The woods here are greening.  In the understory the wild rose bushes, buckbrush, and honeysuckle vines are leafing out.  The willows and elms already have tiny leaves, and even the buds on the oaks are swelling.  Oddly, these signs of spring have made me realize something I’ll miss about winter. 
 

I’ll miss the tree skeletons, the [...]

Tonight’s sunset provided the perfect close to a great day. Warm breezes, sunny skies, temperatures in the mid-60s, a perfect day for planting. We got the last two bundles of seedlings from the conservation department nursery into the ground — 25 each of Austrian Pine and Norway Spruce. The first of the yellow potato [...]

This clearing is just across the creek from the house, maybe 150 feet away. It was all on fire when I arrived home from errands Tuesday afternoon. Fortunately a neighbor had already called the fire department, and they arrived right behind me. I grabbed a long-sleeved shirt and a shovel, tied my hair back, [...]

West of the house, several acres of mature oaks border a tiny creek. That section now looks like this. The healthy trees should be fine, and I’m sure the undergrowth will recover nicely. Right now though, every step through the trees stirs up a cloud of ash.