Thursday, April 14, 2016

#Phenology: emergence and return

In Minnesota, where most sane creatures hibernate, hide, or at least take really long naps during the Winter, Spring is a season of emergence. Within the past few days several such creatures have reappeared. Some of these appearances I can confirm personally. One has been reported by sources usually "deemed reliable but not guaranteed."

single Scilla bloom
single Scilla bloom
Photo by J. Harrington

not Capistrano, but a swallow has returned
not Capistrano, but a swallow has returned
Photo by J. Harrington

Twice this week I've discovered ants on the kitchen counters. Actually, once I saw ants, plural. The other time it was ant, singular. In neither case did the scouts get to report back on their discoveries. If we see many more, and if the winds of change ever calm, I'll spray around the perimeter of the foundation. The swallows are back in the back yard. A single Scilla has bloomed and the pasque flowers seem past their prime. I don't know if I'll be able to collect seeds yet or not. Meanwhile, we could use some rain to dampen, quite literally, the fire danger. It would also make the emerging plants happy, I'm sure.

The reported emergence is of flocks(?), herds(?), schools(?) of food trucks that spent the cold, snowy months out of sight, presumably ensconced within garage walls or under covers. They have been noted to gather near the Capitol and, with fewer confirmations, may be starting to be seen in the vicinity of downtown Minneapolis.

pasque flowers past prime
pasque flowers past prime
Photo by J. Harrington

The Three Ants

By Kahlil Gibran

Three ants met on the nose of a man who was asleep in the sun.  And
after they had saluted one another, each according to the custom
of his tribe, they stood there conversing.

The first ant said, “These hills and plains are the most barren I
have known.  I have searched all day for a grain of some sort, and
there is none to be found.”

Said the second ant, “I too have found nothing, though I have
visited every nook and glade.  This is, I believe, what my people
call the soft, moving land where nothing grows.”

Then the third ant raised his head and said, “My friends, we are
standing now on the nose of the Supreme Ant, the mighty and infinite
Ant, whose body is so great that we cannot see it, whose shadow
is so vast that we cannot trace it, whose voice is so loud that we
cannot hear it; and He is omnipresent.”

When the third ant spoke thus the other ants looked at each other
and laughed.

At that moment the man moved and in his sleep raised his hand and
scratched his nose, and the three ants were crushed.


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Wednesday, April 13, 2016

#Phenology update: blossoms and birds and...

The roadsides on the way to the launch area in William O'Brien state park showed no signs of marsh marigolds yesterday. Nor bloodroot, nor any other wildflower I might recognize. The St. Croix River is running bank full plus or minus. With the warmth forecast for the rest of this week, and a little help from some rain drops, things should start popping from the ground soon.

sandhill cranes in corn stubble
sandhill cranes in corn stubble
Photo by J. Harrington

I saw some of the first local farmers working their fields as I was on my way back from Stillwater. Several of the corn stubbled fields had pairs or small flocks of foraging sandhill cranes. Others had a few Canada geese gleaning whatever they could find. The signs of Spring (such as it is) in Minnesota are growing by the day. (pun intended) I hope you can arrange you life to get out and enjoy some of this all to rare warming Springtime and watch the buds burst into blossoms for bees.

a tank full of trout parr
a tank full of trout parr
Photo by J. Harrington

When I was in grammar school, back in the previous millennium, we never had anything as cool as a fish tank in our classrooms. In fact, I recall the nun's fussing about lilac bouquets in May because they made everyone sleepy. The photo above is of a tankful of trout parr that are part of Trout Unlimited's Trout in the Classroom program. I was a helper again yesterday as we went through fish species, emphasis on trout, fishing regulations and fly casting and knot-tying lessons. Doing what little I can to help overcome nature deficit disorder is a real pleasure. Trout Unlimited also teams up in Minnesota with Pheasants Forever to offer T.U.N.E Summer camp for youth ages 11 - 17. It includes archery, fly-fishing and conservation. As far as I'm concerned, something like that beats wallet-making any day.

Trout

By Kathryn Starbuck

I do my best
to keep pointlessness
at bay. But here,
wet above my
knees, I let it fly.
Here, hot and cold,
fingers thick with
thinking, I try to
tie the fly and look
for the net, loosening
the philosophical   
knot of why I came
here today, not yet
knowing whether
I’ll free or fry
the rainbows
and browns once
they’re mine.


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Thanks for visiting. Come again when you can.
Please be kind to each other while you can.