Woods-Land Unicorn
Nature is doing its own Green Up
Green Up Day, May 4 2013 brought beautiful sunny
skies, above normal warm temperatures, and most importantly many litter
pickers. They came as individuals, as groups and teams, as families, they came
with friends and neighbors. Vermonters came out off their cabins, homes,
schools, businesses and churches. The spirit of cleaning up the state was akin
to the best maple sap flow one could wish upon our communities. Scattering
about streets and sidewalks, parks and fields, trails and woodlands, streams
and rivers and lakes and ponds, folks searched and retrieved trash and treasure.
The Earth, here in Vermont rejoiced! Visit my web site posting “Green Up Day Photos 2013 South Burlington VT
to
view photos of a few of the Green Up Day participants. I dare you to find any
of them not smiling broadly.
Now the second green up begins. Mother Nature laid
on more summer like temperatures on us, followed by much needed rain commencing
on May 8. On May 9, the sun was out again. Early in the morning, I looked out
my window and watched tree buds unfold into leaves painting the landscape.
An artist using a sable brush and a pallet of
multiple shades of green could not fill a blank backdrop so quickly or with
such splendor. Our long hedge of lilacs offers their perfumed scent enticing us
to them as much as they entice the bees.
Yellow Tulips give praise to both sun and rain. Nature’s
wildlife cries out to the litter pickers “We knew you would come through for
us!” They invite us all too once again step outside together to celebrate Green
Up II, natures offering of beauty, new life, and wonder abound.
Outdoor chores in our backyard are abundant as the
new leaves. Having washed the rain barrels a few weeks ago, now I rejoice, as
they are nearly full to capacity. I will drain them into gallon jugs before the
next rain, storing them near the raised bed garden. New plants purchased from
the Winooski Natural Resources
Conservation District (http://winooskinrcd.org/trees-and-trout/)
annual tree and shrub sale need watering regularly through the first two years
after planting. Many are in pots until such time we can decide where to plant
them permanently. Purchases this year include bare root-Yellow Birch, Shadblow
Serviceberry, Blackberry, Elderberry, Highbush Cranberry, and Frostbite Apple. Chives
need to be broken up and transplanted-will try pots and plant trays to lower
weeding requirements. In addition, pots kept near the door provide easy access
and a reminder to add them to salads. Of course, like our rhubarb, I like to
tear off a handful of chives as a snack while working in the yard.
Many plantings are as much for the birds as for us.
Three bare root hybrid Hazelnut plants are due any day from the Arbor
Foundation http://www.arborday.org/shopping/memberships/hazelnut/.
These will join our American and Beaked Hazelnut plants. One of our Evan’s Bali
Cherry trees is full of white blossoms as to nearly hide all of the green
leaves.
The crabapple tree is as full of pink blossoms,
while the flowering Quinces show off their red flowers.
Enjoy Green Up II through May with vegetable, flower, bush, and tree plantings. You worked to make Vermont Green and Clean, now get out and enjoy all that nature has to offer.
The birds are already pulling out their
grandmother’s cherry and apple pie recipes.
Enjoy Green Up II through May with vegetable, flower, bush, and tree plantings. You worked to make Vermont Green and Clean, now get out and enjoy all that nature has to offer.
See photos of some of the folks who participated in the 2013 Green Up Day tradition @ http://www.litterwithastorytotell.blogspot.com/2013/05/green-up-day-2013-south-burlington-vt.html
I dare you to find any of them not smiling broadly.
No comments:
Post a Comment
COMMENTS WELCOMED