http://www.organicvalley.coop/community/down-natures-trail/ Beautiful illustrations and notes from the field by Dan Hazlett, Organic Valley's naturalist. en-us Tue, 07 May 2013 16:52:58 -0500 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Typo3 webmaster@organicvalley.coop webmaster@organicvalley.coop http://www.organicvalley.coop/community/down-natures-trail/article/skunk-cabbage/ We had another week of cloudy, chilly, wet weather and very little sunshine, but spring made a big push forward in spite of it. There was enough sun to dry the dead grass in the meadow, so I burned some of it off Tuesday night. It was a perfect evening for a burn after the wind died down around 6 p.m. I was finishing up at the far end of the meadow just before dark when the call of a whip-poor-will came from the pines behind me. As I watched the last tiny flames go out, I thought, "What a nice way to hear the first whip-poor-will of spring." While walking back to the house in the darkness, I heard another whip-poor-will song across the road. I thought it interesting that they had returned the same day as the cliff swallows that I saw this morning. Since both of these birds are insect eaters, I doubt they would be back if there were no insects to catch and eat. Tue, 07 May 2013 16:52:58 -0500 dnt600 Dan Hazlett http://www.organicvalley.coop/community/down-natures-trail/article/snakes-overhead/ The week got off to a cold, wet start with about an inch of snow on the ground Monday and around 35 degrees. The snow melted during the day, and the air gradually warmed up through the week. It was strange to see the first swallows of the season, but there they were flying low over the snow-covered hayfield. They were a little too far away and moving too fast to get a good picture, but I could see there were two tree swallows and four barn swallows. It was nice just to watch the swallows glide swiftly through the cold air searching for flying insects to eat. I didn't see another swallow until Friday, when it was sunny and 60 degrees. Wed, 01 May 2013 11:24:39 -0500 dnt599 Dan Hazlett http://www.organicvalley.coop/community/down-natures-trail/article/blue-crocus/ And so it persists, this weather that seems as much like winter as it does spring. There was only one day of sunshine this week, but it felt oh-so-good and I was able to get a lot of outside work done. As if to defy the rain and snow flurries, the first pretty blue crocus of the season appeared. There was still no sign of the 100 new daffodils I planted last fall. They haven't even broken through the ground yet. Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:01:59 -0500 dnt598 Dan Hazlett http://www.organicvalley.coop/community/down-natures-trail/article/cedar-waxwing/ The weather hasn't lived up to people's expectations of the spring they have long waited for. Nature is taking her sweet time, teaching us that we will be rewarded for our patience. It's mid-April and the frost is finally leaving the ground, so there is very little green anywhere. It got a little warmer this week but only by a few degrees, and it was rare to see the sun. Gray, cloudy skies brought a mix of rain, light snow, sleet and even some hail. The dampness has kept me from doing any garden cleaning, and it's been too wet to plant those early potatoes. Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:59:19 -0500 dnt597 Dan Hazlett http://www.organicvalley.coop/community/down-natures-trail/article/robin-and-phoebe/ Tuesday morning was brisk and still as I went to the creek for a pail of water. Only the spring song of a male cardinal broke the chill silence. I heard the excited chirping of a robin from the edge of the woods. He seemed quite happy to greet a new spring day. Then I heard the song of a bird that calls its own name: "Phoebe. Phoebe." It flew from its perch on a branch near the creek and landed in a small willow tree near the water. The phoebe was a little out of place as it searched for insects stirring over the moving water and frost-covered banks. In the 18-degree cold, my breath rose like steam in front of my face. I knew the warm sun would thaw things out in an hour or so, and I knew that the little fly-catching phoebe would find something to eat then. Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:34:11 -0500 dnt596 Dan Hazlett http://www.organicvalley.coop/community/down-natures-trail/article/ice-fountains/ We all thought that the lion of March had come to stay. The first three weeks, although typical, did little to resemble a gentle lamb until this week. The temperatures finally rose above freezing and with the help of sunny days, the snow is slowly disappearing. I love the way a little nice weather lifts everybody's spirits, and it's finally legitimate to talk about spring. Tue, 02 Apr 2013 22:10:53 -0500 dnt595 Dan Hazlett http://www.organicvalley.coop/community/down-natures-trail/article/ghostly-figures/ It's freezing cold with blowing snow, but spring marches on. Wednesday was the first day of spring, but you wouldn't have known it by looking at the winter landscape. Snow, wind and rain are what you usually expect from March, but this year it's been extra cold. There were three nighttime lows of zero or below this week, and without much sunshine, there was very little snowmelt. The folks around here are impatient for a change in the weather. It's been a long winter. Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:29:32 -0500 dnt594 Dan Hazlett http://www.organicvalley.coop/community/down-natures-trail/article/first-killdeer/ I heard the spring song of a chickadee today. He told me that he was feeling spring in his heart, and he just had to sing about it. It's been more like winter here than spring, and the first half of March has been agonizingly on the side of winter. Spring has been put on hold. We've become a little spoiled after having early springs the past few years, and we have forgotten what it takes to be patient. The truth is, March has been more like normal here than it has for several years, and that can't be a bad thing. Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:33:04 -0500 dnt593 Dan Hazlett http://www.organicvalley.coop/community/down-natures-trail/article/snowmans-company/ The wild birds were very busy at the feeders, going through the sunflower seeds like crazy. They sensed that snow was coming. I counted 62 cardinals. Sure is a pretty sight but, wow, can they eat. There are only about 30 black-capped chickadees. I can't remember having more cardinals than chickadees at the feeders. Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:42:28 -0500 dnt592 Dan Hazlett http://www.organicvalley.coop/community/down-natures-trail/article/something-moves/ No matter what time of year it is, the Kickapoo Valley is always beautiful. To me, these coulees are equally beautiful summer or winter, although it's very hard to choose between spring and autumn. There is no concealing the natural beauty of this southwest Wisconsin landscape.  Wed, 06 Mar 2013 10:14:22 -0600 dnt591 Dan Hazlett