Kip’s Comments - April 13, 2023

Signs of Spring (Under Duress)

I am the type of guy who refuses, as much as possible, to let feeling rough from a virus get me down. But my oh my, my positive COVID test should have come with a warning that I was about to get my tail kicked. Geez, my throat is raw on fire, my back and chest hurt, my back and chest hurt even more when I cough, and my entire body feels like a roller has flattened me. And I am bored to tears. I was not expecting this.

Still, feeling miserable or not, I did get out briefly this morning to enjoy some signs of spring. Due to feeling wiped out, I will only be featuring two signs, but they are good signs! I found these, I photographed them, and I went home to sleep. (No, I was not near anybody.)

Sign of Spring #1 - Northern Redbelly Snake

As the near record-breaking heat warms the ground, the resting reptiles are beginning to stir. Turtles have been out for many days now, but until today I had not seen any snakes. As of this morning, that changed. I share with you my first northern redbelly snake of 2023.

Northern redbelly snakes are tiny snakes that, when viewed right-side up, blend in well in their habitat. However, as this picture shows, their red belly is very obvious on their underside. If I have ever had a northern redbelly snake get aggressive I did not recognize it. If one did, I doubt it could do much since they are so small. Northern redbelly snakes are a protected species and are non-venomous.

Northern Redbelly Snake - Image 799591

Sign of Spring #2 - Bloodroot

Decades ago, before I really studied Iowa wildflowers, I used to think bloodroot was the first wildflower to bloom in the spring. I since learned of snow trilliums, skunk cabbage, and pasqueflowers. Of course there is always the possibility of other over-achiever spring flowers - like hepaticas - that can bloom early too. But generally, bloodroot is one of the early bloomers, just not the earliest.

I have been watching for them to appear locally and it seems like in a matter of a day or two many bloodroots have erupted from the ground. Rather that share a typical vantage point view of the blossom (looking down into the blossom), I opted today to shoot looking up toward the blossoms, with additional blossom out of focus and in the shadows. I think it made for a pretty composition for a delicate wildflower that does not last long.

Bloodroot - Image 799696