Swimmin’ Hole

Cascade Falls, SD - 2022 A local told us about a "swimmin hole", 40 miles north of Fort Robinson, just inside South Dakota. After 3 days of high 90's and low 100 temps we were ready to cool off. A spring-fed stream flowing behind a little-used rest stop provided the perfect ending to our four-day …

Love Birds

Downy Woodpeckers There has been an unusual amount of traffic at the suet feeder this spring, both in numbers and variety. This looked like a "date" between these two Downy Woodpeckers (male with red spot). This is a lousy picture (above)-- taken from a trail cam on a windy day. But the video shows a …

Morning Swim

Cedar Creek - May, 2022 The Canadian Geese finally got their new brood into the water. Spring was three weeks late this year, mid-May, and the proud parents couldn't wait to show off their beautiful offspring. I counted at least nine goslings I never get tired of this sight. Thought for the Day: The snow …

Winter’s End?

Winter's End? Officially, it's still winter, but the sound of "March" lets me know that spring is coming. The trees are still barren and the ground is still brown (and frozen), but the migratory birds are now flying north. That's encouraging. Just hang on for a few more weeks! Thought for the Day: Spring is …

Wildflowers

wildflowers A new septic tank and laterals tore up the front yard of the Lake house last fall. Using a pollinator mix of 44 varieties, I sowed a large part of the yard in wildflowers this spring. I'm pleased with the results. Thought for the Day: May your life be like a wildflower, growing freely …

Clematis Left-Overs

Clematis The clematis bush that provided such vibrant color in late spring (see here) now looks like this. This is the seed pod for future generations of clematis. Even though the plant is well beyond its prime this time of year, I still see unique beauty in it. Thought for the Day: The best and …

Playground Shadows

Monkey Bars Spring has arrived, at least for awhile, and the playgrounds are full of kids. Thought for the Day: Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.C.S. Lewis

Spring has Sprung

Snow Drop After a bitterly cold February, March has come in like a lamb. Signs of Spring are poking through the ground that was buried in 12" of snow only two weeks ago. Thought for the Day: When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest.Ernest Hemmingway

Spring?

Butchart Gardens March 1st. January and February, the worst two months of winter in Nebraska, are behind us. The first day of Spring is only 3 weeks away. Do we dare dream so soon about the colorful days ahead of us? Thought for the Day: Walk lightly in the spring, Mother Nature is pregnant.Kiowa Indian …

April Snow

Frosted Leaf Just when I thought we had seen the "last gasp" of Ole Man Winter, we get five inches of heavy wet snow. The flower beds had been cleaned of mulch and winter debris, flowers blooming, trees were leafing out, the grass was emerald green and recently mowed, and spring vegetables had been seeded …

Last Gasp

Winter's Last Gasp The calendar says Spring arrived a couple days ago. While the daytime temperatures are certainly warmer and the grass is starting to green up, winter is not giving up so easily. There are still patches of snow hanging on in the shaded areas of the neighborhood. Since the coronavirus has dampened any …

Winter Blues

Cedar Creek - 2019 Uggh, winter is still here. We've had enough winter already, so let's think about spring. Give someone you don't know a nice warm smile. Thought for the Day: One kind word can warm three winter months.Japanese Proverb

Clematis

Clematis We are barely three weeks into the winter season and I'm sick of it already. Three measurable snow falls and three days of single digit temps was a brutal wake-up call. The fields are brown, the trees are bare, the nights are long, the fireplace broken in, the garden a distant memory, the bird …

Soap Bubbles

Spring must be here. It has taken its sweet time this year, but one sure sign of spring is soap bubbles. After two days of spring like weather, the day started off with cloudy skies, dropping temps, and winds out of the north ... like Ole Man Winter wasn't giving up. By the time school …

Spring Pruning

Spring finally arrived and I've been pruning out the dead wood in our shrubs and hedge.  Uggh, I enjoy privacy provided by the hedge, but dread the constant maintenance. My neighbor, on the other hand, is seeking a more permanent solution.  This 35 year old Green Ash shook the ground when it landed. Timmm Brrrr! …

April Showers

  One week left in April and we finally got a rain.  Only .17 inches, but it's sure better than snow.  Things are finally starting to pop up and show signs of life. Thought for the Day:  April Showers bring May Flowers ... hopefully.

Hoo Ray, Spring!

Although we had a very mild winter, it's always nice to see a Spring day.  As winter's grip loosens its strangle hold on the Midwest, March's warming trend brings wide swings in the weather.   Short periods of sub-freezing temperatures make warm sunny days like this even more special. After being cooped up inside all …

Hibernating

Uggh!  Middle of winter.  Wish I could hibernate 'til spring, although I can't complain about the recent waaay-above-normal temps. Thought for the Day:  Winter is Nature's way of saying, "Up yours!"                                                  …

Nature’s Humor

After the crocus, daffodil and tulips poke through the ground spearheading the invasion of Spring, other plants are quick to follow suit. Slow at first, but momentum builds fast as Spring sheds its dark and gloomy shroud of Winter. Before long there is a vertical stampede of growth.  Everything is popping up providing a noticeable daily change in contour of …

First Mowing

Ahhh, Spring.  What a wonderful time of year.  You can tell when Spring officially arrives: warm southerly winds, new life, birds chirping, new buds on the trees, garden preparation, and allergies.  People are energized, doing anything and everything they can think of to get outdoors.  Everything about Spring is great ... except for lawn care. …