The nights have a bit of coolness to them now, and the sunshine isn’t quite as hot as it was earlier this month. Our daylight is becoming noticeably shorter as we move closer to fall. The skies are filled with Canada geese flying over, strengthening the wings of the young ones as they prepare for migrating south; their honking fills the air. I noticed these sedum blossoms the other day with spots of color in them. They too are responding to the fast approaching change in the seasons.
As we enter the last third of summer, our lakes in Minnesota and Wisconsin are starting to bloom with water lilies. Looking across the water surface you can see areas of white and yellow. We’ve seen muskrats enjoying a meal of water lilies, and deer will also wade into the water to graze on them. This water lily is not endanger of being eaten as I photographed it at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in Como Park. Like its “wild” relatives it was happy to open its petals to the bright sun and soak up the trailing end of summer.
And just like that, spring is here. We’ve gone from brown to green within one week. Some spring rain showers, bright sunshine, and warm temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s have caused spring to burst forth in Minnesota. Grass is now green, and the trees and shrubs are bursting with their leaf buds. Green shoots are visible from the warming soil, and I have even seen some daffodils that are blooming. Our lilac bush has opened its tight buds into the warm air. And luckily the snowfall predicted for this weekend did not appear. Quickly our landscape will continue to change.
Tuesday was a perfect spring day with white clouds, warm temperatures, and the smell of spring in the air. There were hints of green in the lawns, buds were evident in the tree branches high above, and birds were singing their spring songs. The white clouds danced in the brilliant blue sky as we softened ourselves to the warmth of the sun. It was wonderful, and I was so thankful for getting outside and soaking it all up. Because….the following day brought wet heavy snow, howling winds, and cold temperatures. Winter has returned for a few days.
We are experiencing our transition season as winter slowly gives way to spring. In northern Minnesota and Wisconsin it means give and take – warmer temps one day and snow the next. But our waters are starting to thaw, allowing open water for the birds that are beginning to migrate into the area. The oak trees are holding onto their rust-colored leaves, and the air has been heavy with moisture creating some foggy conditions. It almost seems like fall but this time we know there will be green in the landscape and ice-free lakes and ponds soon.
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