Adopt the Pace of Nature...

Forsythia on March 20th (2012) and (2013)

Adopt the pace of nature...her secret is patience.                         - Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is one of my favorite quotes, and this extended Winter season of 2013 has truly tried my patience.

The photos shown at the left were both take on March 20th.  Believe it or not, the one on the far left is from 2012.  The photo on the right from 2013.  For those of us who monitor birds and plants each Spring, this contrast has been nothing less than absolutely confounding!  

Living here just off Tichigan Lake in Southeastern Wisconsin, we had questioned whether or not the ice was ever going to melt.  This weekend, it finally happened. According to another local resident, this is the latest Spring he can remember in almost 40 years.  Coming on the heels of 2012's extremely early Spring, the contrast is significant.  This time last year my garden was lush with newly emerged hosta, daffodils, tulips, Virginia Bluebells and Bleeding Hearts.  This year, the only thing blooming are the snowdrops, and the crocus are struggling to break the surface.  I'm also embarrassed to admit I was just able to pull out my Christmas spotlights this weekend, as the ground had been frozen for that long.  There was no January, February or even March thaw this year.

Common Loons on Tichigan Lake

It has been a very long Winter to say the least, but the payoff came this weekend with the annual iceout.  While the number of migrating loons we experienced last year was next to none, this year's first glimpse of open water brought them in by the dozens.  In fact, the number of unusual migratory waterfowl this past week has been exceptional.  In addition to the many loons, there have been a significant number of buffleheads, mergansers and other varied species.

I guess when Mother Nature decides to take her time in bringing forth Spring, she also provides us with an abundance of beauty.  I am hopeful that as Spring slowly emerges, the numbers of other Spring migrants, including warblers, orioles and hummingbirds, etc., will be as spectacular as the waterfowl display.

Red-breasted Merganser on Tichigan Lake

It was this time last year that I was following the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird migration maps and anticipated that my local birds would be arriving earlier than usual. While there were many hummingbirds that did indeed arrive ahead of schedule in various areas...my hummingbirds and orioles arrived like clockwork during the first week of May, as they always do.

I guess what I take away from this unusual contrast in seasons is that nature does indeed have her own pace.  Perhaps rather than stressing out over it, we would all do well to accept it and make every attempt to adopt it.

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