Many things have occurred over the last week, wildflowers blooming, ducks coming of age, insects emerging and mating, and warmer, more permanent weather has arrived.

In a somewhat quiet out-of-the-way location here on our 84 acre campus native wildflowers, like dutchman’s breeches and bloodroot, from an old wildflower trail, have managed to survive amongst various non-natives like English ivy and Japanese honeysuckle.

Toothwart’s clusters of white flowers, with a hint of pink or violet, are now blooming (top photo). It’s in the mustard family.

The white, multi-petalled flowers with yellow stamens of bloodroot belie its toxicity.

Dutchman’s breeches is named for the flowers’ likeness to “bloomers” hanging on the line to dry.

Mayapple is up. The single flowers hang beneath the umbrella leaves.

The trout lily is named for its molted brown and green leaves.

Dragonflies are beginning to emerge from their watery nymphal habitat to become flying insects.

I spotted these two flesh flies (below) mating on the roof of our Club Car golf cart.

There are three hooded mergansers lingering in our wetlands. One, is a young male coming into adult plumage.

And, I saw the first gray treefrog of the season today (3/30/19). He was sitting atop a post along a service road through the woods.

Get outside and enjoy the weather!