"To survive rising temperatures, every system, whether of the natural world or of the human world, will need to be as strong and healthy as we can make it."
It's been hot and uncharacteristically dry here in southwestern Wisconsin this summer. A few violent and torrential rains are not a good substitute for the steady soakings that used to mark the summer months. Walking through the prairie yesterday I noticed 3 kinds of goldenrod blooming. The New England asters are just beginning, and I found one cream gentian -- the end-of-summer flowers.
The first covid summer – 2020 – flocks of Swallow-tailed Kites showed up around Athens – to the west in Jackson County, to the northeast in Madison County, and south of Athens in Oconee. This happened to coincide with my first summer of retirement so I was able to track them down whenever I wanted for weeks. It took me a while to realize this was not usual birding where you’re rewarded for showing up at the crack of dawn. These birds don’t get busy till the big bugs get busy: when it starts to get hot. One flock, the Oconee County birds, would show up about 11:00am just as giant crickets (or grasshoppers?) would start jumping up out of the pasture grass. One day I counted 36 birds! All swooping and careening and scooping up insects out of the air over the tall grass. It was a sight I will never forget. That summer was so disturbing – a train wreck of overwhelming covid deaths and electioneering from which I could not avert my eyes – but the midday kites were an anchor of sanity. I’d read they used to be common as far north as New Jersey so I took their presence as a sign that they were returning north, not just fleeing climate change, and that things could be, and actually are, going to get better.
I love that you urge people to "support small-scale farmers, fishers, ranchers, and producers" and to shop at their local farmers markets. Part of our work is to figure out how to do it all better...for the land, the animals, and the consumer. Thank you for understanding!
Signs of autumn in Falls Church, VA (northern VA, suburb of DC): for as long as I’ve lived here (40 yrs) it’s been the case that dogwoods are first to turn, beginning in August, and this morning I noticed some leaves are pink-tipped. A small green Japanese maple has a few bright red leaves. My wooded half-acre is territory claimed by a variety of song birds-- mostly the ones listed on bird seed bags-- It’s a compliment to see a pair of yellow finches visit a patch of volunteer black-eyed Susan throughout its life cycle, and cone flower once the blooms turn to seed. The finches ignore similar flowers gifted to me from other gardens.
Any suggestions for addressing (or not) deer who this summer decimated (especially in my yard vs neighbors) hostas, lilies, and stone crop? I’m conflicted! If they’re hungry I’m happy to share, but they’ve eaten nearly everything (even Virginia creeper, that’s a first) so there will be no flowers. I see the female most often, and she has a mate. They are young, beautiful, and elegant.
This is my quote for the day, week, year... you get the idea--- " Small & differentiated is the basis of diversity. In diversity is stability. Diversity is hope. Diversity is power." May I share it with attribution to you?
I love your descriptions of tilth, and later, water holding capacity. I am also adopting spongy in reference to happy soils.
I love your ag list and it is a wise one born of learning and living.
One of my recent new tries is buckwheat as a food and green manure. I got a ten pound bag for ten bucks at my local seed and feed.
Pulling weeds is not only more effective and non-toxic, it is good exercise, satisfying, and best enjoyed as a relaxed, meditative activity; even Zen.
Our pear trees are still young on our new place, but we have gotten a few handfuls of fruit.
I harvested elderberries last week just before we left North Georgia for family in Louisville. In the meantime, our daughter, neighbor, and critters are getting the rest.
I am happily jealous of your swallow-tailed kites and painted buntings, two exquisite creatures that don't make it to our place. Fortunately, I do get to enjoy each now and then because I pursue much of my habitat restoration work in the lands to the south that I love so much.
Lastly, I too would really have enjoyed that little snake surmounting the road berm. Doesn't it represent a hopeful analogy for how many little victories can get us over the climate crisis?
It is true that anxiety seems epidemic among our youth. So many of my students struggle with it. Thank you for remembering them.
I’m in the very southern tip of the outer banks of NC. July was really hot with heat index often above 100 and night time lows were often in mid to high 80s. This is very stressful for plants.
Now, going in to August, historically a hot month, night temps are going to low 70s. It’s a relief but unusual.
Thanks for this post, Janisse. So much to think about, and the rum cake looks delicious. We have a company here in the UK called Riverford. They grow and source organic foods and home deliver them. Everything is ordered online and I get box of fresh produce every week. It’s a great way to support ethical farming and to appreciate the seasonality of food.
Thank you for quoting John Prine. One thing I’m doing is planting flowers pollinators like. I found three plants in NC last year (Joe Pye Weed, Iron weed, and a third one I can’t remember). I’ve bought extra parsley for the swallowtail caterpillars, and a house to put them in. A classmate has passion flower for Gulf Frittilarias, and I’m going to put up a trellis and see if I can’t attract some. I’m leaving a section of poke weed for the birds, and apparently I’m also growing blueberries and figs for them. My backyard is pretty loud with buzzing bees and singing birds. Oh, and I have two hummingbirds (who sometimes rest on branches). I love my garden.
Thank you so much for offering concrete actions. I thought of you today, interviewing someone from Marsh Hen Mill. His most important message was seed saving, heirloom varieties of rice and corn.
Thank you so much for this relevant, urgent, and well-researched information, Janisse. And ... I'm so envious you have painted buntings! That is one bird I would LOVE to see.
It's been hot and uncharacteristically dry here in southwestern Wisconsin this summer. A few violent and torrential rains are not a good substitute for the steady soakings that used to mark the summer months. Walking through the prairie yesterday I noticed 3 kinds of goldenrod blooming. The New England asters are just beginning, and I found one cream gentian -- the end-of-summer flowers.
The first covid summer – 2020 – flocks of Swallow-tailed Kites showed up around Athens – to the west in Jackson County, to the northeast in Madison County, and south of Athens in Oconee. This happened to coincide with my first summer of retirement so I was able to track them down whenever I wanted for weeks. It took me a while to realize this was not usual birding where you’re rewarded for showing up at the crack of dawn. These birds don’t get busy till the big bugs get busy: when it starts to get hot. One flock, the Oconee County birds, would show up about 11:00am just as giant crickets (or grasshoppers?) would start jumping up out of the pasture grass. One day I counted 36 birds! All swooping and careening and scooping up insects out of the air over the tall grass. It was a sight I will never forget. That summer was so disturbing – a train wreck of overwhelming covid deaths and electioneering from which I could not avert my eyes – but the midday kites were an anchor of sanity. I’d read they used to be common as far north as New Jersey so I took their presence as a sign that they were returning north, not just fleeing climate change, and that things could be, and actually are, going to get better.
This is beautiful, Linda. We are all still destressing from that terrible summer. Glad the kites got you through it.
I love that you urge people to "support small-scale farmers, fishers, ranchers, and producers" and to shop at their local farmers markets. Part of our work is to figure out how to do it all better...for the land, the animals, and the consumer. Thank you for understanding!
I hear you, Madam Rancher. 🐂🐂🐂
Signs of autumn in Falls Church, VA (northern VA, suburb of DC): for as long as I’ve lived here (40 yrs) it’s been the case that dogwoods are first to turn, beginning in August, and this morning I noticed some leaves are pink-tipped. A small green Japanese maple has a few bright red leaves. My wooded half-acre is territory claimed by a variety of song birds-- mostly the ones listed on bird seed bags-- It’s a compliment to see a pair of yellow finches visit a patch of volunteer black-eyed Susan throughout its life cycle, and cone flower once the blooms turn to seed. The finches ignore similar flowers gifted to me from other gardens.
Any suggestions for addressing (or not) deer who this summer decimated (especially in my yard vs neighbors) hostas, lilies, and stone crop? I’m conflicted! If they’re hungry I’m happy to share, but they’ve eaten nearly everything (even Virginia creeper, that’s a first) so there will be no flowers. I see the female most often, and she has a mate. They are young, beautiful, and elegant.
Well, I wrote JULZ but auto-correct wanted you to be JULY. It thinks it's smarter than I. (And I guess it is.)
People write it both ways :)
Julz, the deer, OMG. This year we doubled the height of our garden fence, to 12 feet. It looks like Parchman. Fencing is the only thing I know.
Hello Janisse,
This is my quote for the day, week, year... you get the idea--- " Small & differentiated is the basis of diversity. In diversity is stability. Diversity is hope. Diversity is power." May I share it with attribution to you?
I love your descriptions of tilth, and later, water holding capacity. I am also adopting spongy in reference to happy soils.
I love your ag list and it is a wise one born of learning and living.
One of my recent new tries is buckwheat as a food and green manure. I got a ten pound bag for ten bucks at my local seed and feed.
Pulling weeds is not only more effective and non-toxic, it is good exercise, satisfying, and best enjoyed as a relaxed, meditative activity; even Zen.
Our pear trees are still young on our new place, but we have gotten a few handfuls of fruit.
I harvested elderberries last week just before we left North Georgia for family in Louisville. In the meantime, our daughter, neighbor, and critters are getting the rest.
I am happily jealous of your swallow-tailed kites and painted buntings, two exquisite creatures that don't make it to our place. Fortunately, I do get to enjoy each now and then because I pursue much of my habitat restoration work in the lands to the south that I love so much.
Lastly, I too would really have enjoyed that little snake surmounting the road berm. Doesn't it represent a hopeful analogy for how many little victories can get us over the climate crisis?
It is true that anxiety seems epidemic among our youth. So many of my students struggle with it. Thank you for remembering them.
Have a great day.
Berm. That’s the word I needed. Yes to using that quote, my friend. And don’t give up on your books.
I'm with you on the Zen of weeding! I'm much better at that than I am at sitting meditation.
I sit when I weed, lol
Thanks for this. Helpful and encouraging. It's much appreciated as I practice the art of transforming anxiety into positive action.
Same here, Kathy. Gotta do something.
Love these posts, thank you!
I’m in the very southern tip of the outer banks of NC. July was really hot with heat index often above 100 and night time lows were often in mid to high 80s. This is very stressful for plants.
Now, going in to August, historically a hot month, night temps are going to low 70s. It’s a relief but unusual.
There are small signs of birds migrating as well.
You live in a very beautiful place, Beth.
Thanks for this post, Janisse. So much to think about, and the rum cake looks delicious. We have a company here in the UK called Riverford. They grow and source organic foods and home deliver them. Everything is ordered online and I get box of fresh produce every week. It’s a great way to support ethical farming and to appreciate the seasonality of food.
Riverford sounds amazing. So glad you’re here.
Thank you for quoting John Prine. One thing I’m doing is planting flowers pollinators like. I found three plants in NC last year (Joe Pye Weed, Iron weed, and a third one I can’t remember). I’ve bought extra parsley for the swallowtail caterpillars, and a house to put them in. A classmate has passion flower for Gulf Frittilarias, and I’m going to put up a trellis and see if I can’t attract some. I’m leaving a section of poke weed for the birds, and apparently I’m also growing blueberries and figs for them. My backyard is pretty loud with buzzing bees and singing birds. Oh, and I have two hummingbirds (who sometimes rest on branches). I love my garden.
Your garden sounds heavenly.
❤️
🌹🌹🌹
Thank you so much for offering concrete actions. I thought of you today, interviewing someone from Marsh Hen Mill. His most important message was seed saving, heirloom varieties of rice and corn.
Very cool. Xoxo
I caught something in the air yesterday morning. Just a small whiff, gone in 30 minutes. But fall is coming. OMG I was happy to feel that.
Big smiles
Thank you so much for this relevant, urgent, and well-researched information, Janisse. And ... I'm so envious you have painted buntings! That is one bird I would LOVE to see.
May you see painted buntings in 2023.