Cow Path Chronicles

We were "flushed" with excitement  early Saturday morning when someone "dumped" off a port-a-potty at the end of the filthy old cow path. We thought, perhaps, it was to accommodate bike riders in some sort of race, but, alas, no cyclists showed up.  As of late last evening we were "relieved" to see it was still here, although whether it survives a Saturday night out in this neck of the woods is questionable.  ??? "Urine" a lot of trouble, though, if you deface such a landmark so I'm assuming my neighbors know better than to "go" there.

Actually, I hope it stays and have even designed a sign to match.  What a perfect accoutrement to the world's crappiest road. 

Warm Weekend Wishes

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye

The males have all left and Bon Bon Pond is down to one lone female hummer.   Each autumn, when my lovely flying jewels depart for their winter feeding grounds, I am sad.  It both amazes, and frightens, me to think of these fragile tiny creatures traveling so far. 

Two feeders will remain up well into October in case of stragglers—usually birds recovering from injury or illness.

Kudos to the kind people in the southern regions of the United States who put out thousands of nectar feeders to help prepare these hungry travelers for the most arduous part of their journey:  the 22 hour non-stop solo flights over the Gulf of Mexico’s 457 miles of water.  It’s a perilous flight and experts say, sadly,  that  ½ to ¾ of the first year ruby-throats do not survive their initial migration.¹⁰

Stay safe, my sweet darlings, and we will see you in the spring.

To read more about the amazing migration patterns of hummingbirds, visit:

http://www.nectarartprints.com/hummingbird-migration_rt.htm 

 

In Defense of Box Elder Bugs

While  outside on Monday, my attention turned to a box elder on the backyard hill.  Is that red on the trunk?  Upon closer inspection,  I confirmed the wine-colored blobs were actually swarms of box elder bugs.  These insects are attracted to female trees where they congregate on the southwest sides on sunny days. 

I’d never seen such a large swarm before and ran inside to grab my camera.  I actually thought it was cool and decided to do some research on the insects.  I must say I was horrified at the hatred generated toward these harmless little creatures.  They do not bite or sting  nor do they damage trees, and if one happens to wander inside your house to spend the winter it does not breed.

The poor maligned creepy crawlies do nothing to warrant such hysteria from humans.  At one gardening forum I visited today, crazed people were actually chopping down female box elder trees and spraying their homes and yards with dangerous pesticides. The moderator attempted to temper the madness, explaining,

“Box elder bugs, a type of beetle, have a hard wing cover that protects them from virtually all sprays, and since they are not eating in their adult state, they cannot be killed with a stomach poison. That leaves only nerve toxins . . .  .”

Nerve toxins!?  Just for a harmless bug?  Good grief!  Talk about an over-reaction. Proper perspective is missing from this conversation, and the 1,940,000 other websites dedicated to the persecution of an insect that at most could be considered a minor nuisance for a few fall weeks.  So don't bug out! When the weather turns cold they will be gone . . . and the world will still be spinning.  

 

After the Rain

Saturday’s luscious rains lifted the spirits—and the leaves—of Bon Bon Pond’s parched and drooping vegetation.   The trees and shrubs and plants appeared to magically magnify as their branches reached out and upward for the life-affirming liquid nourishment.  

 

Just like last year, we have suffered thru a six to eight week damaging dry spell. Hardest hit have been the white ash trees that grow in the forest and thus are beyond "hose range."  

Around Minnesota in the summer, it’s often not easy bein’ green. 

My beautiful front yard birch are nearing the age of 50, which is the average lifespan for these gorgeous trees.  They seem to handle drought well but I still "shower" them with  TLC during times of drought..

The huge silver maples are hardy trees that can tolerate drought well.  Some people say their roots cause problems with sidewalks, etc. during droughts  but these mammoths exist along the driveway and have never caused trouble.

Early leaf yellowing is a sign of stress for the lovely white ash.  FYI-this hardy hardwood is the premier firewood source as it is the only tree that produces no creosote when burned.  A relative newcomer to the Bon Bon Pond forest, these trees grow straight and very fast.