Butterfly Hill Farm: Revisiting February 2011

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May 20:

The Farm is really greening up. Plants are breaking into buds and flowers, under our ever watchful eye. Buffalo Gal, a rose we brought with us from North Dakota, is covered with buds and today she presented us with her 1st flower.

Irises began blooming yesterday. And we were not surprised that the 1st to flower were Irises from Melanie's 2 Grandmas (Ethel and Dorothy, who have both passed). I noted that the Yellow Columbine is also breaking into flower. And the Bleeding Heart just continues to throw out cascades of flowers.

We got 1 inch of rain last night. We did lose a few limbs, but otherwise, the countryside is in that luscious, after rain, spring-moving-into summer, green.

I do remember that my Dad, when he came to our Farm in 2007 just 2 months before he passed, said: "This is paradise. When I go to Heaven, I want to come here." It surely is beautiful here. The landscapes are radiant.

And the Hummingbirds, with all their energy, have just arrived. They buzz about. I don't know how they have all that energy. They wintered in the Yucatan, crossed the Gulf on those tiny wings, and now are setting up home here. I supposed you could say, they are setting up home just like us.

All this makes a perfect backdrop for wedding preparations and for the wedding itself. Is this for real?

Photos

Except in very specific circumstances, all photos depicted here were taken on our Farm. Those circumstances off the Farm relate to the purposes of this Farm and this writing exploration. Almost all were taken by 1 of the 3 C's. If not, I try to make sure others are credited. I (Glinda) am usually the one carrying the camera, but not always.

I do my best to gain permissions of Folks whose pictures are shown on this Blog. If for any reason, you are pictured and would like your photo removed, just let me know. Thanks.

Glinda

...began her professional career as a Home Economist, later serving as a Home Economics Teacher Educator for 2 decades. In 1995, she moved into analyzing the Human Side of Environmental Issues. She went from studying Humans in their Little Homes to studying Humans in their Big Home, the Earth. Those 2 leggeds were, after all, creating a substantial problem for the Earth, which sustains them. After 30 years in higher education, she became Professor Emerita of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Ecological Studies at the University of North Dakota in 2005.

Glinda has a special interest in analyzing the split Humans have with Nature. Her focus is bringing Humans home to the Earth, opening at long last to the awe, magic, and love of this beautiful Earth whirling in the Great Cosmic Sea. She is a writer, teacher, poet, artist. She is the writer for this Blog, the substance of which will likely become a book she has known she would write.

Recent interview with Fast Recipes: http://www.fastrecipes.com/latest-news/nature%E2%80%99s-recipes:-living-off-the-land-in-missouri-2010061740080/

Richard

...grew up on a 120 acre Farm about 5 miles west of here. Those humble beginnings have had a profound effect on his Life. He was trained as a Wildlife Biologist and later responsible for the Wildlife Management Program at the University of North Dakota for over 3 decades. Retiring in 2007, he is a UND Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology.

Richard brings to the Farm a lifelong interest in the Natural Sciences (Birds, Wildlife, Prairie Restoration, Ecosystems, Gardening) and the Humanities. As his wife (Glinda) says: "He is one of those few people in our Culture who can still read Nature's story and make it accessible to those around him."

Melanie

...would list a bio a little shorter than her Mom and Dad. That's because she hasn't lived quite so long, which is the normal course of such things. But her bio would be no less interesting and perhaps even more so. She has come to this work and this walk far earlier than her Mom or Dad.

Melanie has an interest in healthy lifestyles. It's not something you read about; it's something you do. She brings her love of life, her travel near and far, her love of people known and unknown, her playful curiosity, and her knowing to Gardening, Raising Chickens, Herbal Healing, and the Culinary Arts. She makes a place for Kids of all Ages on this Little Farm.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Revisiting February 2011

"Imbolc" (February 2) marks the time when Nature begins speeding up toward Spring. Sun is stronger and marks his presence longer each day. Birds begin wearing colors of Spring Plumage and practicing those beautiful Spring Calls. Buds on trees and shrubs begin to swell while anticipating the day they will unfurl. Humans are known to pick up more energy in their steps. That's just the usual order of things here in the Northern Hemisphere. I wonder how these things manifest "down south".

The night before Imbolc (February 1) this year, Richard read from his February 2011 calendar. He keeps great records of what we see and experience right here on the Farm. The calendar is a posting of what happened last year and what we are likely to see again soon. While I do not want the "hibernation stage" to end prematurely, I am eager for the next acts of the show. Here are his notes, with a focus on what we were seeing "in nature":

1: Big time blizzard today and tonight, 14 inches of snow, lots of drifting, snow bound for the first time in MO.
2: Digging out from blizzard.
3: 5 degrees last night, still digging out, birds eating like crazy, Titmice calling peta-peta-peta [spring call].
4: A little warmer, Red Breasted Nuthatch still around.
6: Shoveled mailbox out, heard my 1st Cardinal "car alarm" this morning [spring call].
8: 8 degrees this morning.
9: Nothing.
12: Several Cardinals now singing.
13: Saw 1st Robin.
15: 5 Robins in back trees.
16: Tree Sparrows gone.
17: No fire in wood stove tonight, 65 degrees today.
18: 1st Chorus Frog, Flocks of Blackbirds and several flocks (1000+) of Snow Geese got back today, parsnips in basement are beginning to sprout.
19: Conditions perfect for Goose and Duck migration, warmer, clear skies.
20: 1st territorial Red Wings arrive (by lagoon), more Snow Geese.
21: Great Horned Owl screaming in north woods [likely courtship], more Snow Geese.
24: Ladd found a skunk last night! 27 Cardinals in backyard today [all males with an equal number of females] [Poor Ladd with his supersensitive sniffer: Skunk smell lingered for months, being "reconstituted" with rains.]
25: 6 inches of snow yesterday and last night, still seeing the occasional Tree Sparrow.
26: Got a nice Ball Peen Hammer. [I couldn't resist a non-Nature entry. I suppose I am checking to see if the Reader is still with me.]
27: Rain tonight with thunder and lightning.
28: 1st Woodcock this evening, Great Horned Owls courting.

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Friday, February 3, 2012

Revisiting February 2011

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