For the last six weeks, the trails at the Lakeshore Preserve were uniformly white with flattened snow. This morning we were walking over a new trail, one with snowmelt that froze overnight and revealed a mosaic of last year's oak leaves. The woods are also mostly clear and all of the short plants and fungi and variable forest detritus are open once again for exploration. I turned over a log and saw a tiny spider dart away. There is still a bit of ice in the soil but I can also smell those earthy smells that have been away for so long. I am especially pleased to once again smell the white pines in the warm wind. Finally, we heard a group of sandhill cranes flying over Lake Mendota and just caught sight of them over the treetops. To many in southern Wisconsin, the sound of the cranes returning is one of our most emotional connections to spring. As a newcomer to this place, I am just beginning to develop my own relationships with nature's celebrities.
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