This was a cool few days – again – perfect for girdling aspen. I worked on the opening above Indian Grass Prairie and girdled all the aspen I could find except 5 huge ones with very thick ridged bark.
I’ll go back next week with my girdling tool and see if that will make it easier to cut through the bark.

One day Mike and I worked in the overgrown woods above Sumac Prairie. It has lots of large trees, and lots of aspen, but Mike mowed out enough that he could get to Sumac Corner prairie and mow the Prickly Ash there. It’s much easier to walk around now, and easier to see the big oaks. I got about half the aspen girdled. I didn’t take many photos because we were so exhausted when we finished – but here’s one of Mike mowing in the woods.

There weren’t many new migrants – it was still very cool and wet. The Bluebirds near the house started a new nest in a different box – hopefully this one will escape being tipped over by the bear.

The big snapping turtle was back in our neighbor’s pond – I figured out that I could sneak up on it by walking toward the pond while keeping behind a tree. It wasn’t disturbed until I leaned out from behind the tree to take the picture – then it slowly swam away in the opposite direction.

Not many new flowers, either – we need some sun! But the Wood Betony was all in bloom on the slope behind the house.