Spring Meanderings in Old Mission

(Editor’s Note: Rudy and Patti Rudolph take a spring walk in Old Mission. Yes, there are signs of spring afoot. -jb)

April 14, a cold day after a brief warm spell in Old Mission that tantalized us with visions of spring. We know it can’t be far off because Old Mission Bay is completely ice free for the first time in two months. Not even a “burgy” bit to blemish the sparkling surface now.

And, it is noted with pleasure, that the banks of snow piled up behind the house by Michael Weatherholt’s wonderful plow, have finally succumbed to the relentless impact of solar energy. Thus, we surmise that the woods are also clear of snow and a brief excursion by Patti and I to Lakeside Cemetery proves this theory to be true. Spring indeed. And welcome indeed, indeed.

Our stroll brought us to the amazing sight of a woodpecker cafeteria, not too far from the cemetery. One can only suppose that deep within the confines of this dead tree lived a colony of carpenter ants happily waiting out the winter. Somehow they were sensed by a master demolition expert who proceeded to carve out their living room, kitchen, bedroom and den, devouring the hapless inhabitants along the way.

It is an amazing bit of natural sculpture, and the pile of chips at the base of the tree demonstrates the zealousness of the hungry woodpecker as he put his heart, soul and massive beak to work on the project. You can see the fine chisel marks of his work, on close inspection.

And there, high in the tree top, is the master sculptor, Mr. Pileated himself. He appears to be working on a new house. Another sure sign that spring may be coming along soon. I sure hope he has his garage doors on order already. I can attest that there is a long lead time on these items.

A little farther to the east is Bagley Pond. Patti and I have seen and heard the geese and swans exploring for nesting sites for the last week or so. They have been walking on water, though, because the ice has persisted there until today. Now, Bagley Pond appears to be ice free once again. Although we can’t see them from this vantage, we can hear the geese honking away, and splashing too. Good luck, friends, and don’t forget there are turtles about, so watch the kiddies when they hatch.

Crocus and daffodils are pushing up in front of the summer house on Old Mission Bay, but not much is happening yet in the deep woods. But wait, there along the shore of Bagley Pond, can you see the green sprouts?

Won’t be long now, I think. A few warm days and oh, there will be mushrooms, if you know how to find them. Good luck with that. I have concluded there are two kinds of mushroom hunters. I’m the kind that can step on them without seeing them. Then there is the other kind that comes out with bags of morels and tall tales of finding them everywhere. Jealousy is not a pretty thing, is it? Oh well, it’s still nice to be in the woods.

And then, as we head back to the house, we spot a squirrel lunch box in a little thicket. For 75 years I thought squirrels existed to demolish nuts, and that was the end of the story. The Lord knows we have an abundance of acorns here in Old Mission, as well as multiple opportunities to raid bird feeders, which squirrels exhibit particular adeptness at, by the way.

But, to my surprise, I find that our Old Mission squirrels seem to have an appetite for the bark of young maple saplings, and even for the bark of smaller limbs high in mature maple trees. What is that all about? Are they in training to be miniature porcupines by chance? Is this how the Native Americans clued in to the making of maple sugar from maple sap, by watching our Old Mission squirrels at work?

Anyhow, this particular poor little maple will never grow up to be an adult, I am afraid. The squirrels have completley done it in. RIP, young tree.

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