Moving one grain at a Time

The sand dunes at the Indiana Dunes Lakeshore are constantly on the move. Some days they barely move a grain. Some days every grain of sand seems to be in a hurry to get somewhere sandblasting legs, face, and arms.

This trail sign was waist level to an average sized hiker just 7 years ago. Today the sign is nearly buried in sand.

Forest Path

None of that white stuff---this March has been green, very green.

This path through Coffee Creek Park shows spring well on its way this March.

Lover of all things alive...

WHEN the pine tosses its cones

To the song of its waterfall tones,

Who speeds to the woodland walks?

To birds and trees who talks?

Cæsar of his leafy Rome,

There the poet is at home.

He goes to the river-side,

Not hook nor line hath he;

He stands in the meadows wide,

Nor gun nor scythe to see.

Sure some god his eye enchants:

What he knows nobody wants.

In the wood he travels glad,

Without better fortune had,

Melancholy without bad.

Knowledge this man prizes best

Seems fantastic to the rest:

Pondering shadows, colors, clouds,

Grass-buds and caterpillar-shrouds,

Boughs on which the wild bees settle,

Tints that spot the violet’s petal

Why Nature loves the number five,

And why the star-form she repeats:

Lover of all things alive,

Wonderer at all he meets,

Wonderer chiefly at himself,

Who can tell him what he is?

Or how meet in human elf

Coming and past eternities?

Ralph Waldo Emerson/Woodnotes

Bloomin' Early

This morning the sweet, once a year bouquet of lilacs; heavenly!

This year is definitely on overdrive---these lilacs are usually blooming after the first of May.

The Earlier Blooms of 2012

Flowers, trees, and bushes are blooming earlier this year. These Dutch Breeches bloomed around April 18th in 2011.

This year they are almost bloomed out by the end of March.

The Biggest Flowering Plants

Trees have some of the most beautiful flowers---this one reminds me of a bridal bouquet.

The Wind through the Willows

Little rain this year means that all the tree pollen is floating around in the air.

This willow out in the marsh is doing its share and is yellow with pollen. It was buzzing with early season bees.