Springy things in the ‘hood! #Wordless Wednesday #April showers bring May flowers.

Posted on June 1, 2022 by Linda Schaub

Wordless Wednesday – allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

About Linda Schaub

This is my first blog and I enjoy writing each post immensely. I started a walking regimen in 2011 and in 2013 I decided to create a blog as a means of memorializing the people, places and things seen on my daily walks. I have always enjoyed people watching, so my blog is peppered with folks I meet or reflections of characters I have known through the years. Often something piques my interest, or evokes a pleasant memory from my memory bank, so this becomes a “slice o’ life” blog post. I respect and appreciate nature and my interactions with Mother Nature’s gifts is also a common theme. Sometimes the most-ordinary items become fodder for points to ponder over and touch upon. I retired in March 2024 after a career in the legal field. I was a legal secretary for almost 45 years, primarily working in downtown Detroit, then working from my home. I graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in Mass Communications (print journalism) in 1978, though I’ve never worked in that field. I would like to think this blog is the writer in me finally emerging!! Walking and writing have met, shaken hands and the creative juices are flowing in Walkin’, Writin’, Wit & Whimsy. I hope you think so too. - Linda Schaub
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91 Responses to Springy things in the ‘hood! #Wordless Wednesday #April showers bring May flowers.

  1. J P says:
    June 1, 2022 at 5:52 am

    That third one is fascinating, and I can’t figure out what it is.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Tofino Photography says:
      June 1, 2022 at 11:20 am

      that’s a Robin’s nest

      Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      June 1, 2022 at 7:50 pm

      JP, I guess in person it was easier to tell it was an intact Robin’s nest. When Robins build a nest crafted of dried grass and mud on the elbow of my coach lamp, I am not impressed, but to see it in a tree, is something else. That nest is sturdy and withstands the weather from when the eggs are laid, hatchlings are raised and in 14 days they fledge. Those “babies” are so big, by then they are hanging out of, or standing on the nest. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Anne Mehrling says:
    June 1, 2022 at 6:53 am

    What was a beautiful way to use a lot of photos.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Barbara Rodgers says:
    June 1, 2022 at 7:11 am

    Ah, spring! Becoming a distant memory after yesterday’s high temperature of 91°F. Then a backdoor cold front came through late afternoon and in a few hours it was down to 65°F. Thank you for the lovely gallery of May flowers and baby birds. 💙

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      June 1, 2022 at 8:22 pm

      I know what you mean Barbara – did we have a real Spring? Our sweltering temps took a nosedive after today’s cold front slammed us with severe weather. It WAS to be last night or this morning, but it arrived mid-day, with winds clocked at 65 mph. Power went out three times but came right back each time, but lots of downed trees, but not in my neighborhood. Glad you enjoyed the Spring-y pics – THAT is Mother Nature at her best. That baby Robin was adorable.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Barbara Rodgers says:
        June 2, 2022 at 6:31 am

        That baby Robin was so adorable! You had some gale force winds there, I’m glad you didn’t have any downed trees or long power outages in your neighborhood. Looks like it will be damp and cloudy here until the weekend. I’ll take it. Better than hot and humid!

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        June 2, 2022 at 9:06 pm

        I thought it was adorable too Barbara. A few years ago there were four baby Robins in a nest that was in a homeowner’s eaves trough that I passed every day on my way to/from the Park. As soon as they were old enough to peek out of the nest, I was taking pictures of them. I could get fairly close (luckily it was near a driveway at a corner house, so I didn’t feel like I was trespassing). They were getting too big for the nest and perched on the side of the nest. Then I walked by and the nest was empty. I am confident that this one young Robin recognized me as the woman who was so fascinated with him/her and its siblings. It must have been the first day it fledged and it was a little wobbly on the top of the chain link fence. It still had some downy feathers sticking up on its head. So it posed and I was just a foot or so away from it – no fears. For a while, every time I’d walk by and that bird would perch on the fence, once on the roof and look at me.

        It was glorious here today – got out and walked before still more rain arrived, but it was actually chilly and even chillier this weekend. It is better than hot and humid – that was unbearable Monday and Tuesday.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Barbara Rodgers says:
        June 3, 2022 at 6:17 am

        You made a good friend with the young robin, Linda. It’s so wonderful, a magical feeling, when we connect with special individual birds. And we experience that spark of recognition. So glad you had a glorious day to enjoy! 😊

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        June 3, 2022 at 9:00 pm

        Yes, we did make that special connection Barbara and it was nice. I know you made a similar special connection with the bedraggled Blue Jay last year when you saw it out your window in the bad storm, or nor’easter, if my memory is right. It was a glorious day today so you are in for a treat weather-wise tomorrow.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Anne says:
    June 1, 2022 at 8:42 am

    This is a cheerful variety of photographs.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. peggy says:
    June 1, 2022 at 9:00 am

    Spring – your photos are lovely and they made my day. Nature never disappoints us.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Ally Bean says:
    June 1, 2022 at 9:06 am

    The colors of spring are something wonderful. Your photos are great.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Laurie says:
    June 1, 2022 at 9:59 am

    Love those signs of spring. I have not seen any baby robins yet here in PA.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      June 1, 2022 at 8:39 pm

      It sure felt good to see all those signs of Spring Laurie, especially after Winter kept hanging on for dear life and refusing to leave. That was my first and only baby robin sighting this year. They trimmed the low-hanging branches on all the trees at Council Point Park, so no nests are being built where I can be on “baby watch” so this was in the neighborhood. It was so timid and I wonder if I was its first human to interact with?

      P.S. – It is Global Running Day today – I know you and Bill did your part.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Laurie says:
        June 1, 2022 at 8:44 pm

        I will have to look around a little bit to see if I see any bird babies. Plenty of nests around with parents going to and fro. We sure did do our part for National Running Day! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        June 1, 2022 at 9:14 pm

        I was at Lake Erie Metropark again over the holiday. I had posted before that the barn swallows move in and take over the bluebird nesting boxes. I got a lot of pictures of swallows “guarding” their mates/babies. It was touching to see. I knew you’d do your part. 🙂 It’s National Trails Day this Saturday, June 4th and many are waiting for us!

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Tofino Photography says:
    June 1, 2022 at 11:21 am

    flowers are Mother Natures way of saying “Hello,Spring is here”

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Eilene Lyon says:
    June 1, 2022 at 8:24 pm

    Oh the robin fledglings! I got to see some nuthatch fledglings this week – so adorable. I just love all the flowers. I’m in California right now and there are places here that knock me out.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      June 1, 2022 at 9:10 pm

      Eilene, I agree with you – the fledglings are so cute sometimes and the nuthatches are so tiny to begin with. They must have been sweet. This robin had no downy feathers left … all grown up. Sometimes they look comical with their fuzzy feathers and an oversized beak. 🙂

      A fellow blogger lives near San Jose and posts a different flower from the neighborhood nearly daily. All are beautiful and vibrant. I hope those California flowers fare well with the excessive water restrictions I heard about today. I know the lawns may only be watered once per week – hopefully there is a little leeway with the flowers there.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Eilene Lyon says:
        June 2, 2022 at 1:01 am

        When we do our bird banding in the summer, we always look for the gape of fledglings. Many still have extra wide yellow parts on the outer edges. “ Oh look! Gapey McGaperson!!”

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        June 2, 2022 at 8:56 pm

        That must be fun doing bird banding Eilene. That gape is really amazingly big. I always laugh when I see robins in a nest, perpetually upturned beaks, waiting for worm or grub morsels. Mom doesn’t have to worry about missing the mark!

        Liked by 1 person

  10. AnnMarie R stevens says:
    June 1, 2022 at 10:49 pm

    Miss Linda………………………………………..I’m glad I live in Michigan and I’m glad I met you to have you share all of the most beautiful pictures (signs) of spring in South East Michigan

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      June 2, 2022 at 8:48 pm

      I’m so glad to have met you too Ann Marie! It was a lucky day for me when we first met when I was checking out that big Woolly Bear Caterpillar at the Park and counting its rings to determine how bad our Winter would be and you were curious and bent down to see what I was doing. Spring was so welcome this year after Winter lingered too long into calendar Spring. Stay tuned for next Monday when I will have some Springy shots from Council Point Park and the following week it will be three families of goslings I first saw on Mother’s Day weekend.

      Like

  11. Prior says:
    June 2, 2022 at 10:19 am

    Spring delight!
    The tulips are my fav today

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      June 2, 2022 at 9:08 pm

      They are the Springiest of all Spring flowers in my opinion too Yvette. I stopped at this house twice hoping to catch the pink tulips but they hadn’t bloomed, just the red ones.

      Like

  12. Terri Webster Schrandt says:
    June 2, 2022 at 1:02 pm

    Spring has finally sprung for you, Linda! The robin fledglings look happy. Gorgeous shots of everything spring!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog says:
    June 2, 2022 at 8:22 pm

    Beautiful shots, Linda, at a magical, beautiful, enchanting time of year! 😁🌼🌹

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      June 2, 2022 at 9:11 pm

      Thank you Tom – Spring is a magical time when you think how the landscape magically transforms from dull and barren to so colorful. People like us who live in a four-season state welcome Spring with open arms. I imagine the Robin’s eggs and hatchling you photographed for a recent blog post are long gone from the nest and maybe looking like this cutie pie.

      Like

  14. incahootswithmuddyboots says:
    June 3, 2022 at 3:51 pm

    Beautiful photos, Linda! Springtime is a favorite season of mine when all the flowers, trees and baby birds come alive! This post hit the spot as it’s raining here today.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      June 3, 2022 at 9:15 pm

      Glad you liked the photos Sabine. It is such a treat to see everything emerge from such a colorless landscape and seeing a baby bird(s) makes my day too. Hope your weather clears up – we have cooler weather here for a few days and it is beautiful and very welcome!

      Liked by 1 person

      • incahootswithmuddyboots says:
        June 4, 2022 at 8:51 am

        Linda, I’m happy about the overcast sky and rain since I finally put in my tomatoes. This helps them get a better start. I haven’t seen too many baby birds yet in the garden yet but there are lots of bunnies.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        June 4, 2022 at 9:32 pm

        I worked out in the front/backyards today Sabine. I saw a Robin keep flying into a big bush and figured there had to be babies in there – she was making too many trips. So I was outside for many hours and saw two fledglings together later on. I thought maybe they fledged today as thy were uncertain where they were going and hung out together. I almost went in for the camera, but stayed on task, but they made me smile gawking at the human. 🙂 I have a big bunny in the backyard – have been seeing him/her since Winter. Never have seen a nest or kits though.

        Liked by 1 person

      • incahootswithmuddyboots says:
        June 5, 2022 at 5:32 pm

        We only had a robin’s nest once in my cherry tree. The robins still come to find food for their babies and bring fledglings. Watching the entire process from building the nest through the fledglings leaving was very rewarding. I’m surprised we still have bunnies with Dingo visiting all the time and now a puppy. They are brazen, taking naps in the middle of the lawn in the afternoon and munching my kale. Still I like having all the critters visit. It makes me feel like I’m doing something right in the garden. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        June 5, 2022 at 8:49 pm

        I see an adult rabbit or two when walking to the Park – one is near the indentation in the grass where I saw the rabbit in the middle of Winter. I was convinced there were kits there, but I could not find them. Perhaps they were just relaxing and eating grass. I saw one Cottontail at the Park and that’s it. Your garden is so pretty and robins and their young and bunnies enhance its beauty.

        Liked by 1 person

      • incahootswithmuddyboots says:
        June 6, 2022 at 4:49 pm

        Thanks Linda! I love the way our garden is but will have to do a little re-thinking with two dogs romping about! Hopefully the bunnies learn to stay on the other side of the fence!

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        June 6, 2022 at 10:00 pm

        I guess you will have to be innovative or use raised bed gardens – was it you who was going to do that Sabine. Another blogger, from here in Michigan, needed raised bed gardens for her veggies as her beagle, Ranger, likes to dig and they have bunnies. The lumber, also a supply chain issue and expensive to boot, had them re-thinking what to do, so her husband cut apart a few old rain barrels (hardly need them here anymore as it rains so much now) and they used those. Can you put up the netting like they used in parks in the early part of the pandemic to keep the dogs out until both of them understand it is a “no-play zone”? The bunnies in the backyard liked my bleeding heart. Planted it for my mom as she liked them – planted three in a clump and the bunnies ate them – after two times of decimating the bleeding hearts, I gave up for good.

        Liked by 1 person

      • incahootswithmuddyboots says:
        June 8, 2022 at 4:52 pm

        The new raised beds are tall enough (I hope) to keep both the dog and the bunnies out. Bunnies don’t care for tomato and pepper plants so I only fenced them for the puppy. The new beds I got at Costco last year, made out of a strong resin type material and seemingly indestructible. As long as we teach the puppy where she can dig and where not it’ll be okay. In addition I always plant a little extra for “visitors”. Other than the kale and broccolini they haven’t done too much damage. I keep some of the weeds like dandelion they enjoy so they’re not too tempted with the rest. Too bad about your bleeding hearts! They are beautiful and grow well here too.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        June 8, 2022 at 7:28 pm

        You are a smart gardener Sabine. I did not know they made raised beds out of anything but wood, so that is a smart choice. The wood planks I have in my backyard perimeter garden are all wolmanized wood, but have started rotting in spots the last year or so – I can’t complain as I did all the work and laid the planks in 1985, so it’s held up pretty well. I felt badly about the bleeding heart plants and in Memorial Park, they have a volunteer garden where they grow like crazy and not one “heart” is stripped off by critters.

        Like

  15. Joni says:
    June 5, 2022 at 7:11 pm

    I miss spring already! Those purple flowers in the second last picture are lovey? Do you know what they are? Sorry, but I am 4 days behind….

    Liked by 1 person

    • ruthsoaper says:
      June 5, 2022 at 7:48 pm

      Joni, I think those are creeping phlox. They come in many colors and are just gorgeous as a ground cover, especially when several colors are planted together.

      Liked by 2 people

      • Joni says:
        June 5, 2022 at 8:07 pm

        Thanks Ruth! I have some phlox but not the creeping variety.

        Liked by 2 people

      • Linda Schaub says:
        June 5, 2022 at 9:13 pm

        Thanks Ruth – I wondered if that is what they were. I saw some wild Phlox last week at Lake Erie Metropark. I took pictures of it, then a nature photographer I follow posted pictures of the same flowers and identified them. They are beautiful the way they line the fence.

        Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      June 5, 2022 at 9:00 pm

      Spring was beautiful those few days that Mother Nature behaved herself. I’m not sure Joni – they are beautiful aren’t they? I think Creeping Phlox, but wouldn’t say for sure. I saw Wild Phlox recently and it looked similar. I was 5 days behind when I began here earlier tonight – now 23 hours behind, but lots of people posted today, so I won’t get thru them all tonight. I noticed you were behind and didn’t know whether I should worry about you or assume you used the cooler weather to work in the garden and I am mindful I am behind in answering your G-mail. I worked in the garden all day yesterday and even my fingertips hurt today!

      Liked by 1 person

      • Joni says:
        June 7, 2022 at 1:26 pm

        Ruth thought they were creeping phlox. I just have regular phlox and it’s very skimpy but the flowers look similar. I got caught up but then skipped two days again. I do have a post to go up on Thurs, but still have to edit it. Will email soon. I have done zero gardening but hope to get out soon and buy some tomato and lettuce seedlings and a few dipladenia, before they’re all gone!

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        June 7, 2022 at 8:53 pm

        I got a chance to catch up thankfully – I have to e-mail you back. I get caught up, then get behind again after my Monday post. Tomorrow is a WW post about art. I intended to make it a regular long post, but it really needs no words – chalk art in the neighborhood, graffiti at the Park and we have some famous paintings from the Detroit Institute of Arts which are weather resistant and placed around our City from May through November, so they are in the WW post as well.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Joni says:
        June 7, 2022 at 9:19 pm

        Don’t worry about gmailing me back Linda. I’ve been negligent too. I’m caught up with REader now, and edited my next two posts, and am going to bed early tonight! Hope you do too!

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        June 7, 2022 at 10:15 pm

        OK, you don’t either then – I’m glad you’re okay and just busy. I have one more comment to respond to and then caught up with Reader and comments … that doesn’t happen too often so yes, I’m ready to shut down as well.

        Liked by 1 person

  16. ruthsoaper says:
    June 5, 2022 at 7:52 pm

    I’m glad you are taking lots of spring photos and sharing with us Linda. These last two weeks have been so busy (it got even busier last week because we had new windows put in our house) I haven’t had much time for pictures. Love the baby Robin!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      June 5, 2022 at 9:16 pm

      Glad you liked the photos Ruth. The baby Robin was my favorite too. Tomorrow’s pics will be Spring at Council Point Park – some more birds, a bunny, lots of dandelions. I was lucky to see three sets of goslings make their debut at Council Point Park over Mother’s Day, so I’ve been watching them grow up and took some photos along the way. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  17. indianeskitchen says:
    June 6, 2022 at 1:46 am

    Beautiful flowers and photography Linda, especially the tortoise and the hare!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      June 6, 2022 at 9:06 pm

      Thank you Diane – glad you liked the photos. My favorites from the ‘hood and I really like checking out that house on the corner as they have so many fun things in their garden – that’s where the two you liked were. They have no grass in their front yard. It is ivy ground cover and they have all these interesting different critters, some stone, some wood or tin popping out of that ground cover. I have learned of another place like this so will be going to visit there and take pictures, so stay tuned. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Janis @ RetirementallyChallenged.com says:
    June 6, 2022 at 4:24 pm

    What beautiful signs of spring. The flowers are lovely and the robin’s nest is full of hope and new beginnings.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      June 6, 2022 at 10:05 pm

      Spring was so welcome this year Janis – Winter was over-long and Spring was cold and we still had snow around Easter. So any sign of color and small signs of life were very welcome.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. rajkkhoja says:
    June 7, 2022 at 12:13 am

    Beautiful photo shoot.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Shelley@QuaintRevival.com says:
    June 7, 2022 at 7:02 am

    I smiled at EVERY photo – you have great tastes in finding items to photography that bring about the feelings of joy for spring!!

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Dave says:
    June 11, 2022 at 11:45 am

    The bird in the pine looks very “Christmas” to me Linda, just like an ornament (only a live one 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      June 11, 2022 at 9:05 pm

      I was excited to see that baby Robin there Dave. A perfect pose and nice backdrop. I think he had recently fledged as he was a little wobbly, but I didn’t see any other family members. He was more realistic than the Cardinal I posed on the branch in the snow). 🙂

      Like

  22. Zazzy says:
    June 11, 2022 at 1:50 pm

    I love the lilacs, of course. They will always be my favorite.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      June 11, 2022 at 9:33 pm

      Me too and I always walk home from the Park a certain route when this homeowner’s lilacs are out. He’s on a corner lot and the lilac bushes, different shades, are all along a wooden privacy fence- the smell is heavenly!

      Liked by 1 person

  23. J P says:
    June 13, 2022 at 7:34 am

    I love it when you focus up close on things I seldom take the time to look at. These are all fabulous.

    Liked by 1 person

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