On farms
The shepherd watches the curly heads buried in the greening pasture . The farm ’ s rolling hills near Sugarloaf Mountain have held fast despite recent downpours — representing success in plant diversification of orchard grass , clover , fescue , trefoil … intertwining roots , lush variety , and tasty blooms for a happy flock . She is lifted by the trilling birdsong of the returning red-winged blackbirds , the males with their striking epaulets staking out territory . Early spring
PHOTO : caroline tayloR
observations : are the honey and bumblebees returning in good number to the crabapple blossoms , have the purple martin scouts bested the starlings to the awaiting gourd condos , are resident coyotes managing the voles but not straying too close to the sleeping ewes and lambs in the barn ? This spring , as with each before , the shepherd takes note of adjustments needed with both satisfaction and resignation . Above all , she is deeply stirred by the beauty of this life .
Just to the east , for the orchardist Spring brings abundant
joy but not without a nervous eye to the swings in temperature that can spell disaster for just forming orchard fruit . Winter cold is good . Early spring freeze … not . His many varied apple trees carry heavy buds this year — good news after last year ’ s devastating loss to late freeze . Circling about the orchard in their spring daylight forays , are little brown bats , friend to fruit cultivators seeking to prevent loss to damaging insects such as the coding moth . More and more is being learned about the importance of our working with nature , recognizing the partnership .
in creeks and forests
Water flows through forested slopes , clean and cool in Ten Mile Creek hosting myriad species . In its rocky shallows the two-lined salamander lays her eggs near skittering caddisflies feeding on mayfly larvae . Amidst towering shag bark hickories , fox , wild turkeys , and nimble chipmunks compete for the sweet tree nuts . This creek gives life , and its terminus Little Seneca Reservoir serves as back up water supply for the greater Washington area . On this spring day , a small
Red-winged blackbird sings oh-ka-lee , honeybee buzzes in crabapple blossoms ; two-lined salamander scampers creekside .
plenty I Spring sowing 2021 5