“Stay Home” on these 50 acres doesn’t mean channel surfing. Well, maybe there’s a bit of that after sunsets or during thunderstorms like the one we are having right now. Since the first day of #stayathome, several more hands have joined Dave’s wage of war against bush honeysuckle and tree-downing grapevine on the nature preserve. He and his daughter Aili were back at it on sunny Monday, chainsawing and moving mountainous boulders to bridge the southern ford across Cranberry Run.
Dave’s April 6, 2020 message:
“Was a pretty fun day at the QF with Aili, with a bit of work done, too. Her first time to see the quarry full of water. For Aili, having the geese, the turtles, the muskrat, frogs, crawdads, and snakes all come out was a treat. I’m still amazed! We also got the stepping stones put in place at the ford, and a couple hours of honeysuckle clearing in the far south end, by the oxbow ponds.”
Spring/Summer intern Emma has jumped right into the fray, lopping invasive shrub limbs and pulling seedlings. Deb and her nephew Kyle erected another blue bird box. There was one flash of blue yesterday, so someone is at home. Bloodroot is popping up and the first spring beauties dot the banks of the old quarry, beautifully framing the first painted turtles to sun themselves in plain sight this season.
