Thursday, September 19, 2024
I notice when I retreat to bed with my book at an hour of the evening that is so early, I am embarrassed to share it publicly, that the days are getting shorter. The signs are all around.
Yesterday, I encountered a hen pheasant with a nearly-grown brood of at least seven youngsters at the edge of the gravel road. When we first moved in to our house in October six years ago, we saw lots of bright-colored males around, which I assumed were planted for hunting. However, I learned that there is a fairly large self-sustaining pheasant population here. I eventually discovered there are plenty of females around, and I wasn’t noticing them because they are so extremely well-camouflaged. We see lots of young-of-the year turkeys too; apparently the excessive rain we got all spring didn’t set them back too much.
Our latest visitor was a badger. We’ve seen one on the trail camera once in a great while, but two weeks ago Mike encountered one in person while walking the dogs on the trail in the woods. The badger was headed their way, and beat a hasty retreat when it saw Mike and the dogs (as always on leashes, for just this reason!) It always fills me with joy to hear about these encounters. I love knowing the woods creatures are out there, enjoying our land as much as we do. However, a bigger surprise awaited. While we were out of town my brother-in-law forwarded a picture of a badger in between the big granite boulders of our driveway retaining wall! My guess is the abundant chipmunks, that regard the wall as their condo, attracted the badger so close to the house.
There is also a mama duck on the lake with four youngsters. Predation on ducklings is high; I am encouraged that four made it this late into the summer. Good job, mama! They will soon take wing permanently, and maybe one or more of them will return next year.
The blooming wildflower species count on the dog walk is hanging right around 16-18; we are on the cusp of the fall bloom of goldenrod, ragweed, wild asters and brown-eyed susans. The jewelweed just started; so hopefully I can edge up to my peak count of around 20 before all the remaining early summer flowers retire for the year.
The bear has not been back. My raspberry patch of ten plants is producing about a quart a day now. The snow fence around it keeps out the insatiable turkeys but wouldn’t delay a bear entry more than a second. For now, I just have to negotiate around the bird nest in one bush; while I am in there picking, a few birds of different species perch in the nearby woods line and yell at me. I am grateful the patch always provides enough for me to freeze plenty for the winter as well as share with friends and our local birds. A pie with fresh berries just came out of the oven and that one isn’t destined for the freezer – no, that one is just for Mike and I. Raspberry pie is my favorite.
The changing of the four seasons means there is always something to look forward to. I think one of the reasons so many Wisconsinites are passionate about their flowers, gardens and lawns that here, tending them is a finite period of time; doing what we do all summer would become a burden if it was necessary all year round. It’s a bit of a relief when I empty the flower pots and put the garden to bed in the fall. By February, I’m looking forward to it again. By August, I am more than ready for autumn, a beautiful word and a beautiful season.
For now, I can watch the spring and summer wildlife babies, including lots of charming fawns, come of age and wish them well as they disperse. The wildlife welcome mat is always out here. It would be a shame not to share this wonderful place.
“OLD LADY BARS” – I got a great e-mail in response to last week’s column with a recommendation for an old lady bar, in all its classic glory, still open in Marinette County. Mike and I will check it out at first opportunity. Thank you to the readers who provided the tip!
I welcome commentary, alternative viewpoints or ideas at this e-mail address: JanieTMartin@gmail.com
Janie Thibodeau Martin
