I had some recently limbs down but none of mine broken branches created an interesting face on tree trunk like this tree.
Tree Face
Picture of the Day for July 12, 2014
This poor tree has seen better days and with the rain today, probably is feeling a bit soggy too. When it finally collapses into the water, it will no longer be a home to the birds.
Worn Out Tree
Picture of the Day for June 5, 2014
When I see holes in dead trees, I always wonder if they are a house for some critter. This hole did have a resident who I scared out when out working but came back quickly so I don’t know if there are eggs in the nest or babies or just in the building phase.
Northern Flickers generally nest in holes in trees and takes about 1 to 2 weeks to build the nest by both male and female and will lay between 6 to 8 eggs which are high glossy, white eggs. I probably won’t be able to get a picture of the eggs since the hole is high up on the tree and the other half of the tree has blown down so probably not safe to lean a ladder on it.
There are over 100 common names for the Northern Flicker, many based on the sounds the woodpecker makes like heigh-ho.
Watchful Northern Flicker
Picture of the Day for May 27, 2014
There are more signs that spring may truly be here since the air is filled with the scent of blooming trees, like this flowering crab tree.
Spring is in the Air
Picture of the Day for April 30, 2014
April closes out for many towns in the area as the second wettest April on record (unless the rain today pushes it to the first) and not all the precipitation was rain as the shovels had many opportunities to get a workout this spring. I’m not sure even the ducks like this wet weather but they didn’t seem to notice the rain or snow as they splashed in the water by the pond. But the real question is will all these April showers bring May flowers.
Very Wet April
Picture of the Day for April 25, 2014
Many states are celebrating Arbor Day today, the last Friday of April. All 50 states celebrate Arbor Day although the dates may vary in keeping with the local climate. The first Arbor Day took place on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska. It was the brainchild of Julius Sterling Morton, a Nebraska journalist and politician originally from Michigan.
Morton felt that Nebraska’s landscape would benefit from the wide-scale planting of trees for wind breaks. When he became a member of Nebraska’s state board of agriculture, he proposed that a special day be set aside dedicated to tree planting and increasing awareness of the importance of trees. More than one million trees were planted on Nebraska’s first Arbor Day.
I’m glad my squirrels forget where they bury all their acorns so they plant new oak trees for me as most of my old oaks are getting hollow and blowing down.
Old Oak Tree
Picture of the Day for April 7, 2014
Finally with some warmer temperatures this week, the snow is beginning to melt and maybe we will be done with winter sunsets for a while. But then we had a blizzard in May last year so probably will have a few more yet.
Winter Sunset
Picture of the Day for March 22, 2014
Spring may officially be here but winter is still hanging on with lows around zero again tonight.
Still Hanging On
Picture of the Day for March 7, 2014
This dead tree is hanging on somehow without going over the edge of the steep cliff and dropping into Lake Superior. Just like this winter is hanging on and on and on. Time for the forces of nature to turn and let spring come and someday this tree will become driftwood on some beach.
Hanging On!
Picture of the Day for January 15, 2014
The morning sunshine revealed the previous day snowfall and while it might be pretty to look at, it wasn’t so ‘pretty’ when it came to shoveling it.
More Snow (Again)
