HAPPY SPRING!
AND THINGS ARE HAPPENING…
Folks must be anxious to get outside in some warm sun and explore the woods & fields OR even your own backyard! BUT BEWARE: trails are very wet, water even over your boots, and it can still can be slippery with ice below. ***It is best to wait for the trails to dry for your own safety and minimize trail damage. In the meantime, prepare your backpack & other gear to be ready to go.
The winter has caused damage to our trees, especially those stressed by the invasive species. Add snow, rain and winds and you can see the outcome. Branches down & some trees ‘hung up’ in other trees just waiting to fall. These are known as ‘widow makers’-you don’t want to be near them or under them-in case they fall. When you’re on a trail, pick up any branches & toss them off to the side. Everyone can do a little and that means a lot !
If you happen to look closely around the base of trees where it is warmer, you might find something like black pepper. BUT it is not, they are snow fleas or springtails! Don’t worry, they’re not looking for you but have come up through the snow from their winter territory in the leaf litter. They are a species millions of years old and have managed to move around with the anatomical piece called the furcula which catapults the critter into the air to travel!
But these are not the only critters busy all through winter. Underneath the snow, there is life going on with mice, shrews, voles moles and insects. This subnivian layer is important for the survival of these animals. The snow is an insulator. As the snow melts you might see these tunnels in the soil; you might see perfect round holes in the snow, with no ‘foot prints’ (air holes for the tunnels) and mounds of soil made by moles (moles don’t bother your garden, they stay underground to enjoy eating the earthworms!). Strange things to see after winter.
The birds are getting busy setting up housekeeping, so make them feel welcome in your yard with a birdhouse or two. Listen to the songs & watch their flights.
And on the ground, the early spring ephemerals (plants that bloom before all the trees leaf out & take the sun) will be showing themselves. Slow walking & looking may reward you with some pleasant surprises!
Be careful while hiking. The winter storms have caused many trees to fall over. The picture above shows an example. Wind or other movements can cause these “widow makers” to collapse and inflict serious damage.