Things are blooming!

I took a walk in my woods this weekend to see if there were any mushrooms up.  I didn't find any mushrooms but did get a chance to take some pictures of wild flowers.  These bluebells grow in a small area along the creek at the base of a steep hill.

I'm not sure what these flowers are called but they were blooming here and there at the base of the hill below the house.

Again, I don't know what this flower is called.  They were blooming near the blue flowers above.

/These white flowers were blooming in a mossy area closer to the creek.

Of course, violets are blooming everywhere.

The Jack in the Pulpit plants grow all through our woods.  This one was growing along the creek near the bluebells.

This large waxy leafed plant was growing near the creek too.  Not sure what it is either.

Red bud trees were blooming along the creek.

If you look close you can see some minnows swimming in the creek here under a rock ledge.  They blend in well, though.

These daffodils come out later than most.  Most of my daffodils are fading now.  These grow with two or three blooms on each stem.

The lilacs are in full bloom and at their most fragrant.  You can smell them as soon as you come out of the front door.

This red delicious apple tree is covered with blooms htis year and very fragrant when you stand among the branches.  My bees and several other pollinating insects were working this tree busily this weekend.

My cherry tree is also in bloom.  I had thought that my peach tree would not bloom at all this year, but it does have several blooms here and there among the foliage, though they seem to have opened later than usual and I don't know if they will produce any fruit.

My rhubarb plants continue to grow well and are even trying to send up some flower stalks this year.  I broke these stalks off so that the plant wouldn't waste too much energy on flowers and seeds that I would rather it put into roots and leaves.  My asparagus plants have been producing this Spring and we have enjoyed some fresh asparagus with supper.

My concord grape vines all have leafed out nicely and seem to be doing well.  They can stand some pruning, which I should do soon (and should have done before now.)

These marquette grape vines are even farther along than the concords, as they break bud and leaf out a little earlier.  These plants are also doing well.  I was concerned that the unusually cold winter would have damaged the grape vines but I don't see any major losses.

I did get a chance to work my bees on Sunday.  The weak hive had finally died out after struggling all Spring.  I had hoped that it would continue to limp along and I was planning to strengthen it with some brood from my other hive, but I waited too long.  I did, though, split my strong hive.  I ended up just splitting the hive evenly.  I had intended a more directed split -- a "cut down" split that is aimed at more honey production.  But, to do that you need to find the queen, and I could not locate here.  I know she was there because there was lots of brood at all stages, but she is tough to pick out of the mass of milling bees.  The hive that got the old queen should continue to boom and produce some honey but the other hive will have to produce a new queen which will take three or four weeks.  There were lots of queen cups where the bees can grow a new queen so I'm not too concerned about their ability to produce one.