August Observances

August 10, 2009
I spent the morning yesterday pulling up purple loosestrife. Some was easy to pull – we’ve had so much rain that the roots were only loosely moored to the mud and for others the plant would break off in my hand. I figure pulling up some is better than not having pulled up. Compared to other properties in the area, we seem to have less of it.
In my romp through the swamp, I got a boot stuck in mud that was like quicksand. I wondered for a minute if I would be stuck there until Lindley came out to look for me, but I was able to get a grip up on some marsh grasses and pulled myself and my boot out, none worse for the wear.
Watched several schools of minnows, wending their way down the brook in the wetlands. The water is deep and clear, up past my boot. I waded through the frigid water and the water poured into my boots. It seemed a safer way to cross, the other choice being walking across a fallen tree.

August 29, 2009

Tropical Depression Danny is drenching the Northeast. I hadn't checked our rain gauge in a while and it was up to 12 inches! No lack of water this summer. Moss is growing in one corner of our frontdoor and the mushrooms are once again peaking up everywhere under the forest canopy.
Lindley found bear poop practically under our bedroom window and we also spotted some along the path down towards the brook.
A hefty population of locusts, leap up on dry days as we move across the lawn. Where are the monarch and white admiral butterflies this year? I haven't not seen any. The dragon flies have been busy as ever.