"It was all so different! The days slipped into weeks, slipped into years, and somehow those tiny plantings placed into the ground with enthusiasm and a lot of hope turned into a bonified food forest. Now it was time to tame and nurture those trees, shrubs, brambles, and vines, lest they cross completely back into wildness." Harvesting and preserving season is ramping up here in northeast Wisconsin. It can be overwhelming at times (especially when many things need attention at once), but it's...
9 days ago • 3 min read
"Petricor" - such an odd word for such a fundamental, comforting aroma. The earthy smell of dry ground after a soaking rain is more than just bacterial secretions, plant oils, and ozone. It's life, springing forth, rejoicing, sighing in satisfaction at abundance after needfulness." I'm pretty sure some of the plants in the garden doubled in size overnight. We've had unusually warm weather, and not much precipitation to moderate it. There was enough to keep plants going, but not thriving. We'd...
15 days ago • 3 min read
"The tiny killdeer chicks ran along the edge of the road, so small that they almost looked like toys. I'd seen eggs in a nest before, and adults, but never babies. They were tiny, fluff-covered bundles of energy, looking like miniature adults on stilts." We saw some precious little ones on our way to a friend's graduation party last weekend - killdeer chicks. I didn't realize this until I started doing some research, but these chicks are precocial, meaning they’re born ready to go—running...
23 days ago • 2 min read
A few petite blossoms lingered along the path to the coop, strewn like shiny pennies in the sunshine. Though the main bloom time was past, the ever resilient dandelions still put on a bit color here and there, until winter's chill lulled them to sleep for the season. I realized this weekend that I sometimes take wild plants (weeds) for granted. I can't look at a dandelion (or plantain, or lambsquarters, or...) without knowing the plant like an old friend, and thinking about how I could use...
29 days ago • 3 min read
"They looked other-worldly, almost prehistoric. First one enormous ghostly white shape alighted on the pond, followed shortly thereafter by four more. As they moved closer to the house and were no longer blocked from view by the island, their silhouettes became clear - pelicans! Our main pond is not that large, only about 1.3 acres, so we were surprised to see these large water birds stop in. They stayed for less than an hour, but it was a memorable visit." I also found out that pelicans can...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Like a bubbling brook creating music as it splashes over stones, so the trickle (and sometimes torrent) of flowers creates a panorama of color rippling across the landscape. Spruce buds and hazelnut catkins, honeyberries and apricot blossoms, apple blossoms and honeysuckle, a sea of autumberries, and countless other blooms adorn the yard. Time outside is aromatherapy. (As long as the neighbors aren't spreading manure or chemicals or burning trash, or Canada isn't on fire with the wind blowing...
about 1 month ago • 5 min read
Moments... There's a lot of focus on "big things" in life - getting a job, going on vacation, graduations (this time of year) and so much more. And big things are great, but what makes them really special are the moments. Like when you walk into your home and smell a delicious dinner that your spouse prepared - or walk in and your eyes start watering because your spouse was making HOT salsa and the air is filled with pepper juice. Or when your seven year old proudly displays three tiny wild...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
"The depth of color after the spring rain was astounding. As the morning light trickled over the horizon, the verdant foliage lay like like a rich, green cloak on the land, dappled here and there with a flush of blossoms from blooming trees and shrubs." We've had a slow start to spring this year, with one warm week or a few warm days surrounded by largely chilly weather. It hasn't been safe to put out frost tender plants yet, but I'm hoping that will change this week - and not swing too...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
"As we walked around the pond that sunny morning, we spotted them - near perfect circles, etched into the algae, exposing the brightly lit sandy bottom. Each circle was defended by its gallant protector fish, preparing for spawning season." This place seems a little bit magical at times. You never know what surprise you'll find when out and about. Whether it's spawning circles or a volunteer apple tree (we found one of those on the same day we spotted the dancing fish), there's always...
2 months ago • 2 min read