To Everything A Season

In the four season climate we have in New York State, some of the first greens of spring are so welcome.

There is a pattern, a rhythm, to what Natures provides.  For sale now are local radishes, and several foods only found in spring.  To everything there is a season.

Ramps, our wild leeks, for example.  I've blogged about them several times.  They are considered by some as at gourmet treat.  We don't eat them anymore, but they can be purchased in the Binghamton, New York farmer's market.

Fiddleheads, which I must admit, are not a favorite of mine.

Then, there are the more familiar veggies, such as asparagus. (In the background is broccoli rabe, beloved by Italians and others). 

Spring garlic, which we also have in our yard.  Garlic is one of these vegetables which changes form through the year - first, as green shoots, then the scapes (the part of the garlic that will become its flower) and, finally in late summer, the bulb most people are familiar with.

Mushrooms. This vendor will have them, perhaps, for another month. 

Before we know it, most of these will be gone from the market.  But there will be so much more to replace them.  In the meantime, we enjoy the spring season while it is here.

Today is also Migratory Bird Day.   Up at Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York, their team is engaging in a 24 hour birdathon.  Spouse and I (new to birding) visited our local Wild Birds Unlimited to discuss a couple of birds in our yard.  In the past week, we've seen two types of migrating birds in our yard or at our feeders (also new to feeding) - a pair (male and female) of rose breasted grosbeaks and also one or two white crowned sparrows.  The birders at Wild Birds Unlimited confirmed the white crowned sparrow from a picture spouse took (alas, too blurry to show you).  Such pretty birds ,and we are a bit saddened that we may not see them again until the fall when they pass through our area again on the way to their wintering grounds.

 We are also eagerly awaiting our first ruby-throated hummingbird, another migrating bird.  will they accept our offer of sugar water? 

Tomorrow, in the United States, it is Mother's Day, and time for a special memory, some of which ties in with birds.

I hope you'll join me again.