The Glorious Month of May!
As much as we Iowans like to talk about the season and the weather, I sometimes secretly think I could be satisfied with just two months: May and October.
And since it’s MAY, let me count just a few of the many delights of this month.
Start with the orioles.
Adult male Baltimores - flame-orange with shiny-black head and back - return first after wintering in Central America. The females, young males, and orchard orioles follow in quick succession. Time to lay out the grape jelly feast. (And to get to the grocery store promptly before they’re sold out!)
Like people, some orioles are patient, while others are bossy and belligerent. The more feisty ones swoop in to chase away competitors looking for a sweat treat, while late-comers line up on our deck railing to await their turn.
When they’re not gorging themselves at the jelly feeders, the orioles flit about the greening treetops, pausing often to stake their claim on a favorite branch with a distinctive song the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology calls “pure, liquid, whistling . . . flutelike.” oriole songs
Along with the orioles’ orange, May is defined by green. April showers (which thankfully we’ve had this year!) have unleashed myriad greens in the ground-hugging mosses and wildflowers, and unfurling tree leaves. Gentle rains continuing into May enhance those subtle colors, leaving the woods bejeweled by the backlight of the setting sun.
The glorious changes happen fast! (Or maybe it’s just that I’m slowing down . . .?) The flowering crab bursts with blossoms – only to shed the flower parts in a virtual snowstorm that leaves pink drifts on the driveway
Early in the month, we heard the forecast of rains to come, which motivated us to take a spur-of-the-moment float on the Turkey River. The resident bald eagle watched us warily from a riverside perch in the greening trees. In contrast, a tiny spotted sandpiper danced along the edge of a gravel bar.
Off the river, it was back to gardening. Has anybody else noticed how rapidly weeds grow when the soil warms up in May? But that means the lettuce will grow fast enough to yield a Memorial Day salad.
Most folks would say our lawn needs mowing – but I resist the temptation to tidy things up. I can’t bear to whack off the miniature pussytoes, whose fuzzy white blossoms just might attract painted lady butterflies. Dandelions flourish with my neglect, as well - to the delight of tiny native pollinators.
And I want to believe that the unkempt yard hosts plenty of insects and caterpillars to feed the brood of baby bluebirds that should fledge any day from their box outside my window. Papa bluebird thinks so, too, as he perches with cocked head, ready to pounce on a meal to take home to the kids.
As I ponder my options, I’m faced with a dilemma. Do I rush to catch up on the many warm-weather jobs that inevitably appear on my to-do list? Or do I slow down to better savor the sights of wildflowers, the sounds of the bird and frog chorus, the smell of compost enriching the garden beds, the taste of fresh asparagus, and the feel of my damp canoe paddle?
Easy decision – as I trust the accompanying images illustrate!
To cap the month of May, consider attending the annual Loess Hills Prairie Seminar, May 31-June 2 at the Loess Hill Wildlife Area near Onawa. Loess Hills Prairie Seminar https://www.loesshillsprairieseminar.com/
It’s a great place to hike, bird-watch, learn prairie ecology and absorb the history of the unique Loess Hills landform. Camping is available.
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Thanks, Suzan! Please remind me how to find Draco Hill. A busy summer ahead - but who knows where we might wander!
Wonderful! I didn't know about miniature pussytoes. I've probably seen them but just didn't pay enough attention. May and October are my favorite months too.