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Spring is here in every way possible. Ruby throated Hummingbirds are back at some elevations, and should be here in force by the middle of the month. The first arrivals are males who arrive ahead of the females and get right to work establishing territories to attract the females who arrive about 10 - 14 days after the males. If you want to feed these little birds, mix 1 part sugar and 4 parts water and boil it. I don't like adding food coloring to the mixture as we don't really know what, if any, effect this may have on the birds in the long run. Tying a 2 -3 foot long red ribbon to your feeder will attract them! For a very simplistic description of their annual migration click here.

Any of you who know me also know that I'm excited about the spring ephemeral wildflowers! April is the month in which things really get going, and walking the same trail will reveal something new almost daily. A few species that should begin blooming this month are: Bellworts, Bluets, Blue Cohosh, Columbine, Dutchmans's Breeches, Fleabanes, Foam Flower, Wild Geranium, Wild Ginger, Green and Gold, Hobblebush, Crested Iris, Lousewort, Jack in the Pulpit, Solomon's Seal, Shooting Stars and on and on and on!! Depending upon your elevation and the exposure on any given trail the bloom time may vary by up to a few weeks. To see more of the species you can look for check out my Early Spring photo page. For this month's trivia I've written a bit about the Jack in the Pulpit a plant that is interesting visually and historically.

This is also time for some of our spring blooming trees to be in high gear. Perhaps my favorite is the Sarvisberry (Serviceberry or Shadbush to the more erudite!) which often is in bloom before the Dogwood or Redbuds.

In addition to the wildflowers and trees we are also blessed by the fact that we are on a major migratory flyway for neotropical songbirds. While I love these guys, and am fascinated by them, I am only average (OK maybe a little below average) at identifying them. If birding is your thing, there is no one better at it than Simon Thompson of Ventures, Inc. I lead several trips for Simon each year, so there are always good birders in the group and we can cover most plants, butterflies, birds, and critters that we encounter.

I'm flattered to be doing the Friday evening presentation at UNC-Asheville's 32nd Annual Wildflower and Birding Pilgrimage. The dates this year are 30 April through May 2nd. I'll be leading a group to Douglas Falls on Saturday the first of May, and as always helping out at Stone Knife Farm, the property of Tom and Nancy Shinn, on Sunday.

Thanks to everyone who joined me at the Grove Arcade and the South Buncombe Library programs at the end of March. It's always fun to meet new people and, hopefully, get you a little bit fired up about the approaching season! Check out my schedule page for a full listing of upcoming programs, and if you want to organize an outing with me you can contact me via email or the phone.

And lastly, don't forget to spring ahead this Sunday morning. Daylight Savings Time starts on the 4th of April! This means we all have more daylight in which to get out into the woods.