Volunteer Kate Davis noticed this Green Frog checking the sign next to the pond in our Backyard Garden where it makes its home. It seems an odd message, but on a hot day dogs can wreak havoc in this small pond trying to get a drink or cool off. We put up wire fencing to protect the area and a sign asking people to keep their dogs away (we provide drinking water for dogs on the front patio). Then, a volunteer found a little girl climbing on the waterfall while her mother placidly watched; thus, the additional warning to keep people out of the pond. Not only are the rocks slippery, but wasps have nested in the cracks between them. This is a WILDLIFE garden, after all. Let's all respect the creatures that live here.

Similar to the other Syrhpid that Barry photographed. Some of the really interesting looking hover flies appear about this time of year, including some amazing wasp mimics.

Spring azures are common across our region. They show flashes of blue when flying, but when they land they can almost vanish as their wing colour blends into the rocks and soil. Barry was quick enough to catch an azure with open wings, displaying the pretty blue.

The rosy pink malus blossoms are eye-catching but oh, so ephemeral. We wait so long for them to appear and then they appear as if by magic overnight, only to fall not long after. Blink and you miss them.

Thanks, in part, to donations from Lis Allison last year, the woods are bursting with colourful spring wildflowers. Here, Clintonia or Blue-bead Lily can be seen next to wild columbines, sedges, Whorled Asters and a carpet of Jewelweed.

Despite the devastation caused by felling ash trees last spring, most wildflowers have recovered and are spreading nicely. Compare this patch of Mayapple with the tiny bud in the first photo in this month's blog.

The OFNC sponsored Emily (third from left) to attend last year's Youth Summit and she turned into an enthusiastic and active conservationist. On Victoria Day, she and some friends dug up the horrid dog-strangling vine (very tough work) and seeded this large area with Common Milkweed seeds. Fingers crossed that they will grow in time for the arrival of Monarchs later in June.

Several of us walked around the garden today and saw this eastern comma, a mourning cloak, one clouded sulphur, many cabbage whites, two red admirals and 7 or 8 spring azures.

Watch out for Stinging Nettle at the FWG this year, especially in the Old Woods. It's growing abundantly and just in time for the arrival of Red Admirals, which lay eggs on this species. Sandy watched a couple of Red Admirals in our plant nursery on Friday morning, and later found this egg on a large Stinging Nettle plant. We'll be looking for caterpillars in a week and, hopefully, lots more adult Red Admirals in late June!

On Friday morning, Malcolm noticed this tiny (2 cm long) treefrog sitting on a tree branch next to our plant nursery. We hear these frogs calling loudly all over the garden, but seldom get to see them as they are small and can change colour to blend in with their surroundings.

The crabapples and all the other flowering fruit trees are in full blossom now and it is a sight to see. Later on, in autumn through winter, the fruit of many of these trees will feed hungry birds and squirrels.

The old woods are carpeted with these beautiful deep blue violets, a garden escape, not native, but certainly lovely. However, they do take over as anyone who has them in their garden can attest.

It is unusual to see this species in spring at the garden. For years and years a red-tailed hawk (occasionally two) has turned up in late autumn or early winter and hung around the garden and the farm, departing in early spring or even in winter. But this year many of us have noticed two red-tailed hawks flying around together, over the garden, over the farm and over the Arboretum. Could they be nesting or thinking of? It might be a first in this location.

The kestrel box has been taken over by starlings this year, but as there don't appear to be any kestrels around the starlings probably feel free to make merry!

There are two magnolias at the garden, planted long before we took over the site, and each spring they burst into spectacular flower. In autumn I have seen squirrels gathering the unusually shaped seedpods and carrying them off.

There are always lots of these small, wasp-like but colourful bees around the edge of the old woods, as well as elsewhere in the garden. They are kleptoparasites on andrenid bees and others. They are frequently found visiting flowers to get nectar.

Although so many spring flowers are yellow (no wonder yellow symbolizes spring!), such as the barren-ground strawberry, downy wood violet, trout lily, daffodils... many flowers are white as here. The white trillium is Ontario's provincial flower.

A common early spring violet which stands out because of its colour, most violets being shades of blue, purple or white.

The land is greening up and flowers are appearing. The mayapple is an interesting native plant (native to areas a bit further south of Ottawa, but they grow well here) with its large leaves and crisp white flowers underneath the leaves. you have to get down low to see them!