Thistle Nest

​Much of the first year’s summer involved mowing. It’s not that we don’t want a beautiful prairie with gently waving black eyed Susans and cone flowers, but the first thing that needed to be managed are the meadow weeds Canada thistle and wild meadow parsnip.

​​I’ve learned that if we can mow when they’re in flower and before they send out seeds, we have about two years of mowing, and we’ll be mostly thistle-free. It’s where we started.
As I mowed around the front meadow, making the tall patch ever smaller, I realized I was upsetting the mice and voles that scurried away. While I was sorry to disturb them it was likely only temporary. Then a red-winged blackbird caught my attention. First, I saw her fly away, then she flew at me. Oops. Okay, I decided that patch of thistle can stand.
​I later snuck up (although you really do not sneak up on a blackbird) and took a photo of what I had saved. The trill of the red-winged blackbird is one of the clearest season markers for me, and when I hear it, I know I’m home.

"Thistle Nest" Watercolor, 10 x 14