Mid-April is one of my favorite times of year. The trees are putting on a fine show with their soft green leaves unfolding each day. The yellow forsythia blossoms have given way to green, too, and the daffodils are fading. The next batch of color is emerging; red and pink tulips, blue creeping phlox, and fat peony buds await their cue to pop open.

A few days ago, I found our annual bunny nest among the phlox, but the babies have already hopped away. Bluebird families have moved into both of the boxes, and the best is yet to come.

It is almost hummingbird season. Before too many days pass, the ruby-throated hummingbirds will whiz back into Gloucester County, tired and hungry after their long flight from winter habitat in central Mexico.

More than 300 species of hummingbirds are found only in the Western Hemisphere, ranging from southeastern Alaska to southwestern Chile. Most species live in the tropics, and only a few are found in North America. Google “List of hummingbird spe...