My View of Life on the Dock
**caution: note any barriers! All are not cleared for use quite yet**
photos: One by one, Long Beach staircases back from winter storage. Rockport DPW delivering, installing, securing. April 2, 2025
March trees and brush–Gloucester in early springtime.
photos and video clips: stone soft joy March 13-24, 2024
Cape Ann Museum Green and Collections Center | yellow Babson-Alling House
I look forward to the appearance of these beautiful lavender crocus, a patch that blooms without fail every spring. It has naturalized from a garden probably planted long ago and now springs up along the road’s edge at Niles Pond.
And we had our first sighting of plovers, not Piping Plovers mind you, but Kildeers!
Clearing at Grant Circle on the Cape Ann Museum properties revealed a carpet of grape hyacinth scilla (correction thanks to helpful GMG reader comment). The patch across the street is a favorite stretch of spring.
Even though the weather is still chilly and overcast you can see the signs of Spring.
Egrets on Kettle Island
Parents and their Goslings
Thanks so much Jacqueline!
Nesting Swan
Warm Tulips
Juniper Snack
Garden Center
Hello Kim,
I have been enjoying all the spring pictures the FOBs have sent you. We went to Raven’s Wood Park last week to see the Spotted Salamanders & the many different varieties of frogs. They were singing so loudly it was a very cool experience! That is one of our favorite signs that spring is arriving….
Happy Spring
Lidia Sands
Thanks Lidi–we love it! Great work–its not so easy to get a good capture of a Spotted Salamander!!!
Thanks so much Jackie for sharing you welcome spring photos!
Thanks so much Marty for sharing your welcome spring photo–wonderful!!!
Marty writes,
Hi Kim,
My husband leaves the sliding seat from his rowing shell hanging under our back stairs. Some little bird decided it was the perfect place to build her nest.
Marty
Len Burgess welcomes spring–thank you Len for sharing–just beautiful!
Pussy Willow
Crocus
Lily
Daffodil
Crocus
This is my pre-seasonal opening post. I request any restaurant, clam shack, or pretty much anything which has been closed for the winter on Cape Ann to post a comment here as to the exact date they will open. Add some extras, how many seasons, what’s on special that first day.
At least one week prior to April 1 I will post an updated list. To wet your appetite I have two conformations of opening days:
Friday, April 1, Topside Grill opens. The dining room is completely renovated but the martinis have not changed. Opening Day party with music by John Jerome. Then Tuesdays are always Oyster night.
Saturday, April 2, Top Dog of Rockport opens for the eleventh season. A clam roll at a picnic table outside. That is my official start of the season. Or a Bad Dog with Chili Cheese Fries.
Those are the only two I have definitive dates. Last year’s announcements included, The Rudder: April 15, The Cupboard: May 6, Popo’s Gourmet Hot Dogs, Nate’s at Front Beach, Surfside Subs on Thacher Road, and Capt Carlo’s all around April 27 with Lobster Pool of Rockport and Lobsta Land both sometime earlier. So is Lobsta Land year round forever now? Don’t you wish all of these places did that?
Signs of Spring, Signs of the coming summer. Mister And Misses Bathroom sign at the Rockport Information booth is my first sign of spring. What’s yours?
I think I planted 48 daffodil bulbs last fall. They’re popping up everywhere! Sure sign of warm days to come!
Good Morning Gloucester 