With no observed precipitation in the past week, conditions at this station appear to be mildly dry. Despite lack of rain, plants are green and healthy with blooms on Bleeding Hearts, dandelions, and violets. Soil is powdery and has difficulty absorbing water. Trees are budded and have blooms in the case of flowering crabapples. Wildlife is able to forage without being seen in daytime, though occasional deer and birds are enjoying sunny days in fields and the edges of woods. Wood ticks are abundant and present after almost any trip outside, much more than a typical year. A good start but still hoping for rain.