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Category Archives: Life Science
The Creek as Corridor: Wildlife
Stream valleys like the one that the Kanaranzi Creek occupies, provide natural corridors for the migration and movement of wildlife. The surrounding uplands are all planted in monoculture row-crops, so the pastures along the stream channels have diverse environmental mosaics … Continue reading
Posted in Earth Science, Life Science
Tagged connectivity, core area, migration, stream valleys
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Red Grass and Rock Art
This is the season when many native prairie grasses take on a red or purple color along the stems and out onto the leaves. There are several species that turn red, but big bluestem and little bluestem are two of … Continue reading
Posted in Earth Science, Life Science
Tagged autumn equinox, big bluestem, little bluestem, native prairie
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Midsummer Birds
At midsummer we’re seeing some of the same birds that we saw last spring. But, we’re also seeing some that we haven’t seen since last year at about this time. And, we’re seeing one that we haven’t seen in a … Continue reading
Wren Real Estate
My family’s interest in birds goes back several generations. My grandparents had a bird book to help identify who they saw and my parents had a winter feeder and put up birdhouses. Margaret and I are continuing that tradition. Although … Continue reading
Lilacs Don’t Last Forever
When Grandma Daisy came to the Farm as a bride in the decade before World War I, she planted lilac bushes. She was the daughter of a Civil War veteran who had homesteaded along the Creek about five miles upstream … Continue reading
Posted in Farm History, Life Science
Tagged bride, grandmother, homesteaders, Memorial Day, shrubs
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Asparagus for Breakfast
A couple of weeks ago we had asparagus with creamed eggs on toast for a Springtime Sunday morning breakfast. It was the same day that the church we “Zoom” to, had their first service in the sanctuary after a “Sabbath” … Continue reading
Posted in Family History, Life Science
Tagged cooking, gathering, springtime, wild food
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Manure, Varmints, and Bugs
One good thing about grazing cattle is that they fertilize as they harvest the grass. When they’re confined in a barn or shed or cattle yard, bedding has to be hauled in and spread around. And then, the manure has … Continue reading
Waiting for Plum Blossoms
The plan originally was to be in Colorado right now visiting family that we haven’t seen in about eight months. That’s why there’s been a gap in this blog recently. However, events intervened and schedules got complicated, so the trip … Continue reading
Oxbow Evolution
We had a rain event last week that gave us about one and three quarter inches over three days and it brought up water levels in the Creek. Although the water in the channel was about a foot and a … Continue reading
Big Birds Along the Creek
They aren’t yellow and they’re not as big as Big Bird on Sesame Street, but eagles and Canadian Geese are both big birds for the prairie! Most of the birds returning this spring are much smaller and most are very … Continue reading
Lone Tree Farm on Kanaranzi Creek 