Monday, April 21, 2008

Magnolia Madness!

Magnolia Madness!

The first heady sight and scent of 2008's floral parade arrived this week, with the early "Star" stellata and "Japanese tree" kobus magnolias now in full bloom. Notable specimens of the former stand in front of Newburyport City Hall and of the latter in the backyard at 227 Middle Street, West Newbury.

If you'd like to see our trees up close and personal, and also take a tour of early spring flora and fauna in a unique microcosm, please join me on Thursday, April 24 at 12 noon or Friday, April 25, at 8 a.m.

Our three parent trees have seeded hundreds of offspring, and the ground between them is carpeted with trout lilies, wood violets and anemones, with marsh marigolds,skunk cabbage, false hellebore and early fiddleheads along the stream and through the woods. Perhaps you'll see ideas you can incorporate into your own natural spaces.

And speaking of beautiful, natural places: please bring family and friends to help in Earth Day clean-ups next weekend! On Saturday, April 26 your help would be appreciated along the trails at River Bend Conservation Area in West Newbury. Wear rubber boots, bring gloves, trash bags and loppers to either the southern end of River Road or the Way-to-the-River end of the trail. Dumpsters will be waiting for all the flotsam and jetsam we can remove, having floated down the river and ending up in West Newbury!

Friday, April 11, 2008

Conserving Water for an Un-rainy Day

Hard to imagine how a protacted drought would affect life here in the lower Merrimack Valley. We read about conditions elsewhere, where deserts are growing, reservoirs and aquifiers are shrinking. Locally we count on the annual average of 46 inches of moisture that falls as snow and rain to keep things green and growing, conscious of our water usage only when municipalities restrict outdoor water usage during the dry times in July and August.

But only a tiny shift of fortune could greatly alter our profligate water use. Since 40% of the water the average homeowner uses goes to outdoor use, it makes sense to leave well and public water for use as drinking water, using saved rainwater for outdoor purposes.

One way to save a bit of what water will be coming this month in quantity, is to save the rainwater that falls onto the roof and using it to water our gardens, young trees, shrubs and flowers. That free water can easily be directed down the downspout, through a connecting hose and stored in a rain barrel with a spigot for later use in the garden. The barrels are safe, fitted with a screened louver to keep out bugs, and recycled. Retailing for $89, the rain barrels will be less expensive if ordered in quantity, and the Town may also be able to tap into a grant as well. See them online at www.nerainbarrel.com.

Interested? Please leave your name with Jay Smith, West Newbury Conservation agent, (978-363-1100 x 126) if you would like to be included in this worthwhile program.

Friday, April 4, 2008

"BIG NIGHT

Anticipation...waiting for "Big Night"

The promise of spring seems so slow to reach fulfillment, but looking closely in the warmest, wettest places gives the greatest hope of what is soon to come. Crayfish wave their claws from crevasses along the bottom of the stream and bright funnels of skunk cabbage spiral up out of the bare, black earth along its banks. Pale tips of daffodil and crocus foliage wait hidden under the matted leaves in the garden, waiting for the rake to unveil them. In our yard, the fat furry buds of the naturalized Magnolia Kobus trees have swollen far larger than pussy willows and promise a spectacular floral display around April 30.

Between now and then, the warm rains of spring will come, and beginning on the second night of torrential downpour, many species of frogs, toads and salamanders begin their quest for mates and suitable habitat for mating and laying eggs for the next generation. Inevitably, many are compelled to cross streets.

Salamanders are smaller than we think, only 2 1/2" to 7" long, and include red newts, dusky and mole salamanders. Many can be found under rocks and logs in broadleaf woods. Of the many species of frogs you might see--but most assuredly will hear--, are inch-long pinkish spring peepers, and slightly larger wood frogs, leopard and pickerel frogs.

Remember that driving on those most productive nights might hasten the demise of amphibians that are fast declining in number worldwide, due to habitat destruction and perhaps acid rain, pesticides and increasing ultraviolet light. Stay home, if you can, or at lease try to avoid driving through low places with wetlands on either side of the road on those warm rainy nights.

"BIG NIGHT

Anticipation...waiting for "Big Night"

The promise of spring seems so slow to reach fulfillment, but looking closely in the warmest, wettest places gives the greatest hope of what is soon to come. Crayfish wave their claws from crevasses along the bottom of the stream and bright funnels of skunk cabbage spiral up out of the bare, black earth along its banks. Pale tips of daffodil and crocus foliage wait hidden under the matted leaves in the garden, waiting for the rake to unveil them. In our yard, the fat furry buds of the naturalized Magnolia Kobus trees have swollen far larger than pussy willows and promise a spectacular floral display around April 30.

Between now and then, the warm rains of spring will come, and beginning on the second night of torrential downpour, many species of frogs, toads and salamanders begin their quest for mates and suitable habitat for mating and laying eggs for the next generation. Inevitably, many are compelled to cross streets.

Salamanders are smaller than we think, only 2 1/2" to 7" long, and include red newts, dusky and mole salamanders. Many can be found under rocks and logs in broadleaf woods. Of the many species of frogs you might see--but most assuredly will hear--, are inch-long pinkish spring peepers, and slightly larger wood frogs, leopard and pickerel frogs.

Remember that driving on those most productive nights might hasten the demise of amphibians that are fast declining in number worldwide, due to habitat destruction and perhaps acid rain, pesticides and increasing ultraviolet light. Stay home, if you can, or at lease try to avoid driving through low places with wetlands on either side of the road on those warm rainy nights.