Time truly waits for no one. One glance over my shoulder assures me of that. Where did the glorious days of mid-May go? What has only been a month since spring migration's climax, feels like no less than six.
Time is peculiar like that. It unpredictably expands and contracts. Three weeks can feel like a year ago, while three years (facilitated by petulant reminders) can feel like mere weeks removed.
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| White Lady Slipper, Dane Co, WI 26May2018 |
By far, time mostly expands, full of countless blissful imprints of nature and people coming together in an elevated symphony that drowns out the dark noise.
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| White Lady Slipper, Dane Co, WI 26May2018 |
The perspective of time and its infinite wisdom teaches me that something which can feel like a penance at its onset is actually a gift in disguise, a gift that thrusted me on a journey toward freedom from oppression. Survival feels grand. Indeed a gift.
The interim since the passing of spring migration has been brimming with activity. Between then and now nature has continued evolving in all her seemingly infinite ephemeral expressions. I have been there chasing her ever-changing mood. Harnessing her beauty in slivers of time. Stacking memories and images along the way.
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| Showy Orchis, Pleasant Valley SNA, Dane Co 25May2018 |
As soon as migration waned, I made haste to find the earlier spring-blooming orchids.
White lady slipper in northern Dane County,
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| White Lady Slipper, Dane Co, WI 26May2018 |
Yellow Lady Slipper at Pleasant Valley in Western Dane County
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| Yellow Lady Slipper, Pleasant Valley SNA, Dane Co 25May2018 |
...and my lifer, Showy Orchis.
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| Showy Orchis, Pleasant Valley SNA, Dane Co 25May2018 |
I have returned to "The Gorge" many times to immerse myself in its spring transformation. I continue to relish in the seclusion available to me so near, yet seemingly so far, from the bustle of the busy Madison area.
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| Acadian Flycatcher, "The Gorge," Dane Co, WI 25May2018 |
My yard and gardens have demanded tremendous time as I strive to add more native plants as well as exotic annuals to attract more birds and pollinators.
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| Ruby-throated Hummingbird, my yard, Dane Co, WI 2June2018 |
I have meandered to several state natural areas including
Hemlock Draw,
Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie,
Pleasant Valley,
Town Corner Cedars,
Dunbar Barrens,
Kissick Alkaline Bog and
Parrish Oak Savanna.
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| Dragon's Mouth Orchid, Sawyer Co, 17June2018 |
I have traveled north to Marinette County for my breeding bird surveys with some orchids and insects sprinkled in along the way...
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| Kirtland's Warbler, Marinette Co, WI 10June2018 |
...and to Sauk, Washburn and Rusk counties for hummingbird banding with more nature squeezed in my limited down-time between banding three locations.
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| Pink Lady Slippers "in spades," Marinette Co, WI 10June2018 |
I've logged nine orchid species, numerous robberflies, dragonflies and butterflies, six tiger beetle species and banded over two hundred and fifty Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.
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| Six-spotted Tiger Beetle, Ferry Bluff SNA, Sauk Co, 27May2018 |
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| Boreal Long-lipped Tiger Beetle, Dunbar Barrens SNA, Marinette Co, WI 11June2018 |
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| Small Round-leaved Orchis, Sawyer Co, WI 17June2018 |
Other than the purposeful effort of finding select orchids, nature has mostly revealed herself in an incidental and always rewarding manner.
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| Showy Orchid, Sawyer Co, WI 17June2018 |
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| Pink Lady Slipper, Marinette Co, WI 10June2018 |
Life has been busy and will remain so for the foreseeable future. I hope to find time to consolidate and log my observations here. However time will not wait for me. So for now, onward I go!
