Save Ottumwa Post April 26, 2023

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•••••APRIL 26, 2023•••••

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SAVE OTTUMWA POST outdoors for at least another year, I will plant a I often tell people, “The variety of sunflowers and spring equinox in northern lupin to hide the lids and Minnesota only marks the white tubes coming from second coming of winter.” our septic tank.

We were able to enjoy Farther back in the yard, a few six-to-eight-inch I’ll sow seeds to completesnowfalls. I took advantage of these snowy days ly cover our septic mound with flowers, creating to bring about new life. a pollinator field for the When we returned home, bees. I’ll include milkweed I found my apple seeds to attract monarch butterhad sprouted. I bought flies. The sunflowers will pots and trays, potting draw birds, and the apple soil, and everything I trees (in coming years) would need to start my will draw bears. Come on, indoor apple orchard. spring!

I now have twenty-five apple trees growing in my Over the next week, we house. Within a few days, had warmer weather and sunshiny days. Finally, my sprouts had leaves. I the temperatures reached was thrilled! eighty degrees on I haven’t had a garden for about twenty years, but the apple trees motivated me to think about planting one in the spring. The problem with this notion is our soil; it has lots of clay and rocks, which is not ideal for gardening. But these minor details would not stop me. Raised garden beds would be the way to go for our yard.

Although I’ve not built the gardens yet, I did get motivated enough to start thirty-six tomato plants in my house. Spring will be exciting, especially after this past winter which produced record amounts of snowfall. bout was over.

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Last fall, I harvested the fruit from our daughter’s apple tree. I decided to try my hand at starting an apple orchard from the seeds. Before heading south for a few weeks, I placed the seeds on a wet paper towel inside a baggie and stored them in the refrigerator.

Our travels to the south ended up being extended, more legs were added to the trip, and before I knew it, we were gone for three months, missing out on a good portion of winter!

Some people consider this quite fortunate, but I like winter. The snow, the cold, the wind; I love it all. (Although I could do without the ice storms.)

People at home told me, “You’re lucky. You dodged the big snow storms.” But I didn’t see it that way.

Returning home in midMarch, just one week before the first day of spring, I felt I had missed the bulk of the snow; but there was still hope. Minnesota winters have a tenacious history. Like a good boxer, they’ll bounce back to throw another punch, even after you thought the

I stood before my apple orchard in our three-season room, looking over the yard. There was still close to thirty inches of snow covering the whole yard. I began to daydream: although the apple trees won’t be planted

APRIL 26, 2023 Wednesday, and the snow was melting fast. Our yard was reappearing from under winter’s blanket.

The septic mound was completely free of snow. I got so excited; despite the potential chance of getting more snow, I called my neighbor Gene; he’s a fantastic gardener and would have good advice for me.

I told Gene about my ambitious plans for the various flowers and raised garden beds. “Maybe I’ll even venture into some cash crops. I might plant some marijuana,” I teased him. “There’s supposed to be good money in that.”

(Just the Other Day cont’d on pg 4)

APRIL 26, 2023

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first one to whatever downed prey I have.

His enthusiasm has caused several opportunities to be missed because he runs out before a shot is fired.

This morning, it did not matter. The gobbler turned and flew back to the timber. Jag seemed Get Them When disappointed, but I had You Can fun practicing my calling.

I was sitting on the I purchased porch Wednesday morning just after sun- my spring turkey tags rise, enjoying a cup of about two weeks becoffee. The dogs at my fore. I did not pay much side seemed to be en- attention to the starting joying the warm spring date, only made sure it covered the weekmorning as much as I Contact us today for a quote! end I wanted to hunt. was. I looked up toward the timber line at Most hunting seasons the far side of the dam start on a Saturday, so I just assumed this and noticed a turkey one did also. Later in strutting out into the the day, while getting opening. He was not Check us out all my hunting stuff gobbling but was awon Facebook! together in preparafully proud of himself ASK US ABOUT TEXTURED METAL as he fanned and strut- tion for the upcoming ted, causing his irides- hunt, I noticed the date WAGLER BUILDERS cent feathers to glisten on my first turkey tag.

(641) 777-5000 • john@waglerbuilders.com @waglerbuilders My season started on in the early morning Wednesday. I could sunlight. I decided to have been sitting on have some fun with him. I quietly went back the porch with a cup of coffee, a turkey call, into the house and grabbed my turkey call. and a shotgun. I could When I came back out, have gotten my gobbler if I had locked Jag he was still flashing in the garage and paid his feathers for all the hens to see. I made a attention to my starting date. few clucks on my call Saturday and he immediately anmorning was not swered with a gobble nearly as pleasant as and started walking Wednesday had been. toward the top of the dam. He stopped peri- Winter had returned. odically to gobble, and The temperature was I would give him a few below freezing, and the sky was cloudy. more clucks. He was making great progress There was enough of at coming to the house a breeze to make it when Jag noticed him. feel even colder than Jag must have thought it was. Before dawn I parked the Ranger in I was going to shoot the timber and gathit, even though I did not have a gun, as he ered my essentials. jumped up and started After a short hike, I set up at the edge of a running toward the keys quit gobbling as timber near twin sluic- gobbling from their gobbler. The little dog roost.

None sounded the snow began to fall. es in an area out of is convinced I never very close, but I had I decided they did not miss a shot and wants the wind. Near dawn, faith I could move them appreciate the weather to make sure he is the I heard a few Toms, like the one from the any more than I did.

Wednesday before.

I always get With the heavy cloud tags for the last two cover, it seemed to seasons just so I do take forever to get not have to hunt turlight. Even though I keys in weather like had enough clothes this. I packed up my on to protect an arctic stuff and headed back explorer, I was getting to the Ranger in what cold as I sat perfectly appeared to be a blizstill. It was then I diszard. I had a few gulps covered I had left my of my hot coffee and coffee in the Ranger. thought about missed The wind switched di- opportunities only a rections to blow directly few days ago. I should in my face as it picked have gotten my turkey up velocity. The turwhen I had the chance.

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LEVI

(Just the Other Day cont’d from pg 2)

“Good money until the cops show up,” Gene warned.

I replied, “If the cops come, I’ll tell them, ‘I don’t know anything about those plants. I let my neighbor Gene use part of my land for his gardens.

Those must be his.’” We shared a good laugh about that, then discussed the pollinator field.

“I’ll come to help you once the snow is gone,” Gene offered.

“Look outside, Gene,” I said. “The sun is shining, the snow is melting, it’s warm and beautiful. It’s spring, my friend! We’re done with the snow.”

Gene was skeptical, “We’ll see about that.”

Meanwhile, I thought, Gene sure knows a lot about gardening, but not so much about the weather.

That same night the rain froze, sticking to the window screens on the house; a layer of sleet was covering the deck. At the break of dawn, still in my plaid pajamas, I slid into my snow boots and took Nova Mae out to potty. I nearly slipped and fell on my keester going down the icy front steps.

While we walked about the yard, the sleet turned into snow; the flakes started getting bigger and bigger. Soon Nova’s black fur coat was turning white.

“This could delay our gar-

snow fell. Looking over my lot, and future garden sites, I said, “Here it is, April 20th, springtime, and my yard - all of it, is once again buried under the wrath of winter.” Then I I stood before my tablesmiled, “That’s just northtop apple orchard, looking ern Minnesota – what are out the big windows in ya gonna do about it?” our three-season room. It Although my plans to sow was cold, the skies were seeds would be delayed, grey, and the heavy snow I love the snow and dewas coming down fast. cided to make the best of The bare lawn in my yard this day; in my kitchen. and the septic mound was being buried by snow right A couple days before, my wife asked me to pick before my eyes. By ten up a box of brownie mix a.m., we had four inches while I was at the store. of fresh snow.

Unfortunately, I was At one in the afternoon, already on my way home still in my pajamas, I slid when I got her message, my bare feet into my snow so I did not get the brownboots and put on a flannel ie mix. Fortunately, I did shirt and bombers cap. have everything on hand I went outside, braving that I would need to make the elements, to poke my brownies. However, in all tape measure into the my years of baking, I have snow on the patio table. never made brownies “Eight inches,” I grumbled. from scratch.

“Spring my foot; welcome And so it would be, on back, Old Man Winter.” a cold, blustery April By the end of the storm, night, the snow was fallthirteen inches of fresh ing outside. But inside, den plans,” I told my trusty canine, giving her a rub on the head. I grabbed an armload of firewood, and we went inside to stoke the wood stove.

the wood stove kept the house warm and cozy as the sweet smell of freshly baked brownies filled the air.

We sat before the fire, feasting on warm, dark chocolate fudge squares of goodness. I laughed, “Yesterday, I told Gene I might grow marijuana in the yard. So now, here I am, baking brownies of all things – on 4-20. Lord, have mercy on me; what will the neighbors think?”

We shared a good laugh about that, and then each

had another brownie.

Outside, the wind kicked up, swirling around the chimney top and howling down the wood stove flue, trying to come in the house. “Welcome back, Old Man,” I said while admiring my little apple orchard. “How soon will you be leaving?”