Kemp

The time has finally come to breathe the pine fresh air of the north woods. The semester has ended, with the exception of one paper to be turned in by Weds (though I'll likely complete it today). The beautiful northern warbler songs, woodpeckers and flycatchers are a welcome sound. I can't describe how much I value this retreat from what I have come to call familiar this year. So blessed to get this opportunity to tag along!

Little Veronica serpyllifolia and V. officinalis is in bloom all over the lawn. I'm learning some trees from the students as I teach them birds: leatherwood was my latest lesson. Today, I spotted a porcupine in a tree! So cool to see this "lifer" mammal. Also got jaw-dropping looks at Blackburnian warbler, and found a red-eyed vireo female at her nest. The "forest botanist" of our lab pointed out interrupted fern, Canada mayflower, maple leaf viburnum, large-leaved aster and starflower...

Trientalis borealis