Today in the orchard
The Merlin app that many people are using these days is revolutionizing bird watching. We used to call it “bird watching.” Now, I suppose we should call it “bird-hearing.” Yesterday we saw/ heard what we thought might be a Northern Oriole along the woods beyond row seven in the Finley Lane orchard. But after a look at Merlin, we had to rule out Oriole because it had a white breast. Today we heard the same call, threw our tools into the air and rushed for the phone. Eastern Towhee. It’s another reason to have your phone in your hands every second you’re out in the orchard (just kidding). I went back and looked at a few Eastern Towhee photos and, by gosh, I think Merlin was correct. We’re living in a bird sanctuary!
Black Locust, Kew Gardens, 1998
There are so many plants blooming on the farm now, it’s tough deciding which ones to feature. But today I’ll mention Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). Black Locust is a native North American tree with a checkered reputation. It does spread by root suckers and can rapidly create stands of trees in locations you might not want them. On the positive side the wood grows very fast and makes fence posts that won’t rot for a hundred years (or so). Boat-builders love it for framing hulls. We have a small cluster of trees that have formed from a single seedling I planted about 25 years ago. The trees are already 30-40 feet tall. The flowers are also edible. Although I love our trees, my favorite is one I photographed in Kew Gardens in England about thirty years ago. It was planted in 1762!
