The Trees Made It to Spring

I love the colors of trees in early spring, either flowering or not. Had some nice scenery on the way to and from the dentist today.

I think these are American Plum, but I didn't get out of the car to go check.

Sweet little baby Red Maple leaves!

Just extras- a bud for Canada Mayflower

And two deer moseying across the lawn at the Methodist Church.

Today was non-stop. I started with the dentist. That was a non-event. The implant is doing great. Six more weeks and another non-event check and I can have the tooth added.

Then I came home and got the mower going and mowed some grass. Then I worked on stuff for Confidence Camp until it was time to go to bell practice. Stopped at Cathy's on the way home and we talked more Confidence Camp stuff.

I'll see how much more I can get done yet this evening.

Stopped on the way home at Rothbury Rest Area. They have a tiny 0.3 mile trail.

Miles walked in 2026: 158.7

See Spring Color

Two Picnic Tables- Part Two

Again, today was almost all about Confidence Camp.

Cathy and I got the picnic tables stained. We think they look great!

The front garden bed is starting to have some nice color as the Heucheras begin to get new leaves. And the hostas are just beginning to open their leaves.

I also did a load of laundry which is memorable only because it was so windy that the basket which I always weigh down with the tub of clothespins blew across the lawn (I don't remember this ever happening before), spliing the pins of course, and the wind even pulled some of the items off the clothesline.

I'm working hard to get the handouts that go with the learning sessions completed. Tomorrow I have to go to the dentist

See Two Picnic Tables

2026 Rock Garden Report 1

I guess I don't have a full rock garden report from last year with a comparable date, but I found a couple of pix.

Here is the front view today.

And May 5, 2025. There was a little more color, but I really think we are a couple of weeks behind last year.

And for comparison, this is top part on April 27, 2024



And the top today.

It's filled in quite a bit more. Not all of the fillers are quality plants, but they help hold the soil until I can add better things.

Now for some goodies.

This is violets with 'Angelina' sedum and Sempervivum 'Gold Rush' (but it's red)

There's a lot going on here. The light purple is moss phlox, but the rock cress behind it is in bud (white). There are sedums greening up, and the pasqueflower is still blooming. I just like the colors and textures.

Here are a couple of bits of good news. The Lewisia has survived, and is blooming. It's not huge and healthy like it was when it came from the store last year, but I have hopes that it will improve in a year or so as it gets used to this spot.

And this sedum, 'Oriental Dancer,' which stays purple, gets tall, and has a dark purple flower heads is looking good.

I worked all day long on Confidence Camp. Was hoping I could find my notes from mapping workshops I did long ago because I knew I had some good materials for the handouts there, and I did find them! Also, Miki and I went out to look at the space for the final field exercise again, and we solved the last of the issues that needed to be checked there. I need a third "staff person" for that, and she has volunteered.

Also, Miki and Brian are going to let me borrow a campfire pit ring/grate that they just picked up. Hopefully, I can find one for me to keep in the next year, but now I am all set for this year.

A good day with good progress made.

See 2024 Rock Garden Report 1

Spirit of the Woods Hike- May 2026

The group photo hasn't been posted yet for me to grab, but there were about 15 people and 5 dogs who hiked today. We traveled farther than usual, going north to where the Manistee River crosses US 131. The trail goes beneath the bridge.

The hike actually went the other direction, going north (trail west) along the high bluff beside the river.

We finally had another really nice day! We were all ready for this.

And some of the wildflowers were opening. Wood anemone.

Trout lily.

And some Carolina spring beauty.

Finally, just some cute little orange mushrooms on the green moss.

What with travel time, going out to eat, and the hike itself, this is really all I did today.

Miles hiked in 2026: 158.4
Hike 100 Challenge: 51.6

North Country Trail, Wexford County, MI. US 131 Roadside rest north 3 miles and back. 6.0 miles

See SPW Hike- April 2026

Testing, Testing

I'm pretty much in flat-out Confidence Camp prep mode. I did a few other things this morning.

About the most hard-core survival skill we are going to learn is how to make a solar still. I have tried a couple in the past three days. I wanted to find out how well they worked with a smaller hole than "recommended." And, as it turned out, I got to find out how well they worked when there wasn't very much sun.

I did the first one in some badly contaminated soil. The theory is that it's a still- in other words, it distills water and gives you clean water.

This site still reeks of oil, even 45 years after the oil storage tanks have been removed. The water was clean, no odor or taste, but with a little bit of soil that trickled in that could be filtered out with just a bandana. Got over a cup of water in a day.

Then I tried another with an even smaller hole, but in cleaner dirt.

You can see the condensation on the underside of the plastic.

Got the same amount of water in less time. Winner!

Cathy came over and we set up my screen house. Thinking it could be shelter in light rain, or too much sun (not a likely scenario according to long-range forecasts).

It collapses in wind too easily. But I might try to add some extra guy lines. I think we'll just go on the deck or inside if rain becomes serious.

We did a couple other small things, and pretty much finished the gear packs. There are a couple of tiny items to go in them yet. L-R: notebooks with info (I'm still working on those pages), gear packs, emergency packs.

Tomorrow is a group hike that is a fairly long drive. So much for getting much done other than that tomorrow.

It's been either too wet or cold to stain the picnic tables. We did a couple other small tasks. But it's coming together, and it won't take that long to stain the tables.

See Mostly Confidence Camp Prep