It was a disappointing winter, with little snow. But spring sprang hard anyway. The last week of April, documented here, has been fantastic in my yard and at the local conservation area.

From the top left, clockwise: A barred owl (Strix varia), my first sighting ever, and a really good one! An eastern milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum), which sadly was run over by a neighbour a few days later–I’m still grieving. Understorey flowers in a mature forest, taking advantage of the sun before the canopy closes up. Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), I believe. An eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) checking out the world. Sharp-lobed hepatica (Anemone acutiloba). Large-flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora). A well-camouflaged DeKay’s brown snake (Storeria dekayi). A rare stand of mature coniferous trees. Trout lily (Erythronium americanum).

Two weeks later, the area already looks completely different…