A few pics to celebrate sun and disappearing snow.

Wildlife has been busy this winter:

Vole/mice tunnels, as though snow-killed grass isn't enough:
<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8514004734/" title="010 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="480" height="640" alt="010"></a>

Squirrel caches all over the place, always on N side of trees:

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8512910977/" title="005 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="005"></a>

eeeeuw, box elder bugs tanning:

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8514009574/" title="023 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="480" height="640" alt="023"></a>

Lots of evergreen needle litter from winter storms:

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8512893357/" title="001 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="001"></a>

Free fertilizer everywhere, but I'll spare you the piles of dog poop.

goose poop:
<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8512913679/" title="016 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="480" height="640" alt="016"></a>

deer poop:
<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8512919873/" title="019 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="480" height="640" alt="019"></a>

Wildlife always bring Opuntia pads off the hills:
<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8512918491/" title="018 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="018"></a>

Little pond free of ice, complete with dead plants from last year:
<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8514009708/" title="011 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="011"></a>

Big pond starting to thaw:
<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8514026452/" title="017 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="017"></a>

Plants in the cold building aren't getting much light with a higher sun, will need to be outside soon:
<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8514015422/" title="012 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="012"></a>

Pomegranate buds swelling:
<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8514018026/" title="013 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="480" height="640" alt="013"></a>

The dog must've knocked over this Adenium obesum 😥 it's toast:

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8512902255/" title="014 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="014"></a>

Y.rostratas are now enjoying the warm-up:
<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8512905357/" title="007 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="007"></a>

A peek inside the vent of one of the Washy tents shows Rip Van Winkle variety: 😆
That's the new spear coming...after 4 months maybe he needs to shave.

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8514032930/" title="021 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="021"></a>

Found a spot behind trees where there's still enough snow to cool off:

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8514031160/" title="020 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="020"></a>

Have some plans this year...first, to get rid of this awful juniper and maybe plant the little T.tesan and a T.princeps instead:

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8512917179/" title="003 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="003"></a>

Also plan to tear out this juniper in H's "gravel area"...might be a good place for C.humilis, Nannorrhops arabica, and two potted yuccas:
No easy task, as H always puts landscape fabric under the gravel...a real pain if you want to plant anything.
Wonder if he'll notice (ahem).

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8512902319/" title="008 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="480" height="640" alt="008"></a>

Star Magnolia buds swelling:

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8512908317/" title="006 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="480" height="640" alt="006"></a>

Spring...ah come on!!!!! 😉

Barb