Looking for Spring in Serendipity Gardens

Jo Ellen Roe March 17, 2014 0 Comments

Call to Action2

Snowiest Winter on Record

Our most recent mid-March snow of six inches pushed the record books. It is now officially the snowiest winter ever in Southeast Michigan — over 90 inches.

Normally, at this time of year, I’d be venturing out on nice days to look for spring. I would lift up the dried plant tops to see the spring miracles underneath. This year, because of the snow cover, I’ll have to take a pretend journey. Come along with me …

First of all, the Red-winged Blackbirds are back in Serendipity Gardens, as detailed in last week’s post, so let’s enjoy listening to their strident, territorial calls as we look for signs of spring. ... Read More

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Blackbirds Arrive March 4 at Serendipity Gardens Five Years In a Row!

Jo Ellen Roe March 10, 2014 2 Comments

Red winged blackbird

Welcome to the Red-Winged Blackbirds!

I have been monitoring the arrival of the Red-winged Blackbirds to Serendipity Gardens for five years now. Each year, without fail, they have arrived on March 4 or within a day of that date.  I hear their raucous call and know that spring is on its way.

This year — the 3rd snowiest on record with temperatures below zero many mornings — that hopeful message has been more welcome than ever.

The call of the Red-winged Blackbird reminds me of sandpaper. It is not musical at all — yet I love to hear it! ... Read More

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Who Lives in Serendipity Gardens? Who Lives in Your Garden?

Jo Ellen Roe March 3, 2014 0 Comments

First of all, I live in Serendipity Gardens with my husband, my dog Nestle, and my cat Buster. The four of us live in the small house that’s there.

Several years ago, I registered my garden as a natural habitat. Since that time, I’ve become more aware of the many other creatures that live at Serendipity Gardens, too — so many that I cannot begin to name them all. But I can name some of them.

A Busy, Buzzing Place

On a typical late summer afternoon, I come out onto the patio, carrying some scraps to toss into the compost pile. My dog Nestle is with me. The patio is surrounded by butterfly bushes, planted long before I knew they were invasive. To be honest, I have no plans at present to remove them. Several bees, a couple of butterflies and a hummingbird moth are enjoying the blossoms. ... Read More

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Building Compost at Serendipity Gardens

Jo Ellen Roe February 17, 2014 0 Comments

Compost

I told my grandson once that compost was one of the reasons I believe in God.

“Only God can take a mess like this” I said, pointing to my compost corral topped with a recent addition of eggshells, potato peels, and the innards of a couple of green peppers, “and turn it into black gold.”

Right now, Serendipity Gardens is smothered by the deepest and longest-lasting snow in its nine-year history. But underneath all that snow lies its most important component, the soil in which all the plants grow. And the very best way to enrich and nurture that soil is to add compost. Here, in this photo, we have a wheelbarrow full that will become part of the soil in the herb pots. ... Read More

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Be a Citizen Scientist: Join the Great Backyard Bird Count!

Jo Ellen Roe February 10, 2014 0 Comments

Bird count photo

A photo taken from the 2014 Great Backyard Bird Count.

How do scientists learn about birds? How do they know where they are at any given time, given that fact that some bird species migrate?

You Can Help

One way is with the help of ordinary people like you and me in the  annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), one of several citizen-science projects sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, along with Bird Studies Canada and many international partners.

This year’s count happens February 14-17. All you have to do to participate is visit the GBBC website, register, spend at least 15 minutes observing and counting the birds in the area you designate, and then submit your data. The Bird Count folks amalgamate all the data from people across the United States and since last year, from several other countries as well. ... Read More

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