mid-June report #phenology

Some of the goatsbeard has already turned to seed, looking a little like oversized dandelions. Vetch vines are starting to show purple flowers. Local farmers are cutting and raking hay. This morning, before first light, we saw a few fireflies. Our degree of happiness at that sighting is about inversely proportional to the fireflies' size. We remember, vaguely, the joys of catching "lightning bugs" on childhood Summer evenings. These recent sightings are the first we recall since we moved into the country about a quarter-century ago. Out in the fields, sheep sorel is adding a reddish wash to the neighborhood.

goat's beard and purple vetch

Photo by J. Harrington

Yesterday, mid-day, bright sun shining, standing in what passes for a ditch along some nearby DNR property, we watched a doe and her fawn stand statue-still until we yelled to check an overly curious dog. Then mom turned and bolted, promptly followed by her spotted offspring. Come evening, we were visited by another(?) doe, this one sans fawn. She bedded down for awhile in the long grass near the pear tree after away from the house as we were about to let one of the dogs out. We first noticed a hen turkey scurrying away from the sunflower seed droppings and then the doe. The dog got walked, on a lead, out in front of the house.

mid-June: fawn near compost bin

Photo by J. Harrington

What with road repairs and repaving, and yet more solar gardens being build and other construction projects, getting around the township has become a real challenge. Lots of large size dump trucks trundling along at less than posted speeds. A reminder for us to remember Gandhi's observation? “There is more to life than simply increasing its speed.” Perhaps that would be a worthwhile piece of advice for us to follow during the hot Summer days. We're noticing that more and more of the Tweets in our timeline and emails in our inbox are claiming that the sky is falling. We believe we may be starting to suffer early stages of Anthropocene disaster burnout. That strongly suggests it's time to follow the advice of one of our favorite philosophers, Janis Joplin, and her advice “Don't compromise yourself. You're all you've got.” That, we know, can be taken several ways, and we will.

Fireflies

Fred Chappell

The children race now here by the ivied fence,
gather squealing now there by the lily border.
The evening calms the quickened air, immense
and warm; its veil is pierced with fire. The order
of space discloses as pair by pair porch lights
carve shadows. Cool phosphors flare when dark
permits yearning to signal where, with spark
and pause and spark, the fireflies are, the sites
they spiral when they aspire, with carefree ardor
busy, to embrace a star that draws them thence.

Like children we stand and stare, watching the field
that twinkles where gold wisps fare to the end
of dusk, as the sudden sphere, ivory shield
aloft, of moon stands clear of the world’s far bend.

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