Michigan Forest Life - March 17, 2025

Good morning, friends,

I drove into a strong wind filled with snow. The temperature dropped forty degrees Fahrenheit in twenty-four hours after giving us the smell of Michigan spring for a week. An

inch of fresh snow now covers the ground.

Should I have been surprised? No, but I was. Michigan is known for this kind of on-again

off-again spring weather and it is always a surprise. It is not unusual for platoons of large,

white snowflakes to parachute to the ground on Mother’s Day, and often later. Call it

'trailing winter.'

But in Michigan everyone wonders if this might be the time that spring really stays until it

gives way to a true summer.

Keep your winter coat and gloves handy. Put those summer clothes back in the drawer for a

few more weeks.

The weather pattern that foretold this winter spell began with 45 mph winds on Friday.

Warm, with waves of driving rain. It was the same storm that brought dozens of tornados to

the southern states. The wind did not let up for all of Friday and most of Saturday. Mother

Nature left her evidence on the road leading to the gate (Photo 1) and then on the forest

trails to the Treehouse and the Bunkee (Photo 2). It took more than an hour of picking

through tree parts before I finally parked my vehicle on a snowy trail next to the Treehouse.

Spring in Michigan.

A maple sap container near the Bunkee was again full when I arrived. Two near the

Treehouse had blown over in the wind and partially drained. I hooked them back to their

umbilical cords.

Kevin boiled down about twelve gallons of last week's sap on the windy weekend and

already has a quart of Winterfield Pines Nature Sanctuary's pure maple syrup.

Only one quart.

50:1.

Liquid gold... for those who have the time and patience to work with Mother Nature for her

sweet gift.

As nice and welcome as warm spring weather is, the forest always has a special beauty with

a fresh blanket of white snow (Photos 3 and 4). The warm fire that it inspires in the

woodstove is always a comfort.

But a vee of Canadian geese bark loudly, "Spring is coming! Feel the joy!" as they fly low

over the white pines.

A crow calls back, "Are you sure? Let's see how that works out."

A chickadee joins the conversation, "I cannot wait to see our friend, Miss Humming Bird

again!"

"Yes, and our bluebird cousin," the second chickadee responds.

And together they sing "Chick-a-dee-dee-dee. Chick-a-dee-dee-dee. Life is good in the

forest!"

I wish you a conversation with the birds that surround you, and the smell of spring in the air.

Until next time,

Dan