SPRING IS RELUCTANTLY ARRIVING: PUSSY WILLOWS,NESTING CROWS, AND OPEN WATER

PUSSY WILLOW BUDS ARE BEGINNING  TO OPEN

THERE IS OPEN WATER NOW BEYOND MADELINE ISLAND
(as viewed from the top of Washington Ave)

Friday,  9:00 AM.  30 degrees F, wind WSW, calm to very light.  There is a high overcast, the humidity is up, to 81%, and the barometer is down, to 29.89".  We may get some precipitation.
   I checked out the native pussy willows, Salix discolor, at the beach yesterday and the buds are beginning to open, the white fluff inside now  clearly visible.
  The crows have been very active of late, and this morning I saw one flying with a twig in its beak, obviously engaged in building a nest.
   We were surprised yesterday to see that there is now a huge expanse of open water east of Madeline Island, where there was nothing but ice and snow only twelve days ago. The Ice Road won't last much longer.
   Spring is reluctantly arriving.