Nature Note:Back to Flocks

The resident Canada geese are back in their flocks,having split up for a while in order to breed.Indeed,much of the growth and reproduction in the natural world has already been accomplished in the Mid-Atlantic by early June.The chrysanthemums have budded in preparation for their first blooming.Early tomato plants have green fruit hanging even now.The first seeding has sprouted or not by now.There is still plenty of time to replant seed or seedlings to reach the season's goals.

Nature Note:Young of the Year

They are already appearing,the young of the year.Mourning doves were the first sighted,with three squabs eating under the feeder with their parents.Then a male northern cardinal was seen feeding his young in a leyland cypress.This morning,a tiny cottontail was observed nestled against a picket fence.The rabbits can be pesky,occasionally nibbling on landscape plants,but are generally a welcome member of the urban forest.Yesterday,a light frost occurred-probably the final one of the year-but the tomato plants were unscathed,along with the tiny rabbit.