April 1 - There was no journal for March 2003. john was ill with Shingles, but is much better now.

April 4 - Spring has arrived in full glory! The Star Magnolia is in full blossom as is the Weeping Cherry! Mallard ducks stay all day long and have been doing so for at least the last two weeks. Yesterday it was 90 degrees in Overland Park! That is very unusual for this time of year.

john has taken out the row of Junipers that were damaged by the ice storm two years ago and it cleaned up the appearance greatly. john has been planting more Moonshadow Euonymus and Creeping Pholox. john hasn't gotten his scanner running after the remodel move so cannot show pictures yet.

Yesterday, john waited to plant the Pholox because a male Mallard was resting exacting where john intended to plant them. Next time john looked out, two male Mallards were taking their nap there. Finally, when john looked out again, there were three male Mallards there. When joyce came home she must of scared them away, so john went out and planted the Pholox. While he was planting, one male Mallard flew back into the pond and watched john plant. When john finished planting, he put his tools in the pump house. While he was doing this a female and male Mallard joined the other one, but john didn't know this. When john returned to pick up the empty containers, he thought he heard a slight noise, but paid no attention. When he came into the house and looked out the new windows, he saw that all three Mallards had been no futher than five feet from him as he was cleaning up! Apparantly they had been standing there watching him the whole time.

john plans to cut a hole in the fence and hinge the free piece at the bottom so it can make a duckling ramp when lowered. This year Mom Mallard will not have the trouble she had last year trying to get into zenpond with her babies!