Just another eclectic collection of spring joy. We got some rain, not nearly enough, but enough to set the birds to singing, and the grass seems to have become instantly green. Today I walked along the creek- first time since the snow melted. It's really too steep and slippery to hike there in winter.
This is the common water strider, Gerris remigis. There are actually over 10 kinds of these, but I've only ever seen two kinds. They can walk on water because they have tiny hairs on their feet that distribute the weight so they don't break the surface tension. I learned today that they eat other insects that fall on the water.
This is the purple finch, Carpodacus purpureus, again, nothing unusual, but a cheerful sight, twittering around in the bush.
Finally, this was the first sighting of the year for Hangoutis clothus. They smell so good!
 | See Spring Promises |
13 comments:
your post made me smile Sharkbytes, the clothes are out, indeed, they smell so good, spring is in the air :) and the purple finch is so lovely.
Great photo of the finch - it's beautiful.
Hope it kept dry for the washing :)
LOL! Thanks for chuckle this Monday morning - I love the "Hangoutis clothus"! I have not seen that particular sign of spring where I am, but I am glad to know the correct Latin term for it, LOL!
LOVE the clothes hanging on the clothes line! Brings back memories of long ago! My Mama always hung the clothes out to dry! We live in a townhome, so not able to do that here - I really miss the SMELL of clothes that were hung to dry outside!! They just ooze freshness!
oh, yes. I miss the days of hanging and collecting clothes on the line. Gotta go. Must put washerload into dryer now. (not kidding)
Hangoutis clothus, that is hysterical. I haven't hung my clothes out in ages. I loved the smell but I hated towels that had been hung on the line.
Love the shot of the purple finch
You have the BEST clothes line. Mine is paltry in comparison. I need one like that!
Yay, a water strider! I've been watching for them. Last year seeing the first one seemed like a major sign of spring for me. So far I've found none.
betchai- smiling is good. There is no way so nice to dry clothes as outside in a breeze.
Carol- well, they were a tiny bit damp when I brought them in, but they dried overnight.
Carole- actually, any Latin scholars will tell you I got it backwards because the modifier should be second: Clothus hangoutis
Ollie- it's such a shame that many people can't hang out their laundry any more.
vanilla- I propose solar dryers for all (clotheslines). I once told someone that I had a solar dryer, and they got all excited about my trendy high-tech commitment. hahahaha
Ann- I actually like the roughness. It feels "real," but if there is a nice breeze they get soft.
Julia- I built it myself! Had to be able to do clothes outside!
Ratty- Spring is really slow in coming this year. Every tiny indicator is welcomed eagerly. When I put up today's post about the poor quince bush, I realized how late we are... it was in full flower just 11 days from today, but last year.
Great shot of the purple finch!
And I got a little chuckle from the Hangoutis! LOL
Great shot of the purple finch. I used to see them on my lunch hour walks when working in Connecticut. Back home in Michigan, I see mostly his cousin the house finch around here.
Love the pics! The finch looks like the Linnet living in our garden.
I love the smell of linen off of the line. I am lucky, I can hang mine out 90% of the year.
Ferd- That was one of those lucky shots. The finch held still and I took several shots- the camera actually focused on the bird for one of them.
Chuck- we get both, and I have a dickens of a time remembering how to tell them apart.
Glynis- the linnet is rosy? is it a kind of finch? It IS a treat to hang clothes out so much.
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