 |
| BLUEBERRY FIELDS IN OCTOBER |
 |
| CHERRY ORCHARD IN MAY |
 |
| DAFFODILS IN APRIL |
 |
| VEGETABLE GARDEN IN JUNE |
 |
| PERENNIAL GARDEN IN LATE MAY |
 |
| MAGNOLIA IN MAY |
 |
| A TREE PLANTING JOB |
Friday, 9:00 AM. 15 degrees F at the ferry dock, 14 on the back porch. Wind NW, calm with occasional light to moderate gusts. The sky is cloudy, overcast, and it is quite foggy. It is snowing, adding to the 18"+ on the ground. High today in the upper teens, warming some tomorrow and next week with continuing clouds and snow. Welcome to life in the Bayfield snow globe.
Some wag once said that Bayfield is as far north in Wisconsin as you can go without getting your feet wet, but the insulating effect of the Big Lake renders it a relatively mild climate; USDA Zone 4b (probably 5a near right near the water). Rainfall averages 31" yearly with normally heavy snow cover and the temperature seldom exceeds 86 F maximum or -15 F minimum. The soils are mostly sandy or clayey woodland soils. In all, a fine growing climate for northern temperate region trees and crops. Bayfield has been a mecca for commercial fruit and perennial production for over a century, and is, as one 19th Century real estate hustler once called it, "The bananna belt of the Great Lakes."
As a horticulturist I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to garden and even do some commercial landscaping in Bayfield, and being the City Forester (volunteer) for a decade was the icing on the cake. Living here has given me the opportunity to be active in my chosen profession long after my retirement from full time work, and I am thankful to have been able to do so. Ageing has not hindered me too much until very recently; as Tomas Jefferson famously said, "I may be an old man, but I am yet a young gardener."
Being connected to the outdoors and with wildlife and growing things has been a lifelong blessing. Our living in Bayfield has added to and prolonged that great gift, and we thank God for it every day, but it is time to move on and open the next chapter in our book of life.
No comments:
Post a Comment