Monday, May 12, 2008

Cherry Blossoms

Rue Anemone in bloom.

Some photos from the garden. Everything seems to be emergig now; everything except the various families of milkweed that spring up like lightning over the summer and produce such abundant blooms. Leadplant, Bergamot, and all manner of Goldenrod are emerging in the garden, and the lance-like leaves of the Blue-flag Iris are begining to emerge from the pond.

Roller coaster weather this weekend. Emerged from the 40's with rain (flurries in the Brainerd Lakes region) to the 60's in the last few days. I've only heard the hardy Spring Peepers keeping up the chorus the last few nights.

Wildlife Spotted Recently:

  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Blue Jay
  • Chorus Frog
  • Crow, Common
  • Eastern Bluebird
  • Goldfinch
  • Grackle, Common
  • Grey Squirrel
  • Loon
  • Mallard Duck
  • Mourning Dove
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Nuthatch
  • Pileated Woodpecker
  • Purple Finch
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker
  • Red-shouldered Hawk
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Robin, American
  • Sandhill Crane
  • Spring Peeper
  • Tree Swallow
  • Turkey Vulture
  • Virginia Opossum
  • Wild Turkey
  • Wood Duck
  • Wood Frog
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler

    Wildflowers in Bloom:
  • Rue Anemone
  • Purple Pasque Flower

    Emerging Native Plants:
  • Blue-flag Iris
  • Columbine
  • Elm-leafed Goldenrod
  • Fiddlehead Ferns
  • Leadplant
  • Prairie Smoke
  • Showy Goldenrod
  • Wild Bergamot

  • 2 comments:

    Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

    I need to learn more about native planting. Would you suggest a referrence?

    Beyond Main Street Project said...

    The MN DNR used to have a spiral-bound book out there called Landscaping for Wildlife (http://www.amazon.com/Landscaping-for-Wildlife-Minnesota-Dnr/dp/0964745216/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210867018&sr=8-1), but I'm not sure how easy it is to get your hands on a copy these days. Lynne Steiner (http://www.amazon.com/Landscaping-Native-Plants-Minnesota-Steiner/dp/0896586502/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210871174&sr=8-1) also had a highly reviewed guide that was specific to Minnesota.

    I started out by going to a lot of the local parks, seeing what grew well there, and researching them in books and on the web so I got a really good idea of the soil/sun requirements and the wildlife they'd benefit. Then I'd go to Kinninatives (www.kinninatives.com) and get Wayne's take on them. If you're looking for an individual who really knows his stuff, Wayne is an excellent resource.