It has been unusually dry the past two months. This evening with a beautiful hazy full moon rising, I set out for a walk through the SW Gate of the Woods. The soil inside the gate is dry enough to be dusty. The bur oak leaves are crisp on the ground. The forest floor is crackly as I walk along. We expect (hope for) a half inch of rain beginning tomorrow.
Armadillos or skunks or ..? have been busy foraging in the dry leaves along the trails looking for small invertebrates to consume. The arcs of turned leaves as they were looking for snails, beetles, spiders, are a reminder of the feeding ecology of the small citizens of the Woods.
We have had a plague of five young dogs (siblings) along the southern perimeter of the Woods since November. I am sure they have suppressed or killed much of the small wildlife (up to and including young deer). I was happy to see a young cottontail dashing south into the dense dune vegetation from the beaver dam area.
Today has been delightful.. low 70's and sunny. This spring has seen late cold surges of wintry (mostly dry) air and bitter winds, with interludes of warming spring days up almost to 80 F. The winds three days ago were gusting over 50 mph and brought down branches that had been broken and hanging since the January 2007 Norman ice storm.
The warming days have been enough to bring out the early inconspicuous flowers at the tips of the elm branches. Full spring is ready, waiting, ready to burst upon the scene.
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