Unsettled Period

We've started to go through an unsettled period which means that we are having a bit more rain. This is good for everyone and thing. Vegetation is beginning to look a bit less droopy.
The beavers are enjoying branches we leave for them to encourage them not to cross the road to get more trees (we don't want them to get hit by a car) as they cut down more trees surrounding the ponds. The ducklings are growing up fast!

Major issues with drought and record high temps this July, severely hindering the growth of crops. Extremely alarming.

 Here in New Hampshire we have fared somewhat better. Though our water table is getting low, it's not at dangerous levels, yet. The beavers continue to enjoy both ponds and don't seem to be as skittish around as we snap their photos and start the video. This even we watched as the beavers chowed down on some branches we brought down to the pond. There was a minor tiff over food between the beaver couple, but then they settled down to eating side by side.

Other critters seen in recent weeks: river otters which got into a tangle with the male beaver who charged them and we haven't seen them since. Two visiting herons, one which Lindley saw crash on take off - no harm done, wood ducklings still motoring around foraging for food.

Wildflowers blooming already: golden rod, aster, bone set, black eyed susans. Blackberries already ripening. Raspberries started before July 4th!

Summer in March

March 20th was the first day of spring, but the temperatures broke records even before spring became official. Everything is about three weeks to a month ahead of time. The temperatures were in the 80's during the day. Life has returned to the pond and there is an abundance of poly wogs and vernal pool creatures, including these two breeding newts (see photo above).
On March 21st I heard wood frogs at the Town Hall and two days later, March 23rd, I heard them clacking out in the Beaver Pond. Today, March 24th, the temperatures are more normal for this time of year and we are back to wearing jackets. How will we...how will wildlife adapt to these big fluctuations in temperatures? that remains to be seen.
In the meantime not enough is being done to reduce our carbon footprints on a grander scale.

Warm July

Fourth of July. A double-digit day around the country, but here seasonably warm - in the mid-80's today. Everything seems a bit ahead...daisies have come and gone. Black eyed Susans are blooming. There are raspberries and goldenrod and some other wildflowers I usually associate with later in July or early August.

We have seen the heron a lot...it's loopy flight so easy to recognize.