spring | wordsfromanneli

April 5, 2025
by wordsfromanneli 22 Comments

Northern Flicker

The northern red-shafted flicker is fairly common on Vancouver Island and I’m glad he is. He eats a lot of ants and beetles and even wasps. That suits me just fine.

Here is Mr. Flicker (notice his red cheek slash) trying to get the attention of Ms. Flicker to ask her for a date.

Turn on your sound to hear him drumming on my chimney and then calling to her. His grammar isn’t great but I don’t think it bothers him (or her).

With a rat-a-tat-tat,

I say, where are you at?

Ms. Flicker (no red cheek slash) misses his call but comes by to announce that she’s a bit late, but she’s here.

I’m sitting right here,

Come and find me, my dear.

May 13, 2024
by wordsfromanneli 58 Comments

A Glimpse of May

Scotch broom is considered invasive because it crowds out other plants, but it provides shelter for many birds who can hide in its thick growth. Bees love it too.

It makes a background for puppy poses. Here is our springer spaniel, Ruby, when she was a pup.

The irises are having a little chin wag.

Miss Bossie runs the meetings.

Other members of the community listen in.

The columbines provide a slurpy snack for the hummingbirds, who then zoom off to spread the word that spring is really and truly here.

Precious first flowers

That bloomed after showers

Are chatting and preening all day.

Puppies roll over

As if they’re in clover,

Now spring has come, why don’t we play?

Hummingbirds sipping,

They fly away dipping

And buzzing, “Hurrah, now it’s May!”

February 1, 2024
by wordsfromanneli 42 Comments

We don’t have groundhogs around here, and the closest thing to them might be our marmots who live up in the hills. So Crispin has to do double duty while scratching out a life. He has to predict whether we’ll have an early spring or six more weeks of winter. I asked him what he thinks.

The winter here has been so long, I don’t know how we stand it,

If I don’t see my shadow now, it’s possible to end it.

A shadow means the sun is out, the day is cold and clear,

A cloudy day, though gray, is warm, and pleasant days are near.

The rainy days go on and on, and everything is wet,

But daffodils are poking out to promise flowers we’ll get,

I’m sure that spring will show up soon and warmer days will come,

And if I’m not yet singing loud, at least I’m going to hum.

April 19, 2023
by wordsfromanneli 41 Comments

Waiting for Spring

Where, oh where has springtime gone?

Where can springtime be?

Say I’m not the only one,

Who’s making poetry.

Spring, you say? Where did it go?

Peek around that corner,

Squirrel is looking, doesn’t know,

Logs can roll, I’ll warn her.

Spring, beneath me, do come out,

Hiding snug in there,

Listen to my warrior shout,

How’s that for a scare?

Nope, it’s not beneath the logs.

Maybe there’s no spring,

Anyway, I see no frogs,

Croaking, trying to sing.

With no insects to digest,

Stuck with eau de sweet,

When it warms, the gnats are best,

They’ll be such a treat.

Goodness me! What do I see?

Spring has brought a pest,

Who has asked him in for tea?

Awful ratty guest.

Yummy! Yummy! For my tummy,

Lovely sunflower seeds,

Eat them quick before they’re hummy,

Just what Ratty needs.

Wind and soggy rain we’ve seen,

Why are days not warmer?

Where, oh where has springtime been?

Look around the corner.

Daffy, dilly, daffy dolls,

Harbingers of spring,

Cheering brightly, each one calls,

Happiness we bring.

Not to be outdone in show,

Tulips stand up tall,

Wanting all the world to know,

Who’s the best of all.

Mother! Look! The spring is here,

Sunshine, and those flowers,

Come let’s sing and give a cheer,

In between the showers.

February 7, 2022
by wordsfromanneli 29 Comments

Flower Power

I was happy that my orchid was blooming bravely through the winter, but the room cheered up considerably when our dinner guests brought a pot of primulas. Such bright colours made it hard to be anything but happy.