It's Dandy Time

Some see a weed.

Some see a wish.

Who loves Dandelions?
Not everyone.

Those sneaky little yellow flowers turn white and then spread their fluff all over the place!

The flowers heads duck when you mow over them and then spring back up after you have passed. Those Dandelions are the bane of so many suburban yards. People fight like heck to rid their yards of these bright yellow spring flowers.

Of course, I don't care. Once spring is over, they aren't as noticeable and their foliage is green, just like the rest of the yard.

But for a couple of weeks, they are out there glowing in the morning light and their seeds of fluff blow everywhere.

Dandelions are just little weeds that want 

to be loved like other flowers ~~~
Heather Babcock

Be like a dandelion

Scatter dreams in the breezes.

After all that...

I have to admit that I lost a lot of sleep over the weekend with the unusual Northern Light Show. I will definitely never forget that first evening.

Our old mower had a sudden death and it was left up to me to mow the overgrown yard with my little mower. Thankfully, the mower guy, Mark, came out to pick up the rider and take it to his shop. We've done business with Mark for nearly 30 years. We've purchased all of our mowers from him and hubby has purchased his chain saws from him. He has been the only guy we go to for repairs on that equipment.

It took me 4 days of mowing at 2 hours a piece to get the yard done. If the big mower stays out of commission, I will be making temporary fencing for the mules. Most of the 'yard' was over 6 to 8 inches tall! How did it grow so fast???

I turned my flower beds over again and started planting seeds and finished off my rock-succulent garden in front of the porch.

It's cute and I know I'll enjoy it. It is a great spot for my fossil rocks to enjoy their days while the humming birds visit.
Over the years I've changed this area several times.

Work, work, work. I really was burning the candle at both ends and trying to get everything done at once. I got tired and cranky. And the other half was being a pill too since his mower was out of commission.

I however did get out to get some 'shutter time' on one of our very foggy mornings. You know, a walk to the mailbox on the ridge where I actually just wander around for a bit.

Dandelions in the yard make for interesting macros!

Dew dropped poplar leaves just emerging.

Oh so sweet smelling Honeysuckle and a much unloved plant in many forests as it is invasive.

I do love  Box Elders they have such interesting shapes. This tree is putting out it seeds. The seeds start out as red and turn green. Sort of Christmas-y in color.

The maple trees are filled out now. This was the star of the walk. A single water droplet on the tip of the leaf catching the morning sun.

This was a form of Forest Daydreaming for me. I just meander-er along and stop to peer at spiders, insects, study the light on the leaves, and listen to sounds around me. 

It is calming and satisfying. Each time I go out and investigate at my leisure, I feel like I learn something new.

To catch up on sleep, I tried to take a nap on Monday. It didn't really work. Instead I fell asleep while watch Brokenwood on Acorn TV. Hubby likes the show, it is amusing, not too dramatic, and they always get their guy. 

 Perhaps Charlie and I need to go out and do some Forest Daydreaming in the Reserve. I'd like to find some Trillium before they are all gone.

After Wednesday, it looks like we will have rain for a few days. I may as well take advantage of the good weather while I can!

Weekend recap

Early morning hunt for eatable's in the forest with Olive.

Olive took a shot of me takin a shot
of the twisted trees...

Olive. Just as nutty as me!

Sunday morning's fog and morning walk...

Infrared IRChrome shot.
IR picks up more light and works

well on foggy scenes. IRChrome sees green

as red.

Cherry blossoms in the fog

Dandy-lions...

Multiflora Rose

Virginia Pinks

Wild Strawberries

Pheasantback mushrooms starting... I wasn't the only one interested in them!

It was warm and humid Sunday with occasional showers but I got a lot of gardening done. I hauled buckets of dirt from the old manure pile to patch up holes in the yard. I cleaned the gardens around the house and added dirt from that old manure pile to enrich the soil.

I dumped the old dirt out of my 3 containers I have for geraniums and refreshed them with new dirt. 

The mules all walked up for a grooming and I had an assembly line going. Each one walked up to me, got curried and then I tapped them on the rear end to move them along for the next in line. 

Last but not least. The first hummingbird showed up as well as the first Oriole. 

Tweet Tweet....

Dam Hike and Forest Wandering

The photo above is the very infamous Dam Tower. Bill was marveling at its construction and how out of place it looked. There is a lot of great history and some NOT so great history of how this reserve came to be.

Local historian Brad Steinmetz has written a book on it. He also updates his blog about LaFarge once in a while. I find it interesting because I know the area fairly intimately now that I've lived here for nearly 30 years. I married a local so that affords me 'local' person status.

The Dam that Never Was is pictured here in a photo around 1975 when the dam project was stopped.

There is no photo of what it looks like now. But the dam tower is where Bill was standing. We are so happy the reserve exists. And on the other hand we keep in mind the heartache of those who lost their homes and farms to eminent domain so many years ago. The dam tower stands as a reminder of this controversy that still exists today.

We looped around the ponds close to the visitor center. Bill had never hiked these trails yet. We were able to see some Sandhill Cranes.

Geese and Turtles

We really enjoyed the casual walk along the river bottom. It was warm yet because it is so dry here now, there were no bugs! Charlie had a tough time with the heat and the tall grass. He did ask for a 'lift' and I obliged. 

We took a rest at covered bridge #18 and ate apples which we both shared chunks with Charlie. He is foodie dog. He will eat whatever a human eats that includes lettuce and tomatoes!

We found blood roots and a variety of wildflowers growing in the shadier areas. 

When I got home Rich asked me if I'd go out and look for Morel mushrooms. There probably wouldn't be any, it is early and it is very dry. Dry enough to have a Red Flag Warning for Saturday.

However, who am I to turn down a chance to muck around in the forest? I put my macro lens on my camera and filled a water bottle. The best things in life are being able to wander about the creek and the land without any chore that needs doing. 

No watch...
and I left my cell phone at home. 

I really didn't want to be checking the time anyway.
Within ten feet on either side of the creek, things are bright green from the moisture in the air. Away from the creek the forest looks pretty dry and the dominant color is still brownish. 

Ferns are beginning to uncurl and seek sunlight using the moisture trapped under the heavy layers of dead leaves that cover the soil.

At least there is that.

On the ridges and fields dust devils are whirling about.

But on the rocks in the creek I found some moss preparing to spread its spores.

I found Bishop's Caps but no Morels. 

Near the top of the ridge the wild strawberries were blossoming.

In the summer pasture I found so many things going on with insects. I waited forever for this ant to pull up his/her head but it was so busy collecting pollen!

And then...

Hello Bee !
I took a lot of shots to get one I liked.

And a side view of this little creature.

I never paid much attention to insects until the last few years when I decided that it would be a fun challenge to photograph them. I have been inspired by some incredible work I've seen others do.

There it is.

Being curious again.

I liked wandering. I found nothing but neat little things.