The Full Glory of Summer

Flower time

Time for new flowers. The new rose bush looks promising, and the new dwarf geranium. Optimistic little seedlings of marigold, zinnia, poppy and alyssum. Sun and water and time are all they ask.

New Neighbors

A pair of chickadees came house-hunting on Sunday, and apparently saw some promise in this old fixer-upper. They spent the afternoon cleaning out old sticks and debris. Maybe soon those old walls will again hear little chick chirps and feel the scratching of little beaks.

The Visitor

Early in the morning a pheasant comes hopping, pecking at this and that near where the apple pile was last fall. He rises up on his toes and flaps his wings like a rooster. Then the garage door opens and he's gone.

Sandhill Cranes

The Sandhills are back from their winter vacation. One can hear their cries often but seldom are they seen; Sandhill cranes' cries seem to come from everywhere at once and the eye cannot locate them. But their voices are welcome and seem to say that all is well.

A Beginning...

The first hint of Spring in Wisconsin--the crocus, popping up near sun-warmed porch concrete through leaf litter and rabbit droppings. The tulips have also dared to poke spiky green beginnings into damp and foggy morning air. They know that even if rain turns back into snow for a time, they'll be fine; they can't let the crocus be the only ones brave enough to rise up in early March.

Color

The last day of February, and Winter still has a hold on the land.  The landscape is white and brown  and gray, except for the occasional shock of bright red in a flock of cardinals at the feeder. Memories of color--greens, oranges, pinks and yellows--are recalled to mind and make one impatient for Spring.

Woodpecker

Last November  the red-bellied woodpecker came to visit the feeder, and was seen again just yesterday.  The insects it loves will be back in the Spring, but for now black oil sunflower seed tastes good.   The little birds must make way, but there is plenty for all. 

Still Winter

They say a storm is coming tonight. Doubtless this is not news to the deer, the coyote, the ground squirrel. The sky is already overcast; the birds are quiet, contemplating another big snow.

Drumlin

 

Retzer Nature Center lies a few miles to the east; you can walk the trails and see glacial formations and wildlife. Notice a babbling creek,  a hawk, some wildflowers.  One huge drumlin dominates:  from the top you can see miles to the east, west and south.

The grasses and flowers will come back later: this is the scenery in March.

Waiting...

The mint is waiting. Waiting for a day, perhaps two months from now, when she can once again taste spring rains and send up shoots to wave in spring breezes. She dreams of minty leaves on stalks reaching over 24 inches toward the sky, and little purple blossoms that will be visited by bees.

January Thaw is over!

The cold is back; the thermometer at the kitchen window read in the teens in the morning. Chickadees came hunting for seeds at the feeder in the chilly sunlight, and squirrels came for a breakfast of frozen apples leftover from the Fall harvest.