Every year the spring rains here liberate the frog eggs that have been buried in mud since last year. Within a week thousands of teenage frogs wrought with sexual angst go into romance mode and they sing to one another all night. Since I have two ditches very close by, I am treated to a symphony of horny amphibians each night to go along with the brilliant star display I enjoy after the rains clear the air. It’s really kind of cool. Everything else about spring here in the foothills in California is awesomely beautiful, and is perhaps the main reason I refuse to move back to the valley or to a city.
I wish I had the camera ready when I see things, but even if I did I am certainly no wildlife photographer. I should be after graduating with a degree in ecology. Instead I will humor you with some plagiarized pics from my fellow biologists who are. Across the lane my neighbor must have some yummy seeds in the yard because several times I have seen a covey of about 20 of the fattest quail I have ever seen feeding there. I’m assuming they are preparing to lay their eggs and should be hatching out soon. They probably don’t come to my lawn because of the cats. My bird feeders are finally full of seed, and I’ve got syrup in the hummingbird ones. The hummingbirds are so gorgeous, the males are iridescent. They are also quite aggressive and if I don’t watch out I nearly get whacked by an incoming.
Many people on my road have horses, and the mares are beginning to have their foals. I adore these cute little colts, and it will be one treat I do enjoy while driving to and from work. All the trees are beginning to bud and leaf out, and of course the wildflowers. Unbelieveable . Breathtaking swaths of yellow, purple, and orange against the bright green background of the native grasses. So I promise I will stop bitching about going to work, because as commutes go, I have a really nice one.
I also spend too much time trashing the Valley, it is nice in spring because as you may or may not know, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada this time of year is the world famous Blossom Trail . California is the number one producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, and literally millions of orchard trees bearing peach, plum, nectarine, and apricot blossoms grace the outskirts of town. Also cherry, orange, tangerine, lemon, and lime. Between these and the wildflowers my allergies kick in full swing, but it is so worth it for the few weeks of glorious color. By mid April everything will be brown from the baking sun. But for now, I’ll enjoy it.
Especially since this year I have my own to celebrate spring with. Thanks for reading.
What a fantastic post! I loved hearing/seeing all the beauty of where you live. You have inspired me...I might have to borrow/steal the idea and do a post on the beauty of nature around here. My dog's ears went up at the sound of the frogs. Best of course is the pic of the babies. They have gotten bigger!what a pair of cuties. How fantastic. I'm sorry you have gone back to work...I feel your pain.
Posted by: Cerridwen | March 11, 2007 at 06:11 PM
I was at a wedding this past weekend at Lytle Creek and that's all you could hear once you got away from the music. Frogs, frogs and more frogs. My daughter thought it was so cool until some of the older kids caught frogs and chased her with them. lol.
Hugs to you friend
rae
p.s. where the heck do you live anyway? have you told me before? lol. I wanna live where YOU are!
Posted by: broken | March 12, 2007 at 09:20 AM