The crows are normally too shy to come in the warmer seasons but winter's snow convinces them to take the chance. Taken February 2015.
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The birds appreciate the chance to find liquid water in the winter time.
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The spring (okay, very late winter) rain will bring the earthworms to the surface so they don't drown. (Taken late February 2016).
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Spring means flooding and here the path into my backyard is covered with a small pond from the rain. (Taken late February 2016).
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The spring rain helps this forsythia bush inch towards waking up. (Taken late February 2016).
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A couple of warm days is all it took for this crocus to sprout then flower. Taken 3/9/2016.

Variable weather and the variable timing of Easter means that one never knows what flower will be bloom for Easter - or if there's even flowers in bloom. This year, my forsythia bush began opening on Good Friday and was in peak form for Easter (and now, a few days later, it is already starting to drop it's flowers).
Taken March 2016.
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Nature is always pushing to reassert itself and I was reminded of this as I looked at my backyard lawn. It spends most of the time between winters as a nice and orderly place; however, while I wait for it to dry out enough from the winter snows and spring rains, it already starts taking on a very unlawnlike appearance.
Taken 2016.
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The flowering quince bushes in my backyard are currently the Big Thing in the bee world right now. Between the three bushes there was probably a dozen bees collecting nectar from the flowers on this day.
Taken April 2016.
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Everything gets it's chance to shine in the yard and right now it's the Creeping Phlox - the purple flowering ground cover - and the tulips turn. Taken April 2016.
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Do I like lettuce? No. However, growing it for other people gives me an excuse to start my garden early. Taken April 21, 2016.
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I believe the orange flowers are known as Sulfur Cosmos. This spot was supposed to a mix of the orange cosmos and the normal pink/purple/white cosmos but the orange ones are a much more vigorous plant and crowded out the other type. The purple morning glories aren't supposed to be there but I didn't have the heart to remove them. So, it's not what I wanted, yet, it turned out rather lovely anyways. Taken August 2015.
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In spring it's easy for plants to stay green, but, as summer stretches out, plants begin to lose that green if the weather doesn't cooperate. I might be personifying a bit much, however, here we have my potted carrots and potatoe plants enjoying a quick summer shower. Taken July 2016.
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The shadows of my one nephew and I at sunset. Taken July 2016.
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The particulars of a red maple's fall foliage changes from year-to-year. For this year, this red maple developed many more red leaves than normal and it held onto it's leaves longer into October. As of writing this, it still remains to be seen how long before this tree will drop all it's leaves. Taken October 2016.
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The shadows caused by the sinking sun just add even more interest to the colors found on this red maple tree in fall. Taken October 2016.
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The sun causes a shadow of another leaf to project onto the back of a fallen red maple leaf. Taken October 2016.
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First, leaves fall on this stepping stone path, then, the snow will follow (though, hopefully, many months from now ). Taken October 2016.
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Color-wise, this year was just about perfect for this red maple. I'm glad I got a new camera that let me better capture it. Taken October 2016.
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Not only do these Japanese Maple leaves get really red for Fall, but, they seem to thin out as well. With the sun behind them, the leaves kinda look about as thick as tissue paper. Taken November 2016.
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Snow glazes the leaves of a Japanese Maple, marking the end of one year, and the setting buds promise the coming of another year. Taken November 2016.
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I can't remember what got me out of the house and why I brought my camera along, but, I remember not wanting to give into winter during this November snow so those are tracks of my gardening Crocs. I was trying to be very careful when stepping down into the snow since this pair of Crocs is open on the back half and I didn't want snow melting into my socks. Taken November 2008.
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Just a typical January snow day. This was probably lake effect snow, which is almost never heavy outside of a narrow band right by the lake, but, can drop an inch or two each day for a long stretch of days in what I call being 'inched to death'. Taken January 2016.
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Another picture of the Ashtabula Lighthouse, as seen from the breakwater at Walnut Beach on Lake Erie. I think that as the waves crash against the breakwater the splash and spray are being turned into ice. Probably not a safe surface to walk on . Taken January 2016.
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I'm sure this bridge has an official name but my family's always called it the Stony Bridge. It's located in one of the gems of Youngstown, Ohio - Mill Creek Park, a huge park smack in the middle of the city and over 120 years old. Taken January 2016.
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This dam was built in 1906 inside Mill Creek Park and Lake Glacier was formed behind it. The sewers that the city of Youngstown ran under the lake 90 years ago and swore to the park board would never leak deteriorated to the point that swimming has not been allowed in Lake Glacier for at least the last 50 years, though, the fish that get stocked in the lake are still okay to eat. Taken January 2016.
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My Mom instilled in me a distrust for icicles and their dangers to my eyes and I still don't like to look straight up at them. Taken February 2016.
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I was surprised to read that the average lifespan of a cardinal in the wild is only 2-3 years because they have difficulty living through the winter - which is why they are first to the bird feeders in the morning and the last in the evening. I bet this cardinal is glad spring has started. Taken March 2016.
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Crocuses are like the elite commandos tasked with securing a beachhead for Spring. Taken March 2016.
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Peaking over the garage roof is a blooming forsythia and behind it is a red maple also in bloom. Taken March 2016.
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With the trees budding, very soon the view of the daytime moon will be obscured. Taken March 2016.
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One of the things I like about Red-bellied Woodpeckers is they don't seem to care if I'm near to them as they forage and eat. Cardinals are much more skittish, which also makes it harder to get a clear shot of them. Taken March 2016.
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Here's Mill Creek Park's Stony Bridge in early spring. Taken April 2016.
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Here's the Lake Glacier Dam in early spring. Taken April 2016.
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April showers bring May flowers, as the saying goes. Taken April 2016.
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A late snow this year almost ruined these Bradford Pear blossoms. I think the cold caused some of the flower petals to develop a bit of pink to them. Taken April 2016.
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I so look forward to that point in April that it's warm enough to start the early vegetables. Here we got radishes, peas, and leaf lettuce seeds waiting to be planted. Taken April 2016.
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Dandelions have been a favorite flower since I was a little kid and I refuse to think of them as a weed. Taken April 2016.
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It's mid-May in this picture of the Ashtabula Lighthouse and it looks more like early April. On the flip-side, the fall is nicer for far longer than the surrounding interior areas. Taken May 2016.
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A relatively new addition to the yard is columbine. I bought the original plant as a clearance item a few years ago. I love the flowers but I don't like how short lived the plant lives. So far, it's always reseeded itself, but, I would prefer it lived a little longer. Taken May 2016.
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It seems fitting that these coreopsis flowers seems to reach peak around the summer solstice every year. Taken June 2016.
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I just happened to snap this picture at what turned out to be the peak for this bed. We went through a long dry spell soon after and the pink foliage plants dried to crispy leaves and the marigolds caught powdery mildew because Lake Erie ensures that, even 50 miles away from it, it will be humid.

Bonus points for anyone who can find the volunteer snap dragon plant. Taken July 2016.
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I have always been slightly surprised when home-grown corn plants actually yield actual ears of corn. The pollen found on the tassel is literally a yard away from the silk of the ear of corn and there's leaves in the way and there's wind and plenty of other obstacles. And yet, somehow, this small bed of corn - 41 plants - yielded 38 usable ears of which more than a dozen were full or almost full ears of corn. Taken July 2016.
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Summer is finally in full abundance along Lake Erie and the cool water is an ideal way to cool off in late summer. Taken August 2016.
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The end of August is the time that all that babying of one's garden pays off. Also pictured is the beach glass that was collected in the outing to Walnut Beach that yielded the previous posted lighthouse picture. Taken August 2016.
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A row of sunflowers have their heads turned to the rising sun. Taken August 2016.
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Attending the Canfield Fair always feels like the last act of summer and the start of fall because it occurs by Labor Day. One of the highlights is the pumpkin barn. Taken September 2016.
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If one's morning glories are too happy then they take forever to bloom. Last year, this type was blooming by the end of July; this year, it was the very end of August when they started and they didn't peak until the middle of September. Taken September 2016.
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We were heading for a bad pumpkin year - it was too hot and dry in August - with only a couple pumpkins set. Then the rains came in September and suddenly these vines were setting fruit left and right. Taken September 2016.
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Here's Mill Creek Park's Stony Bridge in early fall. Taken October 2016.
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Hardy Mums are not hardy. Even under the best conditions, the type of mums that stores like to sell seem to be little better than annuals. Which is why I'm happy to see this mum plant still alive and thrilling after three years. Taken October 2016.
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Having blueberries is probably the biggest reason to have blueberry plants, but, a pleasant surprise is to find out how beautiful they are in the fall time. Taken October 2016.
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Nearly 5 months after being planted, it's time to see if all the effort to keep these potato plants alive through a drought was worth it. I reached down into the dirt and quickly felt something hard. With a little work, I pried it out and beheld a homegrown potato. Success!!! I found many more in the two pots that were planted with potatoes this year. This picture is of the entire harvest.

They were the softest, smoothest, most delicious potatoes I've ever eaten. Taken October 2016.
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This tree should probably be dead, but, I was surprised to look up and see it still had a fairly healthy crown of leaves to itself. Taken October 2016.
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My sister bought a jeep a couple of years ago, which seemed like overkill in the city; now, though, it's perfect to take on the path the runs along the entire outer rim of the forested area of her new farm. Taken October 2016.
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Another picture along the forest path. The tree seen off in the distance in the center of the picture, by the path, is at about the center of my sister's property. Taken October 2016.
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The warm lingers along the lake but, by November, there's no denying that Ol' Man Winter is coming. Taken November 2016.
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