Spring's arrivals: some here, others en route

The past few days we've seen several dragonflies, one or two in the neighborhood, a couple more closer to the Twin Cities. To be honest, we thought the weather had been too cool and it was too early in the season for them to be back. Since dragonflies are some of our favorite critters, we're delighted and hope that the inclusion of snow in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow won't do any serious disruption to the dragonfly population. The ones that we got the best views of look like green darners.

green darner dragonfly

Photo by J. Harrington

We're sorry to note that this week's weather has triggered leaf out on local buckthorn understory. We're back pulling the remaining bushes and saplings from the area behind the house that we've been reclaiming. Once that's done, we'll start on the growth in the front woodlot. Sometimes it feels like we're doing the equivalent of trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon. It would be easier to stay motivated if there weren't so much buckthorn growing in the nearby MNDNR property, part of Carlos Avery WMA. Anyhow, the plantings of three high bush cranberries and two chokeberry bushes are now "protected" by wire cages. The Better Half installed the fencing the first time. This week's winds, plus uncollected oak leaves, tipped over several. We've now installed braces and we'll see if that holds through this weekend's weather.

sandhill crane in corn stubble

Photo by J. Harrington

Robins, and several species of sparrow-like birds, plus some stray juncos have been migrating through this week. Goldfinches are in bright mating colors. Someone has begun nesting in the bluebird box, a bluebird maybe? We've not yet seen any of the tree swallows that nest in the "purple martin" house we put up years ago. Several sandhill cranes have been visible in local farm fields. Swans appear to be pairing up on some of the larger local ponds. It's always a treat to see swans or cranes. The waves of grosbeaks, tanagers, orioles, and hummingbirds should soon be on the scene. Meanwhile, we're enjoying watching Spring settle in and helping where we can.

In Spring

By Rose King

I'm out with the wheelbarrow mixing mulch.

A mockingbird trills in the pine.

Then, from higher, a buzz, and through patches of blue

as the fog burns off, a small plane pulls a banner,

red letters I can't read—

but I do see, over the fence,

a man in a sky-blue shirt walking his dog to the beach.

He says he missed it, will keep an eye out.

Four barrows of mulch around the blueberry bushes,

I'm pulling off gloves, and he's back, beaming.

"It says, I LOVE YOU, MARTHA.

Are you Martha?"

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