Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
William & Leona
During my recent visit to Jerusalem Pond, I was
amazed to see four Canada Geese peacefully coexisting together on a relatively
tiny body of water. Inside sources tell me this communal harmony extends throughout the breeding/nesting season.
Animals, much like people, have unique personalities and
character traits. For several years, William and Leona have established
themselves as the resident nesting pair of Canada Geese at Bon Bon Pond. I love
them dearly, but friendly they ain't. I fervently wish they would be more sociable and accepting of their
brethren.
Between the three ponds, there would seem more than enough room for
several nesting pairs, plus the occasional straggler--but William and Leona have
other ideas. The duo have staked claim to the ENTIRE area and Heaven help any
poor goose who lands here.
For the past two weeks, it's been a three-ring circus
(make that three "pond" circus) as my gruesome twosome have chased, stalked,
attacked and driven out any interlopers. Around 4:00 p.m. yesterday, I noticed a
lone goose enjoying a late lunch of cracked corn on the bank below my porch.
Having just returned home from shopping, I knew W & L were patrolling the
south pond. I grabbed refreshments and prepared myself for the spectacle soon to
unfold. Sure as shootin', in the swish of a tail feather, my gangsta' geese
were on the scene in attack mode and put the run on the poor unsuspecting
wayfarer.
Guess my etiquette lessons haven't been
working. Back to the drawing board! I wonder if Dr. Phil would take my call . . .
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
On the Road Report
St. Croix Falls is a lovely
little western Wisconsin town nestled
along the banks of the scenic St. Croix River, right across the border from
Taylors Falls, MN. In the residential
area there resides a darling body of water that homeowners have named Jerusalem
Pond. Over the years, the kindhearted
citizenry have turned this wetland into a wildlife refuge. A waterfowl “house” was built and a fountain
installed to keep water flowing freely in cold temps. Corn is provided, as is straw for bedding in
the winter. In short, it’s a safe haven for ducks and geese.
But this year, Jerusalem Pond
is under assault by a stealth enemy named DROUGHT. The Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources has this to say:
“Climatologists define drought as a period of
abnormally dry and/or unusually hot weather sufficiently prolonged for the
corresponding deficiency of water to cause a ‘serious hydrologic imbalance.’ More simply
put, too dry and/or too hot for too long. Interpreting what is 'too
dry' or what is 'too long' is difficult. What is known is that
when a serious hydrologic imbalance occurs in Minnesota, soil moisture
reserves, groundwater supplies, lake levels and stream flows are negatively
influenced. Water-dependent industries including agriculture, public utilities,
forestry, and tourism are profoundly affected. Although droughts are not as
sudden as floods, the economic aspects of droughts can be just as significant.”
The problem is so severe in the
Land of 10,000 Lakes--and countless
wetlands--that a Google search for Minnesota
Drought returns 6,700,000 hits! To
combat the drought crisis, the DNR has in place a formal Minnesota
Statewide Drought Plan.
According
to the National Drought Mitigation Center, all of Minnesota is now officially
suffering drought conditions.
The
Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a cooler and drier than average summer, but
their prognostication for the winter was way off, i.e. “colder than normal,” so it’s hoped this one
misses the mark as well.
In
the meantime, the Upper Midwest hopes and prays for replenishing spring rains.
Jerusalem Pond
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Eastern Phoebe Homecoming!
The Eastern Phoebes have
returned home! This morning, while enjoying
a cup of coffee on the porch, my sweet little “tail-wagers” suddenly appeared,
excitedly flying in to make sure their longtime mud and stick nests were still
safe and sound under the porch eaves.
I
feel a special bond with these birds as their forebears moved in when my father
built the porch in 1973 and they have lived here with us ever since.
From the vantage point of our easy chairs--mere
inches from their nests--we have watched these hard-working avians raise their
young year after year. These summer birds
rarely leave the forest area adjacent to the house. When they are not busy nesting they act as
house sentinels, sitting on the step railings patrolling for harmful insects
and keeping us humans safe. I cannot imagine what the warm weather months would
be like here without my friends the Phoebes.
Spring has Sprung!
Spring
is certainly something to sing about! I
must confess, I've been channeling my inner Streisand and performing Hurry, It’s Lovely Up Here to my peonies, irises, and tiger lilies and, lo and
behold, I’ve got buds! So put a song in
your heart and start serenading your snapdragons and soon your flower bed will be
bursting with blooms!
Sing-a-long Song Lyrics:
Hey buds below ... up is where to grow
Up with which below can't compare with.
Hurry - it's lovely up here ...
Life down a hole takes an awful toll,
What with not a soul there to share with
Hurry - it’s lovely up here!
Wake up, bestir yourself, it's time that you disinter yourself
You’ve got a spot to fill - a pot to fill
And what a gift package of showers, sun and love
You’ll be met above everywhere with,
Fondled and sniffed by millions who drift by,
Life here is rosy - if you’re a posy
Hurry it's lovely here!
Climb up geranium, it can’t be fun subterranean
On the exterior, it’s cheerier
RSVP peonies, pollinate the breeze,
Make the queen of bees hot as brandy
Come give at least a preview of Easter
Come up and see the good we're giving
Come up and see the grounds for living
Come poke your head out,
Open up and spread out,
Hurry it’s lovely here!
Up come the tiger lillies!
Up come the irises!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Release the Woollies!
Not quite as dramatic, but
noteworthy none the less—on Tuesday, the Woolly Bear Caterpillars were “released”
from their Tupperware containers in the crisper section of the fridge. Thanks to an early spring, leaves of green
grass are in abundance for our hungry soon-to-be Isabella Tiger Moths. The
tiny little black and brown brush sticks were carefully placed under cover of
leaves and left with water nearby.
Happy cocooning little
friends!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Myrna Jacobs Photography
Today we are proud to
showcase the work of professional photographer Myrna Jacobs. The photo below
is entitled Secret Orchard and captures
flowering fruit trees Myrna found hidden
in Michigan in springtime. This
landscape scene is so lovely, it looks like a painting! Thank you, Myrna, for sharing your talent with
us.
To see more of the incredible artwork of Myrna Jacobs, please visit her online galleries:
http://myvonne.deviantart.com/gallery/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/myrnajacobs/with/5332257206/
Sunday, March 18, 2012
More Migrators Return!
Bon Bon Pond opened up today, summoning
more summer sojourners. The beautiful Hooded Mergansers have arrived! I hope to
get some photos tomorrow.
Rumor has it a pair of Trumpeter Swans
have been spotted in the area!
Today's original artwork appears
courtesy of our friends at Pink
Dragonfly Paper Creations. Thanks for sharing your lovely graphic with us,
Wanda! To see more darling Dragonfly designs, please visit their website:
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Xcel to the Rescue!
Bon Bon Pond’s gray squirrels were celebrating this morning. Karma finally caught up with “The Assassin”—i.e. the nasty old
electrical transformer that had thinned their ranks as of late.
A three-man crew from Xcel energy arrived bright and early with a
flotilla of equipment and set about the task of removing the old murderous unit
and replacing it with a brand spankin’ new, state-of-the-art model complete
with sophisticated critter protection.
Three cheers for Xcel Energy!
Let the good times roll!
Here they come!
\ 
Up goes the new!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Back to Bon Bon Pond
Local
meteorologists aren’t sure if the unseasonably warm weather will hold but the
temperate temps seem to have convinced the wildlife spring has sprung and it’s
the real deal. Buddy, the Bon Bon Pond
woodchuck, awoke from his winter slumber today and made rounds ‘round the
property to see what’s shakin’.
After his morning
constitutional he settled in with the birds and squirrels to enjoy a hearty breakfast
of sunflower seeds and cracked corn.
One more happy
return. But still no sign of our Eastern
Phoebes. ???
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
"Snow"gull???
Thanks to our friends Nina and Mick for
sharing their photos of one wayfaring seagull who arrived at their inland Newmarket, New Hampshire home’s porch on March second.
According to Wiki answers, these smart saltwater
birds can live up to a mile inland, but will migrate south, often traveling
thousands of miles in search of plentiful food.
Seagulls aren’t picky eaters and will dine on anything from fish to
small rodents. Like the rest of us, they also enjoy french fries!
Unlike most animals, seagulls
can drink both fresh and salt water. Thanks to a special pair of glands located
above their eyes, salt is flushed from their system through openings in the
bill.
Nina found her guests fascinating to watch. “When
they stand in the snow” she observed,
“they take turns standing on each leg. They tuck the one not in use up in their
feathers.”
Seagulls that live near The Great Salt Lake in Utah once
saved Mormon farmers from marauding locusts, and earned themselves not only the
moniker of "The Mormon Air
Force", but the honor of being named the State bird of Utah!
Spring Migration in Minnesota
An afternoon
trip to the mailbox brought a most wonderful surprise. As soon as the door opened, I heard the distinctive
trilling. My heart leapt with joy at the
return of a dear friend: the Red-winged Blackbird. In the summer, he lives in the cattails over on the South
Pond, but spends most of his day here snacking, or singing--perched high in his
favorite red oak tree. The friendly and talkative Red-winged Blackbird is a sure sign of seasonal change, but I cannot
recall another spring when his arrival has
preceded the Eastern Phoebes—usually the harbingers of warm weather to
Bon Bon Pond. 
Listen to the
call of the Red-winged Blackbird:
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