Spring has arrived in the northwoods of Wisconsin. Driving along a county road we saw (and avoided) many turtles in the road and beside it. We also saw the lupine blooming in certain areas. It’s low to the ground and the light needs to be from the right angle to see it’s lovely colors, otherwise it blends in with the grass, dirt and sand. We rounded a corner and I admired a large patch of lupines, noting that I needed to return to photograph it. As I was studying the flowers I looked beyond them and saw something looking back at me. On the edge of the woods, blending in with the shadows, was a black bear. He looked at me and then ambled back into the woods. Needless to say, when I returned the next day to photograph the lovely flowers I was very aware of my surroundings. A slight rustle in the woods and I stopped to see who or what it was. This time it wasn’t my friend the bear, but it was only a squirrel.
spring
End of a spring day
It had been a windy and cloudy day, but as the evening wore on the wind began to die down. We were fishing as the air became still. Eagles were flying overhead and the crappies were biting. The dark clouds were still above but the sun moved below them lighting up the opposite shore. The leaves were full on some of the trees and yet others had only begun to leaf out, filtering the sunlight as it came through the trees. The low light and the calmness created a beautiful reflection of the end of a spring (finally!) day.
Tree swallows
As we were exploring the Namekagon Wildlife Barrens in northwestern Wisconsin we saw many bluebird houses distributed throughout the area. Numerous agencies and individuals have worked hard to be sure the birds have access to good nesting areas. At one road junction we stopped and watched this tree swallow as it flitted in and out of the house, flying to the trees nearby, then coming back to the house. He was accompanied by a female which came and went many times too. What a delight to let time stand still and watch their activities and absorb this little bit of spring!
Prescribed wildfire burn
We were exploring at the Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area this past weekend. Located in Burnett County in northwestern Wisconsin, this is a globally rare landscape of pine and oak with a very sandy soil. It’s quite startling to see the Barrens after driving miles through forested land; all of a sudden the sky opens up and the vista is wide with rolling hills and a prairie-like view. The ground near the road was black where there had been a prescribed burn the day before, and the air had a pronounced smell of smoke. After about 20 minutes, we saw smoke to the east and found they were doing some spot fires to finish what had been started the day before. I’m excited to return to the area in the next week or so — the grass will be turning green with our recent rains, and soon the wildflowers will sprout and bloom.
Ahh…spring
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.
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