SPRING IS EASING INTO SUMMER

This Woodchuck was just a curious about us as we were about him.

The monster from the black lagoon!!!!

Found this huge Snapping turtle in the lake near Albert Lea, Mn. The turtles in the background are about 8 inches across.

Found this baby Snapping Turtle trying to cross the road close to the Spring Valley Creek. This appears to be a one year old. Many a turtle looses its life crossing our roads. We helped it across later.

Most of the warblers are now headed north. Some of the orioles, tangers, will remain here to nest. Photo (courtesy of John Kappers) shows a Northern Oriole, Scarlet Tanger, and Goldfinch at their feeder.

Shooting Stars are early prairie flowers that bloom best in recently burned over areas. They vary in color from white to almost purple. A great place to see these is on one of the few remaining wild praires-Hayden Prairie a few miles West of Lime Springs, Iowa. There is a sign Just south of Lime Springs what directs you west to the Prairie. It is, in my view, the best wild prairie in the area.

Pucoons are an early blooming prairie flower. Somewhat uncommon.

Mitrewort is a small and easily overlooked woodland flower that prefers cool, steep ravines as its habitat. The tiny white flowers are only about 1/4 inch in diameter.

Golden Alexanders are one of the first prairie flowers to bloom. They also bloom at woodland edges. The much hated alien invader wild parsnip looks somewhat like this flower but the parsnip is much taller and blooms later.

Columbine (sometimes called honeysuckle) is now common.

Meadow Rue is about done blooming but its close realative Tall Meadow Rue is now emerging on the prairies and grasslands and will soon be blooming.

Virginia Waterleaf is a woodland wildflower that prefers moist soils and is one of the later spring woodland flowers to bloom.

Magnolia Warbler(above) and other Warbler pictures courtesy of Bruce Lees

MORE WARBLERS AND WILDFLOWERS OF SPRING

Tillium are so named because of the 3-leaved structure. There are 3 and with hybreds possibly 4 species of Trillium in Minnesota.

This quite spectacular flower is fairly common in our hardwood forestlands.

The Cape May Warblers are now passing through and headed for their nesting grounds in the Boreal forests of N.E. Mn and Canada. They were first recored at Cape May New Jersey and the name has stuck.

The Jack-in-the-Pulpits are now blooming. These unusual flowers are quite common and vary in size from 6 inches tall to rarely almost 3 ft. tall.

We have never seen a better year for Bluebells. It is a "riot" of Bluebells on many lowland forests and open areas this year.

The Wild Geranium is just begining to bloom. This flower will bloom in both woodlands and open areas.

Wilson's Warbler is a spectacular yellow warbler that is easily identified by its black cap. Nest in far N.E. Mn. and Canada.

The wild woodland Phlox is about 4-8 inches tall and is already blooming in our woodlands.

The Blackpol Warbler is fairly common here during migration. They can be easily confused with the Chickadee. They nest farther north.

This bell like flower is found in both moist and dry forest habitats, but seems to prefer the higher and drier soil types. The word "wort" refers to a group of plant families and often refers to a plant used for medical purposes by the Native Americans of early settlers.

Photo courtesy of Bruce Lees

The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is a thumb size bird that darts out of the tops of trees to catch small insects. They are now somewhat common in the woodlands of S.E. Mn They do nest here.

This flower, that looks like a cats toe, is now blooming in the grasslands and woods edges. It is from 2-4 inches tall.

The Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have been up in good numbers for almost 2 weeks. They love sunflower seeds. The female is total brown and dull white.(look for the thick bill).

This flower is from 1-3 ft. tall and has a very delicate yellowish flower.

The Wild Violets are in full bloom. They come in several colors: yellow, purple, blue, and white-blue. Often overlooked because of their small size.

The Yellow Warbler nests in S.E. Mn. It seems to prefer semi-open areas close to water as it's primary habitat. Very common and can always be found in the flats just down the hill from the group campground in Forestville St. Park.

WARBLERS AND MORE WILDFLOWERS

MANY WARBLERS SUCH AS THE YELLOW WARBLER ABOVE ARE NOW ARRIVING IN S.E. MINNESOTA. AS MORE SPECIES OF WARBLERS ARRIVE WE WILL POST THEM ON THIS SITE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK BRUCE LEES FOR ALLOWING US TO POST HIS VERY HIGH QUALITY PICTURES OF THOSE WONDERUL WARBLERS. THERE ARE ALSO MANY NEW BLOOMING WILFLOWERS POSTED BELOW.

The Yellow-rumped also called the Myrtle Warbler is named for its yellow rump and is therefore very easy to identify. It is also the most common warbler to pass through this area. This warbler is also usually the first of the many warblers to arrive here. We saw our first Yellow-rumped on April 4th of this year and there are still quite a few that have not yet headed north.

The Palm Warblers are up now. They will often fly down to short grass areas and feed and are therefore fairly easy to spot. I think they are called "palm" because they are often found in the palm trees during the winters down south.

Our first hummer arrived May 4, 2011. We have lived in our current home for 13 years and for 13 years the first hummer has always arrived between May 1 and May 4. We mix 1 cup sugar and 4 cups water, boil, cool and use this as our mix for the hummers. I took this picture about two years ago right outside our window.

Page 1 of my Spring Valley Tribune article on warblers.

Page 2 of S.V. Tribune article on warblers.

The Orioles arrived at our place May 5. They love oranges and grape jelly.

Many goslings have already hatched out.

Our first Catbirds arrived this week. They will soon start giving us hell as we approach their favorite patch of raspberry bushes. Yes they do make a sound almost like a cat.

The Robins are busy laying eggs.

TRY A LAKE LOUISE WILDFLOWER WALK

For a very easy wildflower walk try Lake Louise St. Park just north of LeRoy , MN. Park in the picnic area walk to the picnic shelter and take a right on the hiking trail that goes up along the river. In just 1/4 mile your will see: False Rue Anemonie, Trout Lily, Bluebells, Dutchman's Breeches, Violets, May Apple, Toothwort, Marsh Marigolds, Spring Beauty, Bellwort, Bloodroot, Buttercup, Hepatica, Greek Valerain, and more. We have or soon will post all of these on this blogsite.

False Rue Anemone being pollinated by a bee.

Trout Lillies in bloom at Lake Louise St. Park near LeRoy Mn

The Trout Lilly will if found in moist and floodplain woodlands. It is often found in large patches of leaves with about 10-20% of the plants producing flowers each year.

Toothwort is now blooming in the moist wooded areas of S.E. Minnesota.

The May Apples are just opening up and will bloom in a week or two.