Story A Day

I love the sounds of rain. Today was the perfect pitter patter. First, in the forest, the rain softly rattled the freshly grown leaves, like a soft clap. Then, at the pond, the rain made a slight “tink” sound as it landed on the water, like glass. Finally, the steady drum of heavy rain on the roof at home. As I listen to it I just picture my plants sucking all that water into their roots so that they will grow really big! yipee.

Plus, something else happened today. I was sitting on the dock by the pond collecting data for a local school’s research project. As I enjoyed the soft “tinking” of rain I also swirled a thermometer in the water to get the temperature. I was looking away from the water when out of the corner of my eye a dark form slowly floated to the top, emerging from the depths, slowly, slowly, and then the eyes looked at me…a large snapping turtle. It was a bit eerie and took me by surprise. I have only seen a snapper one other time in my 5 years at the outdoor center. It floated, levitating in the water, effortlessly. I reached as slowly as possible for my backpack to grab my camera so I could get a picture for the kids doing the research project. As if to say – “ha, yeah right!” the turtle dove out of sight as soon as I turned the camera on. I hoped it would come back, and it did, but again escaped my lens. It is exciting to know that we have as snapper!  Now when the kids ask if they can swim in the water I have another reason to give them for not doing so besides the leeches!

Have you ever seen a puffball mushroom? They are usually the size of a golf ball at best. Every once in a while we come across one that is the size of a baseball. And of course the kids LOVE to stomp on them and see the spores fly. But this week I found the puffball of all puffballs – this one takes the cake. It was about the size of a basketball. I set a clipboard next to it for a bit of perspective. Sorry about the tree trunk shadow right down the middle This thing is HUGE!!! The folks I work with at the outdoor center agreed that it is the biggest one we have ever seen…

I call the greening of the trees the annual pop.  It seems as if one day the trees have a subtle green hue, like green lace says one of my coworkers.  And then, if you don’t pay close attention, it’s as if overnight the leaves POP and fill the tree with foliage.  I’ve been paying attention this year, noting the “greenness” each morning and evening.  So, it’s seeming more gradual now that I am so keenly aware of the process, but it happens fast, I’d say within a week.  This greening is good.  My garden is growing a bit more every day and I watch anxiously to see which of my perennials are returning for another year and which may not have made it!  Enjoy the “pop” everyone

At work today we were discussing the seeming “blink of an eye” Spring that may occur this year.  Many of us at the outdoor center are big fans of 60-70 degree weather – it’s perfect!  And already it seems that the 80’s might be in the horizon.  I know a lot of people like 80-90, not me.  If it were 60-70 all summer long I would be one happy camper.  So, I am crossing my fingers for a spring that lasts at least a few more weeks!  I can hope anyway

Today we had tiny kids in our class – first graders.  Super cute.  And smart too.  They spotted our first tadpoles of the season – tiny little tadpoles who must have just hatched.   And the weather was great!  What more could I ask for

For those of you who do not like crawly critter stories, stop reading now.  I didn’t think they would be back this soon, but they are.  I am not talking about wood ticks, nope, they are harmless, annoying yes, but harmless (and they are back too).  Today, I discovered my first deer tick (officially known as the black-legged tick), and I discovered it crawling up the back of my neck.  NOT SO COOL.  I am not a fan of deer ticks because about 1 in 3 carry Lyme disease.  I guess the good news is that they have to be attached for 24-48 hours in order for the disease to transmit, and I am fairly paranoid about ticks so the likelihood of that would be slim.  I am happy to say I found the deer tick today while it was still crawling, gross but good.  So, look out!!! They live in the city too!  And check those dogs too – especially if they sleep in your bed!

Despite the fact that it soaked me going in and out of the mall, I was praising the rain today.  All across my flower garden I am seeing little sprouts!  All sorts of my perennials are coming up and I am excited to see what happens now that they got some good moisture!  Soon it will be time to head to Linder’s for some new plants too!

There is someone new in town. I’ve seen our new neighbor outside for the last three days, chewing on grass and wood. Don’t worry, it’s not some wacky new human neighbor, it’s a woodchuck I like woodchucks, they’re cute. Every time I see him/her I feel compelled to say the tongue-twister “How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood.” I’ve been saying it a lot lately. I like our new neighbor, I hope he/she sticks around!

I was finishing up a few things on the computer at work today when I heard a “tap tap” on the window in our main teaching room. I looked out into the room and met eyes with a male turkey. This territorial male had jumped up on one of the wooden benches we have outside the building. Upon noticing his reflection he apparently decided he needed to defend his territory! It was quite the amusing scene as he attacked himself at the window. He didn’t stop until I got close enough for him to see me through the glass. I think he qualifies as a true “bird brain”

The first flower to bloom in the prairie at the outdoor center is the Pasque Flower.   We saw it today!  It’s been a week of “firsts” indeed.  The first painted turtle, the first Pasque flower.  It’s great!  I love the warm weather!  yipeee