Outside my window this morning...

Well hello there little miss Iris!  You are five weeks early, BTW.

I am glad to see you though.

My charges while my dad is away.  They have grown about six inches in eight days!

Someone heard me sneaking out to take pictures.
(that window is absolutely filthy isn't it?)

Our first-ever bird's nest.  Jordan spied a robin gathering grass in the backyard yesterday.  I saw him again this morning, and he wasn't even deterred as Abby came over to investigate.  This will be fun to watch over the coming weeks.

Bolting!!  Already?
When you want blooms, you use the term 'flowering'.  When the blooms are undesireable, you use the term 'bolting'.  Rhubarb has the tendency to bolt when the weather gets too warm, and the soil becomes dry and in need of nutrients.  Some plants are also prone to bolting - mine, a 'Valentine' is among them.  If you allow a rhubarb to bolt, the plant will focus more of its energy into the bloom(s), instead of growing nice-sized stalks for harvest.  If you want a good crop, you should remove the flower buds as soon as you see them.  This one appeared just a few days ago and has grown at least a foot in that span of time.  I lopped it off after taking the picture, along with about five others.  Geesh.  It has been hot and dry for the past several weeks - and I've only watered the rhubarb plant as an afterthought.  Oops.  It is also about four years old - it is time to divide it.