Outdoor Mom's Journal - July 7, 2015

On the Handbook of Nature Study, there's a monthly Outdoor Mom's Journal. Each month, there are a series of questions that one can reflect upon and respond to that relate to nature and being outdoors. One, several, or all of the questions can be answered. I chose to answer all the questions - even though some don't directly relate to being outdoors.

During my outdoor time this week I went....on a short hike on Ridgeview Trail - Chisago Loop in Osceola, Wisconsin. The description of the trail said, "Hike or snowshoe up a short incline for fabulous view of the St. Croix River. An easy ascent for birding and photography opportunities."

The trail in the early part of the walk.

The first part of the walk was fine, but as the trail became more heavily-wooded the mosquitoes were so overwhelming. I could hear them all around me and each time I would bend down to take a picture, my hand would immediately be covered with at least a half-dozen mosquitoes.

A lone feather on the trail.

I kept hiking hoping that the "fabulous view of the St. Croix River" would be around the next bend. It wasn't. 

Further into the hike, the area was more wooded and 

the trail not quite as apparent.

I saw some impressive cliffs that were covered with grasses, weeds, and trees; and then the trail led into an open area.

As I walked on the path that was not overly used, I realized that no one knew where I was, I didn't have a water bottle, my cell phone has sketchy service in that location, and the view of the St. Croix River was no where in sight. At this point, I thought it was best to turn around.

A little patch of purple wildflowers.

Perhaps coming back to this trail in the fall or early spring when mosquitoes aren't present and the view is a bit more open because of fewer leaves on the trees would be better.

A rock partially covered with moss.

The most inspiring thing I experienced was...hearing all the frogs singing in the backyard and pasture after a very heavy rainfall. I also saw lightning bugs last week which always brightens my mood.

My outdoor time made me ask (or wonder about)...if mosquitoes bother wildlife and livestock as much as they do humans.

There were deer tracks on the trail.

In the garden, we are planning/planting/harvesting....the wild black raspberries are growing and overtaking the garden. The ones higher up are ones that we pick and that the birds will sometimes eat. The ones lower to the ground are being enjoyed by the bunnies - especially the new litter of baby bunnies that are hopping around the driveway and near the garden.

Wild black raspberries.

There are quite a few things in the raised bed gardens that are ripening.

A plant loaded with tomatoes.

We will have quite a few tomatoes ripening all at the same time - lots of cherry and paste tomatoes. The larger tomatoes do not have nearly as many growing as do the cherry tomato plants.

Dill that can be harvested.

We have herbs that can be harvested - lots of parsley, dill, and Thai basil.

When we planted the onions, we did not space them or put them in orderly rows because they came as very tiny transplants. It was easier just to plant the entire clump.

Looking down at the many green onions.

They need to be thinned so some of them can grow larger.

We planted marigolds next to tomato plants to see if that helped them and would deter pests. So far the tomatoes and marigolds seem to be doing well.

One of the colorful marigolds in the gardens.

I noticed that we have peppers growing. There's nothing like a fresh pepper from the garden. Makes me hungry for stuffed peppers.

Green peppers growing next to one another.

This morning I picked some of the green onions. They are hot and spicy, and have so much more flavor than what I could ever buy in the store.

Green onions ready to be used in a recipe today.

I added nature journal pages about....nothing. I have pictures from my trip to Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana from earlier in the year; pictures from around the farm; and a feather and bark that was on the trail from the walk earlier this week that I would like to put in my nature journal.

There comes a point where I get so far behind that it just is too overwhelming to even think about getting caught up. I'm at that point with nature journaling. Maybe once the county fair is done I can make a concerted effort to put into the journal what I have printed and collected.

A blossom on a bean plant. Beans should be coming soon!

I am reading...Simple Living by Jose Hobday. In the description about simple living the author refers to nature:

"The path to simple living may be narrow and winding or it can be wide and quite straight. Both flowers and stickers will grow along the way. Simple living gives a lift to the spirit and a lightness to the step, with surprises aplenty. Even the thistles cross our road buoyantly. They are the tumbling tumbleweeds in our path."

Moss rose in the morning before it opens for the day.

I am dreaming about…when I can look out and have a beautifully landscaped yard that is is colorful and full of flowers, and doesn't have itch weed.

Purple flowers that are growing in a garden that 

I began last fall with bulbs.

Added annuals this spring; and 

Olivia planted gladiolus bulbs in late-May.

All the colors of the flowers in the garden are purple and red.

A photo I would like to share...In less than a week, the zucchini have blossomed with these beautiful, bold flowers.

A zucchini blossom.

How inviting the blossoms must be to pollinators - like our honeybees and wild bees that we are seeing all around our farm.