Happy Wildflower Week! #phenology

Last night the Better Half and I enjoyed a Beltane blaze in our fire pit. For a change neither was it raining nor was the breeze howling. We made a dent in the plies of dead branches that keep getting knocked down from the oak trees that grow on much of our property. Perhaps now we'll have room to stack the branches scattered about the grass from this Spring's storms.

a Beltane blaze looks like this

Photo by J. Harrington

I suspect I'm overdue for learning about caring for trees on our woodlot. There are several oaks that are shedding all of their bark and others that have abundant dead branches. I know enough to avoid pruning during oak wilt season but not enough to know if we already have a beetle infestation of if the fungus is spreading at the root level. Seems like a worthwhile undertaking (no pun really intended) during our "stay-at-home" Summer. As much  as we enjoyed last nights atavism by the fire, I wish there was a better use for the resource of dead branches. As a starter, I'm going to read the resources listed on My Minnesota Woods: "Two excellent free resources are available online: How to Prune Trees – US Forest Service and Tree Owner’s Manual. " Although, I already know I'll struggle with the advice on the web page that points out: "...if you need to get off the ground it’s probably time to hire a certified arborist." I have visions of unaffordable bills to get our woods brought "up to snuff." That may say a lot about why the trees with the dead branches are in the shape they're in now. We'll see.

we expect to see trillium blooming in another ten days or two weeks

Photo by J. Harrington

As we were poking about the internet learning about tree pruning, we discovered that this week, the first full week of May, is National Wildflower Week. Minnesota has a web site that provides information on the 1,700 plant species growing here. It's the eponymous Minnesota Wildflowers. Yesterday's walk around the back yard showed no signs of our pasque flowers. It's unclear if they've died out (eaten by critters?) or bloomed and faded before we were wandering around outside this Spring. We hope you enjoy our wildflowers and get out to see some while avoiding crowds and maintaining a safe physical distance.

Wildflower Meadow, Medawisla

by Stephanie Burt

The many-

oared asters

are coracles;

the goldenrod

pods, triremes.

They do not

plan their

voyages

to please us.

The tangle

of brambles

and drupes shifts

only slightly

when the wind

attempts to

part the knee-

or waist-high stalks

and thorns. What will

you do or

be in that state

you fear and look

forward to,

when none of

them needs

us, after

the last

seeds leave?

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