How ’bout that groundhog yesterday, just relaxing on our front porch.  Talk about “Groundhog Day” during the pandemic.  Each day is slightly different, because each time we look out there, there’s a new critter just making itself at home, such as this adorable little chipmunk, who was just sitting there, oblivious to us.  Like they own the place, and we’re just incidental.  Which is as it should be.

This is erev Shavuot, one of those Jewish holidays that if you blink, you miss it.  It’s the second of three major festivals.  It doesn’t feature colorful customs and ceremonies, or drunken carousing in funny outfits, or challenging menus.  If you make any dairy or fish recipes, you can’t go wrong.  If nothing else, here’s a festive (and patriotic) Shavuot bouquet.

In this Groundhog Day version, apparently it rains every day.  Which is far superior to snow, in my opinion.  Also no annoying, ignorant people to run into, just groundhogs and other cute, furry/feathered creatures.  And of course, happy plants.  If you ignore all the disturbing news, you can pretend it’s just another day, take 2.

I’m particularly happy about the native butterflyweed (first photo) coming back in force.  It’s in the milkweed family, good for butterflies and pollinators, and will be bright orange.  The second one is an immature hydrangea starting to bud out.  Third is the ubiquitous cheery marigold, and lastly, a new redbud leaf before it turns green.  It looks like a heart.