In my quest to provide a healthy environment for the plants, shrubs, and trees I am planting, propagating, and nurturing, I’ve been reading about soil and soil life. It’s totally fascinating! I know soil health was important but am continually amazed and awed by life and how it works. [Read more…] about Root Stimulant or Inoculant?
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Prescribed Burns – Woods and Prairie
We completed our first prescribed burn in our woods and prairie this year! We spent several days preparing for this by clearing trees that fell during the winter. We used a backpack blower to clear around snags, trees, and the 2 brush piles we’re keeping for habitat purposes. We also mowed and blew a firebreak between our property and the neighboring property. [Read more…] about Prescribed Burns – Woods and Prairie
It’s Turkey Time!!
It’s mating time for the Wild Turkey. I never tire of seeing these guys. To me, they are a fascinating critter and mating season is a super cool time. We can hear the turkeys for miles around as they “gobble, gobble, gobble.” Some evenings, it can almost be called raucous, although I tend to reserve that description for the Sand Hill Cranes. [Read more…] about It’s Turkey Time!!
Spring Peepers
Spring has sprung, according to our amphibian friends. The Spring Peepers are one of the first frogs to start calling and they were out in fury last night. They live in moist woods but breed in adjacent wetlands. They stay pretty much to the ground and hibernate under logs and loose bark. We don’t keep a “tidy” woods so this is perfect for them and with the neighboring spring-fed stream, they are pretty happy. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them before, but it’s rare. [Read more…] about Spring Peepers
Wonders of the American Woodcock
The American woodcocks have been serenading us with their wonderful sounds since March 14. It’s certainly not an early record for Wisconsin, but it’s an amazing event. And more amazing to step outside the backdoor and enjoy it! Many people have traveled distances to witness their flight dances only to find they weren’t performing. Their sounds involve a “peeeeent” call note, ground strutting displays, and the spiraling flight dance, which is a twittering created by their wings and vocalizations. These performances are given at dusk and dawn. [Read more…] about Wonders of the American Woodcock
What’s in a name?
When the developers created this subdivision, they looked around and said the rolling hills reminded them of Ireland. They looked through county names and decided on Westmeath, originally named because it is west of Meath County. The major industry in Westmeath County in Ireland is farming and agriculture, making it a nice match for this area of Wisconsin! [Read more…] about What’s in a name?
