A quick pictorial trip back to the past week.

Flowering dogwood is in bloom (above).

Over the past week I began to see aquatic turtles very near the shoreline of our wetlands, peeking up from the water to the shore. I suspected they were searching for safe places to come ashore and lay eggs. The next day I saw two yellow-bellied sliders walking along the path. It’s nesting time.

The tadpoles, products of the American toad breeding spree of March, are now swimming freely in the swamp across from the Main Wetlands Overlook.

If they haven’t already departed, yellow-bellied sapsuckers will be headed north soon.

Red buckeye is in bloom…

as is columbine.

Eastern tiger swallowtails are flying.

Elm seeds are ripening.

Treefrogs are calling from all points, especially on rainy days.

And a true frog.

Say goodbye to redbud.

And finally, the happy family.

Will this family increase in numbers, and when?