July phenology

Holy Wisdom MonasteryCare for the Earth, Friends of Wisdom Prairie, Phenology Leave a Comment

By Isaac Ruby (they/them, he/him), Land Management Summer Intern WHAT AM I DOING? As one of my many projects as Land Management Intern this summer, I’m doing a phenological survey of two sites here at Holy Wisdom. Phenology is essentially the study of natural environments over time. Imagine something akin to Henry David Thoreau’s notes at Walden Pond, with an added layer of scientific understanding or site consistency. Phenology logs have been a required component for many courses I’ve taken at Lawrence University, where I’m tasked to return to one outdoor spot over the course of a semester and observe …

Winged wonders of Lost Lake

Holy Wisdom MonasteryCare for the Earth, Friends of Wisdom Prairie Leave a Comment

Submitted by David Kelly (he/him). All photos by David Kelly. It’s finally spring. The ice and snow have melted and Holy Wisdom and there’s a lot to see. From woodlands to wetlands, life is awakening from its icy slumber. It’s time to explore. The early morning shadows stretch across the forest floor. Soft, moist ground gives way beneath your feet. Fallen twigs crackle as you walk. Each step stirs the musky aromas of last fall’s decomposing leaves. Shrubs show tiny buds, packets of energy, ready to burst. Oak, hickory and black cherry trees tower overhead. Leaves haven’t appeared, so you …

March phenology

Sylvia MarekCare for the Earth, Friends of Wisdom Prairie, Phenology 3 Comments

By Sylvia Marek Phenology is a science focused on observing and recording biological events from year to year and their relationships to the change of seasons and climate. These are the “normal” phenology events we expect to see here and in the Madison area this month. We would love to hear about what you are seeing on the grounds of Holy Wisdom Monastery. Please comment on this post with what you are observing, where at Holy Wisdom and the date you observed the event. No month ends or begins overnight. Events can be a few weeks early or late. “For, …

February phenology

Holy Wisdom MonasteryCare for the Earth, Friends of Wisdom Prairie, Phenology 5 Comments

By Sylvia Marek Phenology is a science focused on observing and recording biological events from year to year and their relationships to the change of seasons and climate. These are the “normal” phenology events we expect to see here and in the Madison area this month. We would love to hear about what you are seeing on the grounds of Holy Wisdom Monastery. Please comment on this post with what you are observing, where at Holy Wisdom and the date you observed the event. “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without …

January phenology

Holy Wisdom MonasteryCare for the Earth, Friends of Wisdom Prairie, Phenology 2 Comments

By Sylvia Marek Phenology is a science focused on observing and recording biological events from year to year and their relationships to the change of seasons and climate. These are the “normal” phenology events we expect to see here and in the Madison area in January. We would love to hear about what you are seeing on the grounds of Holy Wisdom Monastery. Please comment on this post with what you are observing, where at Holy Wisdom and the date you observed the event. January Phenology for Holy Wisdom “Go softly on your way. Learn to be a gentle people …

junco at Holy Wisdom Monastery

December phenology

Holy Wisdom MonasteryCare for the Earth, Friends of Wisdom Prairie, Phenology 3 Comments

By Sylvia Marek Phenology is the science of observing and recording plant and animal activities from year to year and their relationship to season and climate.  The following Madison area observations are from notes I have kept over the years.  We would love to hear about your observations here at Holy Wisdom.  Please comment on this post what, where, and the date of your observations. December Phenology “I heard a bird sing in the dark of December.                       A magical thing and sweet to remember.”    –Oliver Hereford December, a …

November phenology

Sylvia MarekCare for the Earth, Friends of Wisdom Prairie, Phenology 2 Comments

By Sylvia Marek Phenology is the science of recording plant and animal activities from year to year and their relationship to season and climate. November events can vary when the month is warmer or cooler, wetter or dryer than average. The following Madison area observations are from notes I have kept over the years. November Phenology for Holy Wisdom “Let’s just wander here and there like floating leaves in the autumn air and look at little things….From the winds we’ll catch a bit of that feeling, that wondrous feeling that comes not from seeing, but from being part of nature.” –Author …

Fall Spectacles

Holy Wisdom MonasteryCare for the Earth 2 Comments

Submitted by David Kelley (he/him), Friends of Wisdom Prairie Volunteer “Don’t you imagine the leaves dream nowhow comfortable it will be to touchthe earth instead of thenothingness of the air and the endlessfreshets of wind?” – Mary Oliver, Song for Autumn It’s early spring. Warm air, sunshine and rainfall abound. High in the canopy, tree buds have been waiting all winter for this. They burst open in all manner of green as trees awaken from a long winter’s slumber. As temperatures continue to rise, the leaves spread out as summer sun pumps life into the forest. Like millions of tiny …

A new family at Lost Lake

Holy Wisdom MonasteryCare for the Earth, Friends of Wisdom Prairie, Uncategorized 1 Comment

Submitted by David Kelley (he/him), Friends of Wisdom Prairie It’s early spring. Tendrils of mist dance like sprites on the water. The lake’s surface is smooth like polished silver. Several ducks skim silently like shadows in the fog. This is Lost Lake, a relic of the glaciers, which covered much of Wisconsin until 10,000 years ago. Lost Lake is nestled in prairie and woodland just west of Holy Wisdom Monastery. You hike along the trail, which meanders around the lake. To your right oak trees rise like pillars, leaves rustling in the spring breeze. On your left emergent vegetation creates …

October phenology

Holy Wisdom MonasteryCare for the Earth, Friends of Wisdom Prairie, Phenology Leave a Comment

Phenology is a science focused on observing and recording biological events from year to year and their relationships to the change of seasons and climate. These are the “normal” phenology events we expect to see here and in the Madison area this month. We would love to hear about what you are seeing on the grounds of Holy Wisdom Monastery. Please comment on this post with what you are observing, where at Holy Wisdom and the date you observed the event. October phenology “Now is the time of the illuminated woods. They have a sense of sunshine even on a …