Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Space invaders

I saw the most amazingly huge Jack-in-the-Pulpit flower (like this, and about 6 inches tall), last night. I'd joined the Friends of the Mississippi River and St. Paul Parks for an evening of pulling herbacious invaders. I can't believe I didn't think to bring my camera! There's an excellent photo that shows a similar garlic mustard infestation here.

We worked in a pretty ravine near Crosby Farm Regional Park that is normally filled with bloodroot, trout lily, trillium and Jack-in-the-pulpit. This spring, said ravine was mainly filled with 3-foot tall (and almost to-seed) garlic mustard, and one small ginger patch. About 16 of us put a pretty big dent in it, but even just to get to that ravine we had to walk though a near quarter-mile of the invasion that was not slated for the guillotine on that day.

It's fun to get dirty in the woods and learn about local plants.

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Wednesday, April 18, 2007

A Good Day

A few things to appreciate, today:

It's warm out, and today I'm wearing sandals.

I'm planning to run the 5k Get In Gear race in 1.5 weeks, and my preparations are going well.

Earth Day is this weekend; here's something to do to celebrate it.

I'm climbing 5.10a-b climbs regularly, in the gym. Only a few of them are overrated. I'm really looking forward to getting out to Barn Bluff this summer.

I baked some excellent biscotti last weekend.

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