Locust Seeds

The recent unusual storm is now history with bright warm sunny days available to us.  Forecasts had called for possibly ten inches of snow.  Everything started on schedule with perhaps three inches of light dry snow covering the ground.  Then dry ice pellets began to fall.  The weight of the ice pellets compressed the powdery snow leaving us with about four inches of heavy accumulation on the ground that certainly held enough moisture to produce ten inches of snow.  My small plow was no match for the mess closing the driveway so help was called in.

The combination of ice pellets and wind removed some parts of the trees.  The purity of fresh snow was marred by black seed capsules that were everywhere.  Our locust trees were covered with more flowers than ever seen here.  Each pea like flower produced a long seed capsule most of which were still attached to the trees.  Now many of them litter the surface of the newly fallen snow.  The pictured seed pod is positioned to catch the morning sun straight on.  Resulting warmth has melted a snug cave that has pulled the seeds below the snow's surface.

Despite the severity of the storm, many seeds remain attached to the trees.  It may be that enough locust seeds were formed last year to plant our entire thirty-six acres.  We planted this line of trees intending that they fill nearby open ground.  Walking under a grove of these trees when they are in blossom is an unforgettable experience.  Their scent is intense but light.  Bees fill the trees happily gathering their food and pose no threat to those of us standing nearby.

These clear patches in our lawn resulted from the combined efforts of the deer and sunlight.  Narrow pointed hooves are not efficient snow removal tools but persistence exposes enough grass for a meal.  The deer also eat a great deal of snow left partially covering the grass.  That may be how the deer get their drinking water.  Our herd looked to be in great shape this late in the winter but having them feel comfortable feeding this close to our house indicates that  come Spring they will be feeding on our garden plants.  We wanted to live close to nature and we certainly are doing just that.  Soon enough we will be out there working and the deer will move only a short distance away and feed where we can see them.  Somehow they read us as presenting no real threat to them.  This is their home too.

Sap Run

Air temperatures in the mid 40s F finally have the neighbor's maple sap running.  A visit with a real tractor and its front mounted bucket cleared the plowed snow ridge at road's edge creating a solid support for the sap container.  The level of sap in the can is minimal but at least sap is finally running.  My maple trees are far from any road, surrounded by knee deep snow.  Memory finds the smells of reducing sap over an open fire.  It is a pleasant way to spend time outside at this time of year but age and the wisdom that is supposed to come with it dictates that some activities remain only as memories.

Mouse-eared chickweed is actively growing in an area that has been kept cleared of snow between the ramp and the car.  Hairy edged leaves remind me of arbutus but it remains buried under deep snow.  Seeds in a pod are from our locust trees.  Weather favored the formation of locust flowers last summer. One of the last trees to leaf out here, it is frost sensitive.  Usually late frost ends any chance for flowers.  The pea like hooded flowers are deliciously scented and numerous seed pods scattered everywhere now remind us of that recent treat.

Most would likely see running water oozing from mud as messy.  I found this delightful since as recently as last year this water was still running in the driveway.  Adding gravel to the driveway and deepening the ditches is grunt work but we are making progress.  The plan is to have the running water do most of the work.  So a man of years drags his booted foot across the muddy grass creating a depression to contain the water.  Some thought that I was simply playing in the mud.

Our truck is also driven in the ditch intentionally.  As the ground softens, truck tires will squish out a decent ditch.  Here again, it can appear that an older man is playing in the mud.

Our first patch of transplanted arbutus is located a little further up the hill to the left.  Snow has filled their protective wire cage and then some.  The notion of shoveling the snow away to reveal only the top of the cage has crossed my mind.  Continued snow melt would then reveal the plants in a nearly natural way.  That would give me an earlier peek at the plant's condition and speed up the opening of flowers.  On this day I ventured into the snow just to test conditions.  Stepping into snow deep enough to cover my knees made me abandon that fool's errand.  Forced to remain patient, more of the snow will have to melt before I make my first visit of the year.