First day of flower for Hydrophyllum virginianum (Virginia waterleaf) and Prunus serotina (Black cherry), UWGB (Kathy Groves).

First day of flower for Poa pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass), City of Green Bay.

Tragopogon dubius (Yellow goat's-beard) in flower, Allouez. I may have missed the start of this one while I was out of town, but it was after May 26 and was well into flower by May 30.

Rhamnus cathartica (European buckthorn) in flower, Allouez

First signs of the Plum curculio on apples in my back yard. Green Bay, WI (Dave Parsons).
[note: The Scientific name of Plum Curculio is Conotrachelus nenuphar. This insect attacks a variety of other trees and shrubs in addition to plums. They may be a serious pest if large numbers attack developing fruits, GF]

First open flowers for Euonymus europaea (European spindle-tree), City of Green Bay.

First date of flower for Polygonatum pubscens (Solomon's seal), Streptopus roseus (rose twisted-stalk), Baptisia bracteata (cream wild indigo), Euonymus alata (winged burning-bush), UWGB.

First open flowers for Vitis riparia (river grape), City GB.

An Acer negundo (box elder) branch that I marked earlier this spring has already grown 20 cm in length.

First report of Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, Forest County (Heather Gentry). I saw one in far SW Wisconsin about May 18 (Gary Fewless).

Low temperatures in Green Bay fell deep into the 30's yesterday and today (33 and 34 F respectively). Rhinelander fell to 29F on the 11th and 27 today. Needless to say, the development of spring flowers has slowed considerably.

The last two nights have seen the heaviest migration of the year to date, and many bird species are being reported throughout the state. Yesterday I saw my first clay-colored sparrow; new arrivals at our house this morning included Baltimore oriole and Nashville warbler. Town of Cooperstown, Manitowoc County (Joel Trick).

Prunus pensylvanica (pin cherry), Ribes rubrum (garden red currant) and Fragaria virginiana (wild strawberry) in flower, UW-Green Bay. Cardamine diphylla and C. concatenata (toothworts) are beginning their peak flowering period.

The over-winter damage to plants on the arboretum by whitetail deer appears to be worse this year than any time in the recent past. They fed heavily on species that they normally eat only sparingly, including Willows (Salix sp.) and American black currant (Ribes americanum). This may be a result of having reduced their favorite species to very low levels -- such as these Thuja occidentalis (white cedars).

Amelanchier sanguinea (Juneberry), Viola pubescens (yellow violet), Ribes cynosbati (eastern prickly gooseberry), Prunus americana (American wild plum) and Prunus nigra (Canadian wild plum) in flower, UWGB

Viola pubescens

The pleasant odor of Populus balsamifera (balsam popular) is conspicuous on UWGB's Cofrin Arboretum, as the leaves begin to open. The common name is based on the similarity of its smell to that of balsam fir. This is one of my favorite fragrances. Many people associate this smell with spring in the forests, without recognizing its source.

Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) has been in flower since April 4, but it is just now entering its peak flowering period in the City of Green Bay.

At last, a sunny day with somewhat warmer temperatures. Sambucus pubens (red elderberry) and Ribes odoratum (golden currant) have begun to flower, UWGB.

First report of 13-lined ground squirrel, UWGB.

Spring azure butterfly observed, UWGB.
Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen) is leafing out quickly.--->

Cardamine diphylla (= Dentaria diphylla, broad-leaved toothwort) in flower, UWGB.

In a drive through northeastern Wisconsin (Oconto, Forest, Vilas, Florence and Marinette counties) I experienced nearly every kind of weather possible, except for tornados. Numerous snow flurries were interspersed with rain, sleet, brief periods of sunny sky and two episodes of hail. Some snow flurries were intense enough to reduce visibility for a few minutes and on occasion the road shoulders acumulated enough snow to whiten them. Nevertheless the local residents insured me that the wood ticks are out. Spring will advance quickly as soon as sunny, warm days return.