Flowers and Butterflies At Last

            On Friday, I found 23 species of plants in bloom. Thirteen of them were cultivated and growing at various locations in the Royal Botanical  Gardens in Hamilton/Burlington. The others were growing either as wild or as cultivated species that have become naturalized. Today, Saturday the 11th of  April, I found our Silver Maple in bloom and, as the dog and I walked in the early afternoon sunlight, I also saw two butterflies. Both butterflies were quickly on the move and i did not get a good look at either of them but just enough to be fairly sure that they were the Mourning Cloak and the Question Mark as both are usually found early in the spring in our area as overwintering species. I also heard and saw an Eastern Phoebe in our yard today. They have been in the area for a week or more but just not on our property.

            Below are photos of some of the flowers that I have seen in the past two days.

 Slender Speedwell (Veronica filiformis)

 Silver Maple Tree (Acer saccharinum)

Christmas Rose/Red Hellebore (Helleborus atrorubens)

Ruby Glow Witch Hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia 'Ruby Glow')