Signs of Spring

Cannot be certain but am quite sure I saw a red-wing black bird on my feeder yesterday. Certainly a harbinger of spring. I have seen many robins about and this morning at 6am a morning dove was calling us to start the day. We often get some late season flurries but they do not last long. Calling for 1-3 inches today.

late season snow does not seem to slow them down a bit

On the human front the youngsters are starting to get anxious as well. Bert was barking at something last night around 6 pm so i walked onto the deck to see a big donut peel out in the parking lot. Only to have the young driver (a female no less) get out to take a picture of her handy work and then proceed to do another one right in front of me. I have to say I was appalled and impressed with her driving prowess.

Daytona 500 inspired?

Vanishing Patch Disease

I walked the course this morning to check for frost in the ground. The 'Noonies' informed me yesterday afternoon that they could stick a tee in the ground everywhere and hinted that the greens might be ready to open. I found frost in every green and some of the tees as well. In fact every cup in the green still had ice in it(see picture). 

I took pictures in the morning of what looked like a patch disease. One that I could not say I recognised or should be growing this time of year. I first noticed it on three and then on four it was shocking. Maybe 15-20 of them and looking very ominous.



 

single patch close up

This afternoon I did a quick loop to check on the golfers and pull a sample from four green to potentially send off to a lab to be tested. I thought i would take some other pictures with the sun a little higher maybe they would show up better. They were all but gone! I could still make them out but very faint. As I said in the text to my friend in the morning with the original finding 'this is why you do not go out on the course in February. He is off-island and dealing with 2 inches of ice underneath 5-6 inches of snow on his greens. I have the sample in my office in a plastic baggie incubating to see what grows as it warms up. I'll keep you posted.

darker areas show up in picture but patch characteristic is gone

Pre-Spring

Last year was the first time there actually was a spring since I have been on MV. Usually the cold water around us keeps us from having normal type spring weather. This week we are having some nice warm temps and today very little breeze so extra warm. Mid-to high 40's is a boon this time of year. Kevin was out Beginning the course cleanup yesterday.

 Today Kev and I tried to re-claim our water view from the first green which has grown up a bit to reduce the view of the water in the yacht basin and sound beyond.

view from first green during prune



view from top of dump truck on the street next to first green

 There are golfer out playing the temp cups. We still have ice in the regular cups which means frost in the ground so as soon as that goes away and the greens firm up we will be back on them.