Just Wow!

  Never in my wildest dreams did I think the rock garden would look so good in this first year after the recovery effort. The color doesn't show up as much in the picture as it does in real life. Or maybe I took the photo too late in the afternoon.

Anyway, here are some more goodies. The bronze ajuga is blooming, joining the various colors of moss phlox. It's very happy, and it spreads easily. I'm going to move some farther out from the wall this year and see if it will tolerate the sunnier place out there because the foliage is nice all season.

Here's the moneywort, Lysimachia nummularia again. I can't believe how happy it is since it's never done anything before except be scraggly and barely survive. Near this patch, it's found a place to hide itself in a crack between two rocks and that looks especially nice. I hope it does more of that. You can just barely see a sedum friend beside it. That is also a sedum that I didn't think was going to survive. I bought it last year, and it was not very happy. But I guess it just needed to get better established. Soon, I'll do a sedum picture day, but I want some of them to get a little bigger first.

And I have two more daffodils for you, but I think these will be the last different species for this year. The first are some tiny Tete-a-tete in the rock garden. Another one I did not know was still alive.

Now, we'll move out of the rock garden. I should have pictured these yesterday before the rain. But I still have some Pheasant-Eye Narcissus. These came from my childhood home.

The 'Stewartsonian' Azalea was a bit stressed from being transplanted when it was in serious bud, so some of the buds just withered. But enough of them opened that you can see its color. This is now planted near the forsythia and the Flowering Quince (that doesn't often flower, but the bush is looking the healthiest it ever has, so there's hope). I like it. I used to have a sand cherry there, but it died.

But this is the real stunner. I had no idea these would look so great together in the spring. This is the 'Frostbite' Brunnera and the 'Peach Flambe' Heuchera. I'm pretty sure the 'Jack Frost' Brunnera has died. But I'm seriously liking the Brunnera that the deer won't eat. Their real beauty is later when the leaves get big and are colored. These ones will be mostly white. I'll probably get another.

Much was accomplished today. I only have 86 miles of campsites done, but I'm pretty sure I'll get to 100 yet this evening. And huge progress happened on other fronts. Stay tuned.

See Much Nicer Than Expected

Land Protection Talking Points

 Today, the Land Protection Specialist for the NCTA came and met with people from our chapter. The Michigan Regional Trail Coordinator was there, and two people from the National Park Service.

Our chapter doesn't have a lot of places where we need to try to get off road through private property, but we have a few. This meeting included a field trip for most of us to the Vince Smith Bridge (Big Sable River). I'm starting with that picture because it's more interesting.

However, before we got to play in the woods, we met for several hours. Not only did we learn some basics of the process, we discussed a specific place where a landowner has already approached us about options to get the trail off a road for part of that roadwalk.

The great news is that this piece could be moved very soon. That will get 0.25 mile off road. Not huge, but it's a start. There are options to keep going, but they won't happen quickly. This first piece is easy. The next pieces, not so much.

The tamaracks are just getting their needles.

And I just liked this. Nothing special- a dandelion and a cabbage butterfly. But they are cheerful.

I didn't get one thing done that I wanted to. It was raining when I got home, so that will have to wait. However, I did get 108 miles of campsites logged.

Total miles hiked in 2024: 214.6, of which 71.6 is North Country Trail.

North Country Trail, near Vince Smith Bridge, 1 mile

See Planning A Re-Route

Progress Report

  I worked so hard today! I got 208 miles of campsites done. That leaves me with about 1200 miles to go.

I also worked in the dining room. Remember, this is not a 100% cleaning job. It's creative re-stacking with some sorting and organizing. But things are looking good.

I did go substitute at a practice of the Pentwater bell choir.

I have a few things yet to do this eveing, but I wasn't quitting on the book until I got over 200 miles!

See Accountability 101

Not Much Blooming

 I manage to get about one walk a month in at the School Forest in Ludington. It's very near where bell choir practice is, so it's a great way to get a little exercise on the same trip. Today, I was particularly looking for wildflowers. Nope.

There are escaped daffodils and Vinca (myrtle, periwinkle). I don't really know the history of this property. It's quite possible there were some houses in this city block at one time.

The one "wild" thing I did find blooming was some blueberry, probably Vaccinium pallidum. These are nice and pink. They vary from pink to white.

I heard a Barred Owl, and saw another Red Admiral butterfly. Disc golfers were out playing on the course that's also on the property.

I have 142 miles of campsites done today. I may do a few more yet this evening because I'm probably not going to meet the quota for several days coming up. I worked on the dining room some and did errands.

Total miles hiked in 2024: 213.1, of which 70.6 is North Country Trail.

Ludington School Forest, various trails, 2.2 miles

See More from the School Forest See Blueberries in the Snow

Acountability 101

 This is almost a "before" picture. I've already moved a few things, and I have spent some time sorting hardware.

The best I can hope for is to restack all the piles. However, there is good hope that there is room to do so in a way that would allow us to use two sides of the table when Steve comes for a visit next week.

You will hold my feet to the fire to make that happen, right? Nobody has eaten at this table for about 6 years.

Meanwhile, I did 162 miles of campsites today. I still have 1600 miles to go (I thought it was 1600 after yesterday, but I actually added it up today), so I have to keep my focus on that project too.

I am reminded of a sign a former pastor had on his desk. "Keep your eye on the ball, your shoulder to the wheel, and your nose to the grindstone. Now try to work in that position."

And of course, the grass started growing overnight.

See Dining Room and Trailer Tetris