Recent forest work

Thanks to a variety of tools and carrying of downed biomass, some future firewood and kindling has been stacked near the house. Axe work this morning, a very beautiful day after lots of weekend rain, added to this nice pile.

Thinning constitutes important work in the forest as an effort to improve chances for survival of other trees. Yet, so many places will remain untouched, like this fine birch grove.

Natural color

Late spring means daisies and lupine!! Cloudy and rainy lately, but our seasonal flowers have been really pretty this year!

The Light of June

The month with the most daylight started with plenty of it! A completely blue sky has dominated the day, although the low temp at the house belies the brightness. We were 42 degrees, with the temp down the hill perhaps 36. Daylights started a bit after 4 a.m. There will be a hint left at 9:30 p.m. What a fine day to be a solar panel!

Gardening update

Old boards were removed from the east garden bed recently. Today a new raised garden bed was installed on the spot! Some old biomass was tossed in. Compost and soil will then fill in the 8' x 4' space. 

 The old asparagus bed has produced quite nicely this spring. Here is today's harvest.

Light and shadow

Trees grant a great opportunity to stand in awe of nature. This huge sugar maple, near the northern lot line, somehow found the strength to start growing on a cold slope many, many years ago. This morning, with the temp way downhill at about 25 degrees, the buds in the crown undoubtedly relished some of the day's first solar rays. Light gives life. Soon the tree with be bursting with new leaves, which will give energy to this majestic being, a glorious ambassador for trees, the most amazing living things on the hill. 

 

Birchy walk

 

Total eclipse of the Hermitage

Hardwood Hermitage had about 30 seconds of totality in today's eclipse. It was a very memorable event shared with many people living on the hill. Appropriate snacks were ready, such as raisins, Sun Chips, Moon Pies, and Eclipse gum.

For more than two hours, the moon covered part of the sun. Totality took place at 3:29 pm. Birds were chirping wildly with the onset of what they thought was early sunset. We did not get totally dark, but the shadowy look created an eerie feeling for a few minutes. Here is the house and telescope very close to the moment of totality, although a bit blurry.

Proof of the short blockage of the sun can be seen in the chart of the day's solar production. We had almost a totally cloudless sky for the whole day, but the nosedive in solar energy took place as totality arrived.