Spring in the Litchfield Hills

June 19, 2009 We're only on the eve of Summer (it begins Sunday morning at 1:46 am) but already many Spring blooms have gone to seed like this Meadow Salsify (Tragopogon pratensis).

June 17, 2009 This morning's ring around the sun forshadows yet another period of rain this week.

June 12, 2009 Lychnis flos-cuculi, commonly called Ragged Robin, is a naturalized European import.

June 10, 2009 Hieracium aurantiacum or orange hawkweed is also known by the more dramatic common name "Devil's Paintbrush."

June 5, 2009 Iris blooms — a favorite of late spring.

June 2, 2009 A common ringlet — though not particularly abundant in Litchfield — is readily spotted this time of year.

May 31, 2009 A hawk soars in the cool breeze at sunset.

May 25, 2009 A fiddlehead previews its future shape.

May 22, 2009 The colors of spring continue.

May 21, 2009 To me, a wildflower. But to some of the local rabbits, a favored snack.

May 20, 2009 In bloom around the same time as apple, quince provides the deepest spring red.

May 14, 2009 A basic principle of hiking in wetlands: The longer you stare, the more frogs you can find.

May 8, 2009 A spring salamander that has ventured some distance from the nearest spring.

May 5, 2009 They're everywhere — and, if you get up close, quite pretty.

May 1, 2009 Don't wait. The range in varieties of spring daffodils is at peak; and a little rain hurts neither them nor you.

April 29, 2009 In the spring, plants that constitute roadside "brush" reveal some highly distinctive buds.

April 27, 2009 The unusually warm weather has accelerated the pace of this year's blooms.

April 24, 2009 Finally, some warm sunny weather for this red newt to enjoy.

April 21, 2009 Gray skies as the April rains swell the streams.

April 16, 2009 Daffodils have begun to bloom, but only the earliest varieties. Keep tabs on the stage of bloom and compare with last year on our narcissus page.

April 13, 2009 With nighttime temperatures well below freezing, color remains sporadic.

April 3, 2009 Powerful wings accelerate this goose as it follows the path of a stream — honking all the while.

March 31, 2009 Open for the warmth of the mid-day sun.

March 23, 2009 With nighttime temperatures in the teens it may not feel like Spring, but with a bit of searching you can find spots that are starting to look it.

March 20, 2009 Spring arrived at 7:44 this morning. This peaceful scene became free of ice only days ago.

March 16, 2009 A common crow, the instant before liftoff.

March 12, 2009 Water flows beneath the ice as the sun gets higher.

March 6, 2009 Finally, a warm front. Now's the time to visit a sugarhouse.

March 4, 2009 Way too cold for melting, despite the higher sun angles.

March 3, 2009 Winter's grip remains firm.

Continue reading from the Winter in Litchfield archive >