Ft. Atkinson, Arbor Lodge, and Catalpa

Having guests in town sometimes nudges me to find something new and interesting to do. This week, we traveled on Hwy. 75 to see Ft. Atkinson and then Arbor Lodge.

Ft. Atkinson was interesting. It was a beautiful day, but we lacked hiking shoes and tick spray, so we stuck to the paved walkway. I would like to go back, and take the 1.2 mile nature trail. As it was, we saw some very interesting displays of medical tools and punishment methods for prisoners.

The next day, we headed in the other direction on Hwy. 75, and visited Arbor Lodge. The home of the founder of Arbor Day was not a disappointment. The woodwork in the older part of the house was stunning, and featured intricate carving. I think my favorite room was the library. I love books, and there were many beautiful old books in glass library cases.

I was surprised to see Catalpa trees. I had forgotten that this is not just a southern genera. The flowers are really beautiful.

My guests seemed to enjoy our trips to both of these parks, too. Nebraska has so much to offer. I feel as though we have barely scratched the surface, and when my guests return (hopefully!), we will have even more interesting places to visit.

Lewis and Clark

This week, my family and I went to the Missouri River Basin Lewis & Clark Interpretive Trail & Visitor Center (or the MRB L&C Center, as printed on my receipt, whew!). This little jaunt out to Nebraska City, NE, reawakened an old fascination I have with these explorers. There is something for everyone in the Lewis and Clark exploration story. I love the adventure, the natural history, and the detailed journal keeping.

The Visitor Center was well worth the time. I especially enjoyed seeing the example of a medical kit that would have been used back in the 1800s. The interpretive display also discussed the fish the explorers caught, and the hooks they would have used, which is something I have not seen anywhere else.

Outside, the trail was muddy, but the view of the Missouri River was beautiful.The woods were quite like the Eastern Deciduous Forest I know from my time in Tennessee.

While there, I bought a copy of H. Wayne Phillips' Plants of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. And I found myself wanting to reread Stephen Ambrose's Undaunted Courage and Lewis & Clark: Voyage of Discovery.

 An old love is reawakened. I'm already thinking about how to interpret some of this in a contemporary way. Their story never gets old. And I hope that an appreciation for the natural world, the value of wild places, and the importance of a person's recorded thoughts is never lost. 

Birding Reference

I found a book this weekend that has the migration dates I needed. Paul Johnsgard's The Birds of Nebraska has that information, along with an extensive bibliography, which I always like to see. The dates are so important for me, though, because "spring" can mean March or June, depending upon where you live in the U.S. The highs are still in the 50s in the Sawtooth mountains this week, and it will be above 90 degrees in south Louisiana later this week.


I also think any book that mentions both watercolors (in reference to Cedar Waxwings), and Beethoven's Third Symphony (in reference to Song Sparrows) is a book that I am going to enjoy.


I have not heard the wren again today, and did not hear it yesterday, either.

Winter Wren

I think I've just identified a winter wren! It flew down onto my patio to pick around in a potted plant's soil. I've been trying to identify the song for a week now. It then gave a trill and flew off. It was so small, and such a good shade of tree-bark- brown, it's no wonder I have not been able to see it before today.


My NE bird guide says it's an uncommon spring migrant, but prefers riparian habitat. We are fairly close to a river here.


The song matched the one on the Cornell Lab website.


Another bird to add to the list! I just wish I had been quick enough to get a photo.


Edited to add: because my training is in the sciences, I am naturally suspicious of any uncommon bird sightings, including my own. However, this particular bird has been recorded in my county, according to the NOU. I would like to know in what months it has been seen here. It looks like it has bred at Lake McConaughy, too. Any NE birders who might read this, would you let me know your thoughts? I am certainly open to being wrong.

More rain

It has been raining for what seems like weeks. The sun is beginning to come back out, but the prediction for tomorrow is more rain and storms.


The grass is happy. The perennial flowers in our yard are happy. The trees are also happy. But I have cabin fever!


I found an owl pellet on the patio the other day. Inside, I could see fur and a tiny bone.


Baby squirrels are running around the yard, irritating my dog, who doesn't understand why I don't just let her round them up. The last time I (accidentally) let her out while they were too far away from a tree, she was bitten on the nose, and it resulted in a call to the vet. Sorry, pup, no, though I realize that you have cabin fever, too!


There are lots of robins, grackles, finches and sparrows. Wildflowers flowering include violets, mock strawberry, and dandelions. The dayflower is not yet large enough. When the rain lets up, I'm headed out to look for more.

Storm season

Years ago, when we lived in Tennessee, we were on the edge of tornado territory. I went through a class to become a National Weather Service volunteer storm spotter. My spotting skills were not useful in the next couple of states we lived in, so I've let the training slide.

I'm thinking of taking another class here. I still have my programmable weather radio, and it was going off a lot last night. But in between cloudbursts, we saw this through the window:

I love rainbows. They are always a surprise when you see one, and they have such an ephemeral beauty. The colors are vivid, but not glaring- more like a diluted pure watercolor, which, of course, makes sense.

After last night's storm, the street and our deck are covered in maple seeds. These always find their way into my sketchbooks. When I was a kid, we used to toss red maple seeds high into the air, and watch them spiral down, spinning like helicopter blades. These are silver maple seeds, and they are larger than the red maple ones.

I love the texture and the muted colors in this photo. I think I have always been in love with the camera's macro lens, too.

The rest of the week's forecast looks rainy. It is also finally getting warm enough to switch over to short sleeves. The first wave of spring flowers- the Japanese magnolias, cherry blossoms, and forsythia, are finishing. Lilacs are still flowering. Wildflower season should be upon us soon, and I cannot wait.

Warmer?

Is the warmer weather here to stay?

The 20th is the date of the last average freeze in my area. An average, of course, means it could still freeze. Gardeners tend to be gamblers, and will try to plant things out anyhow, and keep the row covers handy.

Tulips are coming up, cherry trees are flowering, and the dandelions are popping up everywhere. The color yellow is so welcome. I stopped to take a photo of one yesterday. A guy who was passing by must have thought I was a little off my rocker, stooping to take a picture of a dandelion. Later in the season, they definitely wear out their welcome. But right now, if you look closely enough, they are actually pretty.

The juncos are not as numerous in my yard. I'm seeing more robins and blackbirds.

And the morning's cup is spilling over with birdsong. It must be spring.