Wonders of Nature

I spent a little time, yesterday afternoon, exploring some of the wilder parts of the farm.  It's one of my favorite things to do at this time of year and goes hand in hand with foraging.


(Guineas are the ultimate foragers!)

Early May is the perfect time to explore the woods between Maven Haven and the pond.  It is here, at this point in spring, that I usually find morel mushrooms.  

With farm chores and household chores finished for the afternoon, I put on my tall boots and headed out into the woods.

The pigs were in the front pasture,

contentedly grazing.  Most of the other animals were napping.  

As I approached the woods, a squirrel chitter-chatted from a nearby tree.

Bees were busily buzzing from blossom to blossom on the wild honeysuckle.

I set my sights on the forest floor, looking for just the right shade of brown.  A-hah!... there it was... exactly what I had hoped to see... a beautiful, delicious morel mushroom.


I searched farther and farther into the woods and was rewarded for my work.  Within a few minutes, I had found a dozen large mushrooms.  

To give you an idea of their size, here is my basket next to brown Sammie.

They will be perfect in a spring omelet made with Havarti cheese, asparagus, spring onions, and these deliciously earthy fungi.  The rest will be dried for future use.


I extended my search to the woods near the stream.  

 In addition to looking for more morel mushrooms, I was also hoping to find some elusive Jack-in-the-Pulpit flowers.  I found neither.

But, keeping one's nose pointed towards the ground opens up a whole world of plant-life.  There were tiny Spring Beauty flowers...


and bluets...

a yellow flower that I cannot name (help me out if you know what this is) (Addendum:  mystery solved by Stephanie on FB.... this is greater Celandine)

and another tiny flower that I had never seen before.... dwarf ginseng (a medicinal plant of the Native American people)

On my way back to the house, I couldn't help but notice how much the area around the old log cabin had changed in recent days. All of the beautiful yellow from the forsythia is gone, as are most of the flowering quince blossoms.  

What I did notice, however, was the sound of tiny drones flying past my head in and out of the quince.

Besides enjoying the last of the nectar, I imagine that the dense brush might serve as a secure location for these tiniest of birds' camouflaged nests.

Just as they have for the past several years, the hummingbirds returned to the farm on May 1st, after their arduous flight from the south.  They will spend the summer here, raising their brood, before heading back to the Caribbean for the winter.

Did you know?......

Hummingbirds are the fastest vertebrates in speed related to body length.  They can fly at a speed of 358 body lengths per second!


While hovering, their wings beat 88 times per second.

They have the fewest feathers of any birds... just 940 of them.

During flight, their heart rate can reach rates of up to 1200 beats per minute, and their respirations can reach 250 breaths per minute. 

 Isn't nature amazing!  

I feel so very lucky to live so close to nature.  I am astounded by it each and every day.

PS:  we had another "pasty butt" intervention again yesterday.  These little chicks are certainly keeping me on my toes.  Luckily we keep a blow dryer in the barn so that I can dry their little fluffy butts before returning them to their flock.






Comments

jaz@octoberfarm said…
peep rescue! omg....those morels are the largest I have ever seen. i would die to have them growing here. i have jack in the pulpits growing all over my lower garden.
So enjoy reading about your farm and your daily adventures! When I was very young, 3 or 4, I can remember collecting mushrooms with my aunt. I didn't learn much about what she was picking. She did pick dandelion greens also when they were young and tender. Those I still gathering. We had loads of violets this year but I didn't have time to make jelly so didn't pick any.
Have a great day!
colleen said…
I've never picked mushrooms and have never seen morels in the wild. I had no idea they were that big.... enjoy.
Lynne said…
Joyous pictures and read!
Amazing Morels . . . and wildflowers!
(Must have missed a post . . . “pasty butt!”)
Dee J. Hartman said…
Today, Wednesday, (Cinco De Mayo!) ...Rain in the forecast....Raining right now....'Don't' seem to bother the pigs or the cow...But the grasses grow faster, when they soak up the rain!....And for all us homeowners---It means mowing, again!....
This doesn't relate to your wonderful post, where you share all Spring's beauty...I love it the most!....Where you've picked those great mushrooms, morels(looking great!)...But the dampness today of the rain has its fate, of more work to be done, once the rain will abate..... And my mower comes forth with its whirling, devine, saying "All of the grass, I'll clip off , cause it's mine!...So get off your butt now, there's work to be done...There's time later on to enjoy all the fun!
Marcia LaRue said…
You are soooo lucky to be able to forage for and find beautiful morels ... OMG ... IF you can find them in stores, they are so very expensive! The only time I ever had fresh picked morels was as a kid when my Mom and my brother & sister would go to a nearby woods and pick them! I loved them! My sister was allergic and I guess my brother was OK with them. Sheesh ... I don't remember! LOL
Another beautiful stroll around the farm! Thank you!!
Happy Cinco De Mayo ... perhaps a Margarita is in the picture!! LOL Enjoy the day!!
This N That said…
Happy Cinco de Mayo.Those Morels are huge....love the little woodsy blossoms...another chick saved!! hope you are getting some of this much needed rain..hugs
EDGAR C. BEARD said…
THANK YOU MUCH FOR THE INFO ABOUR HUMMINGBIRDS...WE HAD THEM ON OUR FEEDER IN LATE MARCH/EARLY APRIL...THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL...LOVE YOUR POSTS SO VERY MUCH...HAVE A GREAT DAY !!!!!!!

EDGAR C. BEARD
phyllis Schmitz said…
Lots of hummingbirds here on Oregon coast.
Karen said…
Morrels - oh my! Just looking at them make my mouth water . . . .my Dad was a logger and would bring these home by the bucket (HUGE buckets!). I can still smell them frying in butter . . . LUCKY you!! Take care . . .