Wrens and Fruit

Look carefully at the right side of the roof on this charming birdhouse and you will see the occupant, a wren. The little chatter box continued to sing as I got close enough to take the picture.  Here's one of Emily Dickerson's poems that suggests the joy expressed by this plain and yet charming bird.

For every Bird a Nest

For every Bird a Nest—
Wherefore in timid quest
Some little Wren goes seeking round—

Wherefore when boughs are free—
Households in every tree—
Pilgrim be found?

Perhaps a home too high—
Ah Aristocracy!
The little Wren desires—

Perhaps of twig so fine—
Of twine e’en superfine,
Her pride aspires—

The Lark is not ashamed
To build upon the ground
Her modest house—

Yet who of all the throng
Dancing around the sun
Does so rejoice?

 My joy from picking and eating two fruits matches the wren's rejoicing. Here are black currents from two bushes. The fruit are abundant and waiting to be picked. I like the tartness of black currents and especially with oatmeal. They add a special zesty taste to the oatmeal that lingers on the tongue while eating.

I discovered that black currents and cherries from the Garden's two trees are a delicious combination. I picked nearly a Rubbermaid full of cherries, shown in the next picture.

The cherries are only on the lower branches of the two trees. The upper portions have no cherries. I speculate that frost may have been a factor explaining this unusual distribution.

The black currents are underneath the cherries. As I carried the combination home, I envisioned making scones and adding bits of chocolate. Colectivo, a very popular coffeehouse, just a half block from our apartment, offers cherry chocolate scones. They are to die for (oh, not really that good!).

After considering the work involved in making scones and recognizing the ease of getting Colectivo's scones, I consulted Google for a sauce recipe. Within seconds, I found a simple six minute recipe that yielded about a  cup of sauce. I scooped the warm sauce on vanilla Greek yogurt. A very tasty and low calorie dessert.

The next morning I enjoyed the sauce with my oatmeal, which I often have for breakfast. Oatmeal is a lifelong favorite, including oatmeal raisin cookies. I fondly recall the large black cast iron pot full of oatmeal on the wood cast iron stove my mother cooked on before the gas range arrived. Her oatmeal was the old fashioned kind that required more cook time than my two minute zap of a single serving in the microwave. Large pots of oatmeal were needed to feed our large family. My family had nine boys and five girls.  During my late childhood and teen years, besides me, eight others were at home. What a crew. Enough for a softball team.

I have pleasant memories mixed with awe for my Mother's fortitude and skills needed to raise such a large family. She would have approved and liked my special cherries and black current sauce.

Repairs, Weeding and UW Arboreteum

This morning a new Herman Miller Aeron desk chair arrived. I now enjoy the luxury of sitting in a chair designed based on advanced ergonomic principles. Ann, my wife, remarked that I may never get out of this chair because sitting feels so good.

Last Saturday, June 17th, six neighbors joined Ann and I to care for the Prospect Gardens.  I worked on preparing the section of a garden, pictured to the right, for repairs. Early Tuesday morning a fast moving storm dumped several inches of rain. So much rain fell in a short time period, drenching the Gardens and causing erosion. The rushing water moved the good size rocks down the steep slope while flattening the flowering plants. I dug up the plants, with their exposed roots, and moved them to other sections of the gardens. They will survive this trauma.

Dan and Carissa, from the city engineering department, met with me on Friday. The city will replace the rocks and clean out a nearby storm sewer.  We all realized this is a band-aide solution.  The more complicated challenge involves how water flows down North Prospect Street leading to the Gardens. Most likely a new storm sewer is required.

Pictured here, along with me, are the intrepid and dedicated volunteers. Starting from the top left and moving to the right are Laura, Loren, Ken, Joyce, me, Bob and Ann N. My wife Ann took the picture. Beside weeding, she made and provided the scrumptious Pecan Tassies, which were so enjoyed during the break. Bob likes to joke that Ann's treats are the primary reason he volunteers.

A special thank you to all and an extra thank you goes to Bob.  Bob, better known as "mulch king", broke five ribs in a bike accident early this Spring. We welcomed him back while being concerned that he might be overdoing it. He assured us that was not the case.

 
Here's Joyce and Laura pulling weeds from the rocky slope of a section of the Gardens (on the Dudgeon Monroe side). The weeds are plentiful with their roots under the rocks. To the extend possible, the roots are dug out after lifting up the rocks.  I often refer to caring for the Prospect Gardens as "extreme gardening", meaning that because of the underlying rocks, extra effort is involved.

Here's Loren pulling weeds along the ditch line. Loren also volunteers at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison. I feel grateful that he does both. Visiting Olbrich, at least once, is always on my summer "must do" list.

The UW Arboretum is another favorite, which I visited Sunday morning. I walked the 50 acre Greene Prairie, located south of the Beltline. Starting in 1933 and for the next approximately 15 years, Henry Greene and a few of his friends planted more than 12,000 seedlings and plants, and an unknown number of seeds, representing at least 133 species of plants including white ladyslipper, downy phlox, creamy wild indigo, rattlesnake master, showy blazingstar, compass plant, prairie dock and bottle gentian. His efforts remind me that Prospect Gardens is part of a larger Wisconsin tradition of reclaiming land affected by development. 

Here's the indestructible Bob.  Perhaps he's pondering the impact of his work given the quantity of weeds in the gardens and all the recent rain. He didn't ponder for long; returning back to the task at hand, shortly after I snapped the picture.

Pictured here are the results of our collective efforts; another large pile of of plant material.  I walked through the Gardens this morning, noticing that the city crew had already picked up the  pile. Thank you, Dan, for arranging the pickup and thank you to the crew who followed through.

Ann and I will be visiting friends in Minneapolis during the next several days. We indeed do other things and have a life besides gardening. However, I do joke that perhaps Ann and  I should build one of those charming tiny houses, so popular today. One would fit on the city property next to the Gardens. This could be our summer home. This fantasy will never see reality. 

Past Remnants

Nearly two seasons ago we cleared a new area west of the then borders of the Prospect Gardens. We expanded the Gardens while uncovering remnants from the past. Here's four plants now in bloom. I suspect that three (two types of peonies and roses) witnessed trains that rumbled through our neighborhood following what is now the commuter path. If I recall correctly, the path was opened in 2000.  The irises, the fourth pictured flower, were transplanted from a neighbor's yard.

I love peonies.  Today on my way to a meditation retreat on the UW Oshkosh campus, I will stop at the peony garden in Rosendale.

Most Wisconsin citizens know and associate Rosendale, with the vigilant police officer who diligently enforces the 30 miles on hour speed limit. Several years ago I was a receiver of that vigilance.

The peony gardens are on the left as you are going east on Highway 26 and after the traffic light. I share this Mary Oliver poem about the lovely peony.

Peonies

This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready

to break my heart

as the sun rises,

     as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers

and they open-----

pools of lace,

white and pink----

     and all the day the black ants climb over them,

boring their deep and mysterious holes

into their curls,

    craving the sweet sap,

        taking it away

to their dark, underground cities-----

and all day

    under the shifty wind,

      as in a dance to the great wedding,

the flowers bend their bright bodies,

and tip their fragrance to the air,

    and rise,

         their red stems holding

all that dampness and recklessness

gladly and lightly,

     and there it is again-----

        beauty the brave, the exemplary,

blazing open

do you love this world?

      Do you cherish your humble and silky life?

         Do you adore the green grass, with its terror beneath?

Do you also hurry, half-dressed and barefoot into the garden,

And softly,

   And exclaiming of their dearness,

         Fill your arms with the white and pink flowers,

With their honeyed heaviness, their lush trembling,

their eagerness

    to be wild and perfect for a moment, before they are

      nothing, forever?

 Another one of my favorites is the old fashioned climbing rose. Like the peony, these too are "wild and perfect for a moment". We witness precious moments of beauty before the delicate blooms fade away for another season. 

The Japanese Iris are from the backyard of Nick's house that borders the Prospect Gardens. A few years ago, Nick's backyard gardens were professionally redesigned and he offered the Irises. I usually have problems saying "no thank you", when neighbors offer plants. I am getting better at saying "no" when I need to, and especially now that the Gardens have matured. 

 These four beauties remind me of the generosity of current neighbors and that others worked in areas that are now incorporated in the Gardens.  They also remind me of the beauty of Springtime while pointing out the impermanence of beauty and life itself. 

Planting, Weeding and Rain

 Another week of tending the Prospect Gardens is slipping by. As I write this (June 8th), I am hoping for more rain. Earlier in the evening, we received a brief refreshing shower. The skies are overcast and it's anybody's guess if more badly needed rain will nourish the Prospect Gardens. The soil is dry. Today, I continued watering the grasses and flowers I received from Nate, a nearby neighbor.

Last Monday from another neighbor, Susan, I picked up purple cone flowers, pictured to the right. Susan is also a member of First Unitarian Society and offered the plants before last Sunday's service. Our Senior Minister Michael, gave a very interesting sermon about Henry David Thoreau. I didn't know his father made pencils. I was introduced to Thoreau in an American Literature class as a sophomore, attending the then two year UW Green Bay Center. We were studying the transcendentalists. I am considering reading "Walden" once again. 

The center eventually became the four year University of Wisconsin Green Bay.  Oh wow, the years have slipped by.


Susan also provided several other plants, including the one in the next picture. I can't recall its name.

 This last week also included more weeding and removing aggressive plants, and Ann, my wife, helped also.  For example, the Saw Tooth daisy. It's a lovely plant that blooms late in summer. However, the Saw Tooth spreads through seeds and rhizomes, providing an evolutionary advantage compared to other prairie plants.  Lesson here is this species needs a large prairie.  

The next two pictures show the "before" and "after" of my three hours of labor. Blue skies, mild temperatures and a light breeze meant perfect conditions for gardening. You can see the blue sky in the two pictures.

I was hoping to uncover many of the original plants we installed a few years ago. My expectations, as this picture indicates, were just that. Now the barren areas present opportunities for beginning again. I am considering planting more grasses with few prairie plants.  Grasses will help prevent erosion.  Maybe the sturdy sedge? Something to think about over the weekend.

Meanwhile, I will be hoping for more rain. I just looked out my window. A nearly a full bright moon hangs in the clear sky. Beauty and serenity abound while signaling less opportunities for rain.  

What's Blooming

The skies outside my window are overcast and the deck of our balcony is damp from the misty light rain. Another day similar to those we enjoyed during the winters of Oregon. Yesterday, Ann and I returned to Home Depot and came home with another Martha Washington geranium and a pot of marigolds.  My Mother, Anna, and my Mother-in-Law, Ethel, always had marigolds in their gardens. The marigolds' yellow and orange blooms are a reminder of their vibrant lives.
 
Here are eight pictures of flowers that are blooming in the Prospect Gardens. The white delicate blossoms are some Sweet Woodruff that were planted several years ago. Ajuga are the  three small purple blooms. The cluster of leaves roughly in the middle of  the picture are weeds waiting to be removed.  This rainy Spring has meant plenty of weeds.

Here's the Golden Alexanders. It's their second year in the Gardens and transplanted from gardens on the near east side of Madison. 

Of course these are the lovely and delicate Columbine. This one is the progeny of seeds planted eight years ago when we began the Gardens. Others have spread throughout the Gardens. Wow, hard to believe it's been eight years.

I have no idea what species this is with its delicate light blue blooms on one stem. The plant is about a foot tall.  I do not recall planting this lovely addition to the Gardens. May it continue to thrive and spread.

These are the flowers of one of two Pagoda Dogwoods that I planted nearly five years ago. This is the first year they have blossomed. I have been waiting patiently for the arrival of these delicate blooms and now celebrate this developmental stage. They were about two feet tall when first planted and were on sale. Great investment. In the next few years, they will grow in height.

Pictured to the left is Solomon's seal.  These came from a friend's garden.  I so enjoy the delicate bell-like flowers. This plant loves the deep shade and nicely compliments hostas.

Spring would not be Spring without the Jack-in-the Pulpits. This one graces the hosta garden and is rather tall.

Prairie Smoke, an early bloomer, produces these beautiful pink star-like blooms.  This one in on the Dudgeon Monroe side of the Garden and another one resides in the Regent side of the Gardens. Last year I had about a half dozen, and two survived. Not a good survival rate, I would say.

The Gardens, like life itself, does constantly change as the seasons pass. Each plant has its life cycle. Some are with us for a long time while others just for a brief span; adding their beauty and then disappearing forever.

Busy Week, Dirt Therapy and Wet Stalwarts

We have been busy gardening for the last eight days and since I last blogged.. Besides working in the Prospect Gardens, Ann and I enjoyed shopping for and placing potted plants on our long deck that extends across the front of our apartment. A variety of annuals joined a statute of Buddha, a small water fountain, and two large pottery vases. We brought these four items with us when we moved last August into our apartment.  Ann's ability to select and match colors contributed to a very pleasing display of flowers.

On May 13, a sunny Saturday, Ann and I joined the crowd at the annual UW- Arboretum plant sale. We arrived at 9 a.m. and chatted with others as we waited about a half hour before getting into the tent. I enjoyed a cookie while patiently listening to a woman with a wonderful accent telling us about a mysterious plant in her garden. She kept showing us several pictures on her camera while expecting us to guess the plant's name.  I felt like I was caught in a version of  "Garden Jeopardy". After about ten minutes she revealed the plant's name.

We purchased five Columbines and made our way to the Gardens. The five replaced those that didn't survive the  winter.  Ann and I spent more time than I anticipated. Laura, a stalwart volunteer, joined us after walking her friendly little dog. We weeded as time swiftly flew by. We ended about one o'clock.

My niece's husband refers to gardening as "dirt therapy."  The analogy is somewhat appropriate, from the perspective of relieving stress. For me, however, the difference is that when gardening I don't do self-analysis or seek self-improvement. Gardening is more like meditation with the object of meditation being the task before me. As I garden I experience calmness, a feeling of generosity, being connected to Mother Earth, and time dissolving.

On Friday, May 19th, before the rains arrived in the late afternoon, I planted four boxes full of Sweet Woodruff. Ann S.,  a friend and leader of our Japanese Crane sessions, offered the plants. Ann S. cares for an garden area that makes up an intersection in front of her home.

Sweet Woodruff is a great ground cover that spreads quickly and took over her small garden.  Digging it out required pulling on the carpet-like root system after digging under it. The slopes that make up much of Prospect Gardens need ground cover. The quick spreading Sweet Woodruff will help prevent erosion while adding early spring green color that will last until frost. Perfect!

Here is one area on the border of the shade garden with the newly transplanted Sweet Woodruff. The stump is from a tree removed several years ago and is at the top of the slope. Over time, the area in front of the stump should be covered, and in early Spring with many delicate small white flowers also. Three other areas in the garden gladly received more Sweet Woodruff.

Today Ann and I returned to Ann S's intersection garden for more Sweet Woodruff and transplanted them into the Prospect Gardens. I already had some, planted a few years ago. We also transplanted grasses from Janice's rain garden. Janice was our neighbor when we lived on Keyes Avenue. Thanks Janice and Ann S. for the gifts.  




Saturday, May 20th, arrived with cloudy skies and rain once again in the forecast. The rain fell all Friday reminding me of the rainy Oregon days when we lived in Portland in the 1970's. We headed for the gardens just before 9 a.m and as we left the garage, sprinkles hit the windshield. We persisted. Two stalwart volunteers joined Ann and I. Here's Joyce pulling weeds. Notice her winter hat; needed because the temperature was about 45 degrees.

The rain increased, but then would stop for awhile. Here's Laura working diligently.

While working, Nick who lives next to the Gardens, leaned over the picket fence and offered future use of water from his rain barrel. This includes a hose. I gladly accepted. Thanks Nick. You may recall that  Nick and his son made the bird houses that now grace the garden.

One bird house has attracted a wren. We don't know if Mother wren will actually select the house in which to lay her eggs. Mother wrens, along with the help of their male mate, build several nests. Mother selects which one to lay her eggs and bring up her brood. I will be watching the house to see if it was selected.

When this picture was snapped the rain had already increased, as you can tell by the soaking of Joyce's jacket. Joyce's smile and laughter lessened the sting of the cold rain.

By 10:30am,  we threw in the trowels, giving in to Mother Nature. Ann distributed her delicious homemade lemon bars and we all headed home. We were pleased with what we accomplished. Thanks Laura and Joyce.

2017 Season Arrives: Weeding and the Red Bud

The 2017 gardening season at Prospect Gardens officially begun last Saturday, May 6th, on a perfect Wisconsin spring day; sunny, temps in the low sixties and a blue sky.  Incidentally, May 7th was naked gardening day. We passed on the opportunity to participate a day before this happening. Pulling stinging nettles in the buff would have been a challenge.

Weeding was the primary task. The mild winter perhaps encouraged the abundance of Creeping Charlie.  You may be surprised to learn that it was intentionally brought to North America by European settlers. Maybe our ancestors were influenced by a Greco-Roman doctor, Galen, who recommended it for inflamed eyes, or the English herbalist, John Gerard (1545-1607) who believed that Creeping Charlie reduced ringing in the ears, according to Botanical.com.

Regardless, on Saturday much of our energy focused on removing the thriving Creeping Charlie. Steve, a long term volunteer, and I spent most of the morning removing it from the strawberry patch. The winter really thinned out the patch.  Or was it the rabbits? On Monday, my wife Ann, and I refreshed the patch with donated plants from Jennifer, a Regent neighbor.  Today, I will add more plants donated by another Regent neighbor, Ann. Ann and I belong to a small group of retirees, "Going Forth." We meet once a month to talk about situations involving retirement and aging while applying lessons from Buddhism.


Here are two more volunteers, Ann N. and Laura, working in an area just west of the strawberry patch.  Creeping Charlie  also invaded the area. Ann's daughter and our daughter, Emily, were school buddies since Kindergarten.  Now adults, the two are still in contact.  Ann's daughter has twins who bring much happiness to Grandmother Ann. 

This season, Garlic Mustard, the terrorist of gardens, is hardly present throughout the Prospect Gardens.  I am wondering why that is the case. It's  a Eurasian native likely brought to North America by early European colonists as a food and medicinal plant.  In late April, neighbors working in the nearby Glenwood Children's Park held a "Weed Feed" feasting on dishes that included Garlic Mustard.The park's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Glenwood-Childrens-Park-Madison-WI-163767666993119/) also mentions Stinging Nettle soup and recommended the roots of Burdock. 
 
 Stinging Nettles were in this area being observed by Steve in this picture.  Steve has that determined look as he surveys the hillside. I managed to pull most of the plants with only a few stings on my wrists when my long sleeve shirt sleeve pulled up.  The stinging sensation continued for nearly 24 hours.










 

We once again enjoyed Ann's, my wife, special homemade treat. Here's Ann N. (the Regent volunteer), Loren, Laura, and Steve enjoying Hungarian Kalacs . Thank you all for helping out.  You deserved a break. 

We enjoyed this wonderful pastry with lots of walnuts along with a yeast dough and based on Ann's Grandmother's recipe.  I jokingly refer to Ann, as the Union Boss, since she makes sure we take breaks. I tend to forgot about time. . 

The morning disappeared so quickly. We made some progress in removing the weeds with me acknowledging many still remain.  Another session is scheduled for May 20th.  Ann and I will most likely return before then, if the spirit moves us. 





In the meantime, the blooms on the Red Bud, planted several years ago, are fading. A marker of time passing while broadcasting the beauty of this spring season.  Spring also reminds of the impermanence of life in the midst of beauty.

This picture was taken several weeks ago. I marvel at how this lovely sign of spring was once a scrawny twig.  Steve brought the twig over and confidently put the twig in the ground. I kept my skepticism about its future to myself. The wonders of nature and an example of the tenacity of this particular Red Bud.