Is it spring yet?

After two sessions of "winter avoidance therapy", we arrived home on Monday to find that although spring is not quite sprung, it is trying.

I checked some spring posts from last year and by April 19th, we already had trillium leaves, buds and our first dandelions, so we are definitely behind. Our boat was in by now, so we have a long way to go still.

Here's a bit of an update:

The snow is mostly gone from the properties - still a bit in the woods - but the lake is still iced over.
Except for close to the shoreline, it is still solid. The snowmobile tracks are beautiful patterns as the ice turns darker.

In our garden, the first of the daffodil shoots are peeking up, so there is hope. Other than the possibility of snow on Saturday, this week has been sunny and clear.

Here are a few pictures we took on our walk yesterday. 

The Otter Lake side of the portage - little snow, lots of water.

The water line duck is emerging from the ice.

Two "real" ducks who came for a visit.

Melting near the shoreline.

Eager daffodils.

The last tracks of the season.

I will monitor progress in the next while. I am sure that black fly season will come directly behind spring.