We've had a lot of much needed rain this spring. After four years
of drought I can't think of anything that could have done the
natural world more good. With that said, I really have enjoyed
the sunny days as May ended and June has started.
The weather so far in 2003 has been unusual, at least compared
to the last several years. The cooler temperatures delayed the
blooms of our early spring
ephemeral wildflowers - actually it caused these to bloom
in a more normal time frame, it just seemed late compared to
the unseasonably early blooms of the last three years or so.
Following the "delayed" spring ephemeral season,
we've had lots of rain with continued cool temperatures. This
has, in my opinion, caused our summer flowers to begin blooming
a week or two earlier than usual. I've already seen Chicory,
Beardtongue, Skullcap,
Sundrops, Oxeye
Daisy, Day Lily, Spiderwort,
and Everlasting Pea in
bloom.
At higher elevations the Catawba Rhododenron and Flame Azaleas
are starting to show off. If you'd like to see these in one of
the most spectacular settings you'll ever find, sign up for one
of my trips to Roan Mountain this month. For more information
about this, click here.
In addition to a new season's wildflowers, we are seeing a
new group of baby animals who are just leaving home and starting
what is often a rigorous life on their own. Probably the two
most commonly seen baby critters at this time of year are Cottontail
Rabbits and Opossoums. The Opossum
is unique among North American mammals in that it is a marsupial.
Check out this month's trivia
for more facts about these.
