some turned out. Others made me laugh. Several serious poses were intermingled with shots of canines searching for treats. 

Meanwhile at the neighbor's pond, I had expected to be photographing a mallard couple and possibly some ducklings. However, they flew the coop, so to speak, and haven't been seen in a few weeks. 

Nonetheless, a pair of Canada geese appeared at the pond. Within a few days the mother goose was sitting on a nest. I hoped against all odds that the area predators would let the young ones hatch and thrive. 

The male goose had been protecting his mate and the nest. He patrolled the pond to make sure the canine swimmers stuck to the designated swimming area and away from his family.

I helped in this regard too. The dogs were restricted access to the area of the pond where the nest was.

Sunday's walk around the pond dashed my plans of some gosling photos.

​It appeared as if something had scared the mother goose off of the nest. It was unclear whether she had been killed or just threatened enough to leave. Eggs were scattered about the nest area. Unfortunately, with all the predator traffic through the pond area, it was just not the best neighborhood for raising young waterfowl. 

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Meanwhile, attempts to get an action shot of a frog jumping did not go as planned. The focus of the photo was rather tasteless. All I could do was repeat several internet sites that claimed, "Frogs will urinate when scared, stressed or want to get rid of a predator." 

Other photos focused on flora turned out better. Forest and fields continued to be filled with new life. I even spotted the leaves of a lady slipper plant emerging. 

The first meadow fritillary butterfly of the season surprised me last week with an appearance. Other than the mourning cloaks, other butterflies seemed nonexistent so far this season. 

With the arrival of one hummingbird more than a week ago, I had planned on seeing more of them. However, that little fellow also flew the coop after only a three-day visit. I haven't observed another hummingbird since then. Nonetheless, the hummingbird and oriole feeders are stocked and ready for the winged-ones arrivals whenever they get here.

​That's just the nature of things 'round here.