August 17
Paver-Mania!
Cherokee Park is here this week, not only taking part in the normal Wolf Ridge activities like Voyageur Life, Rock Climbing, Wetlands, Team Games, etc., but they are also giving our trails staff a HUGE helping hand by updating our ridge-top paths from gravel to brick pavers. They've also been out in the woods gathering the raspberry leaves we'll use all winter to make tea in Ojibwe and Voyageur classes. Thanks Cherokee Park!!!
- Carrie Anderson |
photos by Wolf Ridge
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July 23
Not Just a Big Raspberry
Thimbleberry, a species of Rubus, is native to western and northern North America, and can be found all over the Ridge this time of year. However, like many phenology events this year, this sweet and tart favorite fruit of late summer has come early to the Ridge. Like other raspberries it is not a true berry, but instead an aggregate fruit of numerous druplets around a central core. If you’re coming to Wolf Ridge, keep your eyes out for this bright red, delicious fruit while you walk the trails!
- Joel Vos |
photo credit: wikipedia.com
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July 5
Okay To Pull!
The first pretty purple flowers of the Canada Thistle bloomed at Wolf Ridge on July 5. This plant is an invasive species that you should pull out of the ground before they out compete native species. While NE Minnesota has some native species of thistle they are not as aggressive as Canada Thistle. Try to pull before flowering occurs or clip flowers after blooming.
- Peter Harris |
- photo © Peter Harris
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May 31
The March of the Toads
The past week has been full of toad sightings on the trails as these amphibians make their way to and from the nearby lakes and wetlands. Unlike their frog relatives, who spend most of their lives in the water, toads live most of the time on land, only making their way toward water to breed. Toads start making their way towards the water during humid conditions and warm evenings, mate and lay their eggs in the water, then eventually make their way back to land a few weeks later. Once the baby toads hatch and develop, they too will make their way inland, starting the whole cycle over again. Keep your eyes open for these warty hoppers, and watch your feet on the trails!
- David Butcher |
- photo © Greg Lipps
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May 27
Tiger Spotting!
It has been an unusual spring and many tigers have been spotted fluttering around Wolf Ridge. The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly is a large beautiful insect that can been seen from spring through fall. They assist with pollinating plants by feeding on the nectar. Males congregate at moist soil to gather nutrients (salts), a strange event called “mud-puddling.” Keep your eyes open for butterflies gliding through the air or basking in the mud near you!
- Ben Eckhoff |
- photo © Ben Eckhoff
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May 20
Bloomin' Berry Bushes
Trying to decide what kind of fruit tree is blooming right now? Here are some helpful hints...
Juneberry, also called serviceberry, are the first of the fruit trees to bloom at Wolf Ridge in May. You have noticed them blooming along the ridge and driveway. The flowers are white and the petals are longer than wide. The leaves are rounded and toothed.
Pin Cherry will start to bloom shortly after the Juneberry. Pin Cherry flowers are white and are arranged like a bouquet or a pin cushion. The leaves are longer and more narrow than a Juneberry. The flowers have a slight aroma if you are able to catch a whiff amongst the bees and butterflies pollinating.
Chokecherry, which just started blooming this week, will be the last to bloom after both the Juneberry and Pin Cherry. Again displaying white flowers, these are densely bunched together forming a cylindrical shape. The leaves are rounded with a point at the end and are finely toothed.
Happy identifying!!!
- Jenni Poliseno |
Fruit Shrubs Blooming in Spring
Juneberry
Pin Cherry
Chokecherry
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May 16
Spring is Springing!
It has been an exciting week for phenology! Lots of wildflowers are beginning to bloom and birds are returning after a long winter in Central and South America. The Black-Throated Green Warbler is one that we have been hearing quite a bit this past week. It has a very distinct song: zee-zee-zee-zu-ZEE" and it has a black bib and bright yellow face. It is right on time according to our phenology tracking. The warm weather speeds up the blooming of wildflowers, but birds rely more on the length of day. Keep your ears open for other returning birds!
-Kimbra Kosak |
- photo © Marie Reed
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May 11
What's the Rucus?!
The wetlands around Wolf Ridge are full of sound! The first frogs we heard were the Spring Peepers (Psedacris crucifer) with their "peeep! peeep!" call. These small green to gray frogs overwintered beneath bark or dried leaves. Now you can hear them singing in almost any wet place especially at dawn and dusk.
- Kaitlin Erpestad |
- photo © Rod Kuehn
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May 6
Flowering Underwear?
The Dutchmen have their pants hung up to dry along the Wolf Ridge driveway! Dicentra cucullaria or Dutchman's Breeches are one of the neatest looking spring ephemerals (short-blooming spring flowers) that are blooming right now. Look for all of the spring ephemerals that are trying to complete their entire life cycle before the trees above them have leafed out and blocked all of the sun. They bloom early in the spring, go to seed, and then quickly die back to live the remainder of the year in its underground roots or bulbs.
~ Laura Prasek |
- photo from
ridingphrius.blogspot.com/
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| May 5
The Bloom of Marsh Marigolds
Take a walk near a stream at Wolf Ridge and you’ll likely see some Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris). This is one wildflower that loves squishy, moist soil found near swampy areas. A bright yellow flower with 5 distinct petals can be seen breaking out of small round blossoms. Their leaves grow out of mounds and resemble lily pads common in Minnesota lakes. Enjoy these and all the wildflowers found in your area!
- John Smith |
- photo © Jack Greenlee
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April 27
Garter Snakes Become Active
As the air temperature and ground temperature continue to get warmer, expect to see these slithery predators warming themselves in the sun. These snakes emerge to take advantage of their favorite prey, earthworms, although they are also known to eat minnows and even newly metamorphosed toads and frogs. These snakes can move very quickly, so keep a sharp eye for these reptiles!
- David Butcher |
photo from www.mynaturephotos.com/snakes.htm
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March 25
Beaked Hazelnut Flowering
One of the first flowers is out! The beaked hazelnut shrub has separate male (staminate) and female (pistillate) flowers. The male flowers are arranged spirally in a yellowish catkin that hangs from twigs; the female flowers emerge from the tips of twigs and appear as terminal buds. They are a dark, showy red color. This flowering happens before the leaves emerge. It is fun to take a pair of binoculars, turn them around and use one eyepiece as a microscope to view this intricate red design. Try it out!
- Rhea Mehrkens |
photo © Rod Kuehn
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March 11
Eastern Chipmunks wake up!
Cute, small mammals with white bellies, reddish brown fur above, and 1 white stripe bordered by 2 black stripes on the back have been seen at bird feeders since March 11. Yes, Eastern Chipmunks (Tamias striatus) are out of hibernation stimulated by warm air temperatures. They chatter cheerfully by rapidly repeating chip-chip-chip and a lower-pitched, slower chuck-chuck-chuck. Male and female chipmunks start to date and 1 litter per year of 3-5 young will be born in May. Welcome back, but be aware of long-tailed weasel, hawks, foxes, bobcat, and even house cats.
- Joanna 朱艳
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- Photo © Joanna 朱艳
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March 9
First Overnight Temps Above 32°F
Today marks the first day of the year where the minimum air temperature overnight did not go below freezing. This, coupled with the 0.02 inches of rain overnight, turned the solid top layer of crusty snow into mush! Now, beware as you walk through the woods, as you will “posthole” or punch through the snowpack much more than before. Keep an eye out for more spring happenings, as they might be occurring sooner rather than later due to this warm weather!
-Stephanie Erlandson |
- drawing © Tim Pearson
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March 2
Snow Melt Around Trees
Air temperatures have increased over the past few weeks causing snow to melt around the base of trees. The snow dips down around the trunk in an artistic circle forming a bowl like structure. This beautiful shape occurs because trees, dark in color, absorb more energy from sunlight than the surrounding white snow. They also absorb the sunlight reflected off the snow’s white surface. The tree radiates this heat into it’s roots and the surrounding snow, causing the snow to retreat. Keep an eye out as these bowl shapes become bigger and bigger!
-Karrin Pearson |
-photo © Karrin Pearson
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February 19
Blue Jays and Water Pumps
I was walking along the road on the Ridge and overheard a bird call that sounded different than anything else I have been hearing for months. As I scanned the area for birds, I noticed a group of Blue Jays flying from tree to tree and chatting with each other. Different from their traditional “jay-jay” call, Blue Jays also have quiet, almost subliminal calls that they use among themselves in proximity. One of the most distinctive calls of this type is often referred to as the "rusty pump" owing to its squeaky resemblance to the sound of an old hand-operated water pump. This call was unique to the other bird sounds that day, and like some other songs late this winter is coming a little early. Blue Jays are not migratory, but follow their food source east and west throughout the year and will communicate via this unique “water pump” call when they are flocked together. Keep your ears open for this unique call!
- Joel Vos |
- photo © Dan Sudia
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February 10
Owl Calling Time!
It’s time for the owls to begin calling to each other in courtship! A few of the naturalists went out the other evening to listen for their calls. They also projected calls through a megaphone to see if any owls would call back. Nesting season for the great horned owls and barred owls (Who cooks for you?) is in early February, while the northern saw-whet owl and the boreal owl (pictured here) will begin courting later on in the month. If you are outside in the evening after dusk, keep your ears open for hooting!
- Andrea Doerr |
Boreal owl
Aegolius funereus
photo © Jim Brandenberg
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February 10
Chick-a-dee "Fee-Bee" Songs
The Black Capped Chickadees have begun to sing their “Fee-Bee” song, a sure sign that spring is on its way . . . eventually. Chickadees flock together during the winter, and this behavior is what allows students at Wolf Ridge to be visited by so many birds at Chickadee Landing! Come spring, however, these flocks will break up and the birds will defend separate territories through the warmer months. Only the dominant pair in the flock gets to stay in the winter territory, and the “Fee-Bee” calls of the males help to define territories and attract mates. Research suggests that individuals have distinct calls and that the flock can identify each bird by sound. It’s too soon for this spring singing behavior to be consistent among our Chickadees, but it’s not too early to get a little practice!
- Meg Dickoff |
- photo © Rod Kuehn
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January 28
Pine Grosbeak
On a beautiful, warm, blue-sky January day I heard a bright bird song. The “tee-tee-tew” song sounded so unlike the usual winter bird songs we hear up on the Ridge that I immediately stopped and began searching the tree tops. I finally located a pine grosbeak, a brilliant bird who looks as if he has been dipped in raspberry ice cream! Like chickadees, pine grosbeaks gather into groups (a group of grosbeaks is called a 'gross') for the winter. A gross has moved south into the area around Wolf Ridge again this winter in search of food. It's nice to see them back again! Keep your eyes peeled for this brilliant, red-pink bird and the brown females.
- Kaitlin Erpestad |
- artwork by Louis Agassiz Fuertes
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January 19
Pussy Willows
Each Spring, the buds of the pussy willow (Salix discolor) break open to unleash a fluffy whitish catkin. Thanks to a couple unusually warm weeks around Minnesota, these catkins are bursting out earlier than past years. The fluffy buds are not everywhere yet, but this photo shows a couple of the catkins that were fooled by the weather. Look around you and keep watch for Winter phenology.
- John Smith |
- photo © John Smith
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December 14
Wolf Tracks on Raven Lake
This wolf track was observed on Raven Lake at Wolf Ridge
on Dec 7, 2009. It led all the way to the beaver lodge! Wolf
tracks, like those of all canids, show four toes on each foot with
claw marks present, often measuring 3 to 4 inches long. The grey wolf (Canis lupus), also known as timber wolf, is the largest wild canine in North America. It is an ice age survivor originating during the Late Pleistocene around 300,000 years ago. The grey wolf used to range throughout the United States, but due to the massive hunting aimed at protecting livestock in the past centuries, they could only be found in a few northern states, like Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, and the upper peninsula of Michigan as well as Alaska.
- Joanna 朱艳 |
- Photo © Joanna 朱艳
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December 4
Wolf Lake Freezes
Wolf Lake has finally acquired an icy cover for the winter. Underneath the ice, life goes on for most aquatic animals. Insects such as stoneflies, caddisflies, and dragonflies overwinter as nymphs (their immature life stage) and will emerge as adults in the spring. Mink frogs and leopard frogs hibernate under the ice, and fish stick to the bottom of the lake, where it’s warmer. The fact that only the top of the lake freezes is due to the remarkable properties of water. Water expands when it freezes (and thus floats) because of the hydrogen bonds in the H2O molecule. Every other substance condenses as it freezes. If water were “normal,” it would sink to the bottom of the lake instead of float on top, and the entire lake or pond would be frozen solid by winter’s end. Thank goodness for water’s weirdness!
- Stephanie Erlandson |
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November 24
Snowshoe Hare Turn All White
Recently I and a few other naturalists were privileged enough to see the first all white snowshoe hare of the season. The snowshoe hare's adaptation to change from their summer coat to their winter coat is what is known as a photoperiodic phenomenon, meaning that the change is triggered by the shortening daylight hours and actually has nothing to do with the presence of snow on the ground. Keep your eyes peeled for these quick hoppers, but it is going to get a lot tougher once the snow starts to fly!
- David Butcher |
photo © Ashley Meredith |
November 10
Eagle Migration
Why are bald eagles one of the latest fall migrants? Well, the truth is that our national bird is flying south only when lakes and streams freeze over. Rather than complete a pre-programmed journey, most eagles only move as far south as necessary to follow their food source in open fresh water or on the coast. In many temperate areas like the southeast U.S. eagles do not migrate at all. They remain in their general breeding areas year-round because their food source is always available. A “stream” of migrating bald eagles can be twenty to thirty miles long, with birds spread out about a half mile apart. Enjoy watching them throughout the rest of November!
- Andrea Doerr |
photo © Hope Rutledge |
November 2
Golden Tamaracks
This tamarack tree is at peak color. It is native to northern Minnesota and is the only coniferous tree that changes color and loses its needles. If you are driving along the roads near Wolf Ridge, you will see the beautiful, glowing, yellowish-orange tamarack! Enjoy - before we know it, the needles will be falling off.
- Joanna Zhu Yan and Rhea Mehrkens |
- photo © Rhea Mehrkens
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October 22
Snow Stays!
The cold rain yesterday slowly turned to a wet, heavy snow and accumulated to about three inches by sunset, leaving our visiting schools and naturalists in an early winter wonderland! This was the first time this year more than 1/4 of an inch fell, and it stayed on the ground longer than 24 hours; both landmarks on our phenology calendar. We all awoke this morning to a clear blue sky and crunchy snow, then watched as it slowly melted. We'll see if the temperatures rise enough to melt it completely. For now though, it's nice and sloppy out there!
- Kimbra Kosak |
photo © Kimbra Kosak
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October 19
Snow Buntings
The Snow Buntings usually arrive here around October 16. They still have not been sighted here at Wolf Ridge yet this fall. Snow Buntings migrate down from the high arctic and return there in April. To identify this bird, note it’s sparrow-like appearance and the abundance of white plumage. The underside is entirely white. They are often seen feeding along roadways as they migrate through. Hopefully we’ll see these birds soon!-Emily Carlson |
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October 6
Fall STRAWBERRIES?
With a warm fall this past week we have been seeing signs of spring. Some fall flowers are still in bloom like this strawberry found by the Science Center. The berry tasted like it was still summer. Peter Harris says that fall phenology at Wolf Ridge is about 2 weeks behind in general.
-Jenni Poliseno
(with concurrence from Andrea Doerr!) |
photo © Jenni Poliseno
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October 1
Last Raspberries
Sadly, the summer smorgasbord of berries is waning here at Wolf Ridge. The students and naturalists were able to enjoy quite a few raspberries while walking the trails just two weeks ago, but now these treats are gone until the summer sun returns and next year's crop ripens. Some autumn berries, including High Bush Cranberries and Chokecherries, are ripening as the first frosts hit the North Shore, but we'll certainly miss those juicy gems of summer. If you're lucky enough to still have ripe raspberries in your area, enjoy them before they're gone!
-Meg Dickoff |
photos © Meghan Dickoff
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September 29
Leaf Flecking
Keep your eyes peeled! Fall colors are working their way through the
forest. The maples have already turned to brilliant oranges, reds,
and even purples, but this week look around for leaves flecking and
yellowing. Most prominently, we will be seeing paper birch and beaked
hazel leaves forming small yellow dots, or flecks, which soon end up
as completely yellow leaves. These trees have started the yellow
strokes, which as the days go by with turn full branches, then full
trees, and soon the only greens left in our panorama will be
evergreens! Go yellow go!
-Matti Erpestad |
photo © Matti Erpestad |
August 10
Orange Jelly Goo!
This fungus, officially the "Orange Jelly" Fungus Dacrymyces palmatus,
catches the eye of passing hikers. Its vibrant orange color and unique, gelatinous texture set this fungus apart from other forest inhabitants. Found on decaying conifer wood, this fungus grows in globular clusters reminiscent of alien slime. Orange Jelly is saprophytic; the fungus uses enzymes to digest dead plant matter. Spores are produced on the basidia which cover the many folds of the fungus.
- Nicole Skaar |
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August 4
Indian Pipe
Indian Pipe (Monotropa Uniflora) is a white and waxy flower. Unlike most plants Indian Pipe does not have chlorophyll. It survives by connecting its roots with a fungus that is connected to a Spruce Tree. Look for the ghostly white flowers also keep your eyes out for the luminous stems in the evening.
- Sarah Hutchins |
Photo by Alan Bauer
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August 3
Raspberry Munching Time
Did you know raspberries belong in the rose family? They are also a type of bramble otherwise known as a ‘cane berry.’ There are actually over 200 species of raspberries. In Minnesota, there are about 5 varieties of raspberries and they are ripe for the picking right now. During the medieval times, Crusaders actually wrote poems about red raspberries and the scent they gave off as they traveled to Jerusalem. Red raspberries date back to 4th century AD in Rome and yet the English were the ones that cultivated, hybridized, and improved them through the middle ages. Furthermore, they began exporting the plants to America by the late 1700s where they were considered a luxury. The black raspberry, however, is actually indigenous only to North America.
- Ellie Kolodzieski |
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July 31
Fireweed Blooms Along Roadsides
Within the last week Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) started to bloom around the Ridge. It’s personally one of my favorite flowers. Not only is it native to northern Minnesota, but also to other northern regions such as Alaska. Moose around the area must know this because it just happens to be one of their favorite snacks! Native cultures picked the early spring leaves to use in a salad, which were a good source of vitamin A and vitamin C. The root of this plant is also edible, but tastes bitter. In Alaska, candies, syrups, jellies, and even ice cream are made from the fireweed plant and in Russia and Western Europe, its leaves are used to make tea.
-Ali Schaefer and Katy Campbell |
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July 28
Asters Paint the Forest Floor
This beautiful Aster greeted me when I arrived for my Wolf Ridge adventure last fall. A late summer bloomer, this large leaf aster is one of many species found in America.The word Aster comes from the Greek word "star" and was considered a sacred emblem in the pantheon of Greek divinities. The Ojibway used the root to make a tea as relief for headaches or boiled the young leaves as an early vegetable.
- Matt Scott |
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July 20
Spittlebugs
Plants all around the Ridge this summer have what looks to be spit nestled on their stems close the leaves. If you are courageous enough to stick your fingers into the white, sticky bubbles, you will discover that there is actually a little insect living within each of the clumps. During their nymph stage (or immature) spittlebugs feed on the fluid within the xylem of the plant, and the excess is secreted to form the spittle. The nymph secretes the fluid under pressure so that when it combines with the air bubbles form. The spittle not only protects the nymph from predators, but it also insulates it from extremes of temperature and maintains the humidity so it does not dry out. Be daring and investigate the spittle and the tiny green and brown nymphs inside…just be careful and try to put the spittle back when you are done!
-Kelly Amoth |
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July 5
Four-Spotted Skimmers Everywhere!
Stepping outside of the Science Center felt like stepping into the dragonfly version of New York rush hour traffic. Thousands of gold, yellow, and black Four -Spotted Skimmers were zooming by, apparently in a hurry to some shared destination. Look for their golden shimmer perched on twigs near ponds, bogs, and streams. They are "circumpolar" and can be found all the way around the globe as far south as northern Africa.
- Peter Harris |
photo © Rod Kuehn
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June 1
Peregrine Hatchlings
Up and down the cliffs of the North Shore of Lake Superior the eggs of the amazing Peregrine Falcon have just hatched! The lone chick to the right hatched just hours before this photo was taken. Peregrines nest on sides of cliffs and sometimes in trees at locations 50 to 200+ feet in the air. The female incubates the eggs with help from the male for 29-32 days. At first hatch they are immobile with eyes closed and must be fed. Young are able to fly after 35-42 days.
- Ben Bishop |
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brand new (left)- a few hours old (rt)
photos above © Joe Walewski
photo above © Jim Williams
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June 4
Dance of the Hummingbirds
The male Ruby Throated Hummingbird performs a mating dance where his pattern of flight is in the shape of a U. He does this so that the sunlight will reflect his attractive florescent colors. This was seen for the first time this year at Wolf Ridge this week!!!
- Jessica Hill |
photo © Jim WIlliams
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May 27
Jack is in the Pulpit
Walking through the woods on Wednesday morning, admiring the spring beauties, large-flowered bellwort, and violets, I was lucky enough to find a Jack-in-the-Pulpit. The flower is so called because the spadix is standing out from the flower and covered by the flaplike spathe making the flower look like a preacher in a canopied pulpit. The spathe can be somewhere between green and purple with stripes; the more shade the plant grows in the more purple it will be, the more sunlight the more green. In herbal medicine, parts of Jack-in-the-Pulpit were used to soothe bowel disorders, bronchitis, or headaches, but if prepared incorrectly the plant can be quite harmful. It will cause a powerful burning sensation, as well as irritation of the mouth and digestive system. In some cases it can even cause swelling of the mouth severe enough to lead to suffocation. So, if you’re lucky enough to find a Jack-in-the-Pulpit, take a second to imagine what Jack might be preaching about today – but leave Jack be.
- Katie Fritz
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photo © Katie Fritz
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May 27
Not All Violets are Violet
The name suggests a purple color and, indeed, many violets have that rich purple hue, but they also come in a variety of other colors. So far this year, I have seen purple, white, and yellow violets. Most violets have heart-shaped, scalloped leaves and five petals - four fan-shaped petals and one broad lower petal pointing downward which is heavily veined (the veins act as a landing strip for insects that come into help pollinate the flower). While all the violets are well known, not only for their beauty but also for their culinary and medicinal value, yellow violets have been called the “Heal-all” by Pennsylvanians of the early 1800s who used the flower to cure all sorts of wounds and sores. I’ve never used violets for medicinal value, but I have enjoyed a few candied violets on top of dark chocolate truffles!
- Katie Fritz
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 photo © Katie Fritz
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May 21
Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)
Look in moist woodlands or sunny stream banks on the North Shore of Lake Superior for 5 white to pink petals that stand 3-6 inches off the ground. If you are lucky, you will see it! In addition to its beauty, its potato like tubers in the ground can be pulled up and boiled in salt water for 15 minutes to prepare for eating. Boil until a fork can pierce it and enjoy with butter and a little salt! Follow the rule of ten as mentioned below, and never eat any wild foods without consulting with a knowledgable adult who sees the plant WITH you.
- Ben Bishop
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May 11
Garter Snakes Emerge
The pattern on these snakes consists of one, two or three longitudinal stripes on the back, typically red, yellow, blue, orange or white. The snake genus earned its common name because people described the stripes as resembling a garter. In between the stripes on the pattern are rows with blotchy spots. Even within a single species the color in the stripes and spots and background can differ from a dark red to a lime green.
Ever tried to pick up a garter snake? Garter snakes are very delicate and skittish at first, especially a wild caught one. They will sometimes secrete a foul smelling musk from their cloaca (the breeding/defecating/urinating area near the tail end of the snake) This is to make you let him go because he is scared you will eat him. His bite is non-venomous to humans, but their bodies are still fragile. If you attempt to handle one, do so delicately, and bring your nose plug.
- Dennis Burgart |
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May 11
Wild Leeks
For all you foragers out there who have been patiently awaiting the first greens of spring, they're here! If you're lucky enough to come across some leeks, here's a simple recipe to try. But remember the rule of foraging (take only one in ten to leave enough for the plant to reproduce).
NOTE! Never eat any wild foods without consulting with a knowledgable adult who sees the plant WITH you. Some lilies (which are poisonous) can look like leeks!
- Dennis Burgart
Creamy Potato and Leek Soup
4 to 6 slices bacon
3-4 cups chopped leeks (the roots and all but 3-4" of the green tops and wash)
4 to 5 cups diced potatoes (red or yukon)
3 tablespoons flour
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
salt and pepper and thyme, to taste
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, fry bacon until crispy; set bacon aside. Add leeks and potatoes to the skillet; fry on medium-low heat until leeks are tender. Sprinkle with flour; stir until flour is absorbed. Stir in chicken broth; simmer until potatoes are tender. Stir in the cream and heat thoroughly. Add spices to taste.
Serves 4 to 6
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May 11
Bloodroot Blooming
Bloodroot (sanguinaria canadensis) gets its name from the red juice that can be extracted from its rhizome (similar to the root, but is actually a horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes). The sap has traditionally been used as a dye and healing agent by Native Americans. I remember as a child smearing this juice on myself to fool my friends into thinking I had been attacked by a bear, however in doing a little research, I found that: Applying the root or juice to the skin is a questionable activity as the plant is known to be an escharotic, a substance that kills tissue. Warning: The FDA considers Bloodroot "unsafe" and urges that it not be used by herbal healers. It is far to attractive a plant to dig up anyway. I wasn't harmed in any way, but this is a potent plant that should be admired for its beauty alone and left as a harbinger of spring.
- Dennis Burgart |
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April 21
Birds on Roofs
This yellow-rumped warbler was spotted picking insects out of the maple bark near the Education Building. One of the first warblers migrating north. This species tends to nest north of Minnesota, but can be found nesting in the Superior National Forest. As roofs heat up with longer sunlight hours, look for these warblers picking the insects that are resting on the warm shingles.
- Nick Sacco |
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April 21
Beaked Hazel Blooms
Spring is a time when we think of flowers blooming. Trees have flowers too! Beaked Hazel, like this one, are beginning to show their female flowers in a deep red magenta. The male catkins are shown in a dangling mini pinecone, that will release pollen when mature. Each female flower will eventually develop into a delicious nut that squirrels, bears and even humans enjoy.
- Nick Sacco |
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April 15
Hammock Day
I'm lying in a hammock, 2:00 pm, face in the sun on this balmy 55 degree day. I can hear the chunky snow and ice falling from the tops of drifts causing streams to run down the road. Over the last two days, new animals have emerged--chipmunks, house flies, butterflies and woodchucks. The Juncos are back and the Chickadees have dispersed. In my book, I declare it the first warm day of spring!
- Jenni Medley |
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March 22
THE Ice Storm
CRRAAACK! ....Swoooossshhhhh.... It was a loud week up on the Ridge. We were at the center of an amazing ice storm. Even tiny branches were surrounded by two inches of ice. With all that weight, LOTS of trees, branches, and tree tops came down in the forests around the ridge. Most classes were held inside so no-one would be hit by falling ice chunks! After about a week, the ice finally melted off. Check out this video and the ice storm photo album!
- Carrie Anderson |
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March 16
Melting Through the Night
March 16th was the first day this spring where the air temperature stayed above freezing all throughout the night. The melting snow could be heard dripping off the rooftop throughout the night. The warm weather may be accepted willingly from most, but that may mean a poor maple syrup season if the temps don’t peak and fluctuate as much as they could.
- Ali Schaefer |
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