By Holly Einess
I arrive early at the Arboretum in hopes of escaping the worst of the predicted heat, and set off around Green Heron Pond. The tickle of spider silk on my bare arms tells me I must be the first on the trail this morning. The sun is already warm, but the breeze is still cool, and the air is sweetly scented.
A cardinal, glowing red in the morning light, sings loudly. A crow stretches out and preens one wing, then the other. A great egret perches high in a tree, then glides gracefully down to the pond’s edge. A song sparrow alights on a dead branch and takes in her surroundings. Heavy streaks and a dark spot on the chest are identifying features of this species, helping distinguish it from the many other sparrow species found in Minnesota.
As I approach the end of the boardwalk I’m delighted to see that a few showy lady’s slippers are still in bloom. This native orchid is the largest found in Minnesota, and was declared our state flower in 1902. Since 1925 it has been protected by state law — it is illegal to pick the flowers or dig up the plants. Showy lady’s slippers grow slowly, taking up to 16 years to produce their first flower, and can live up to 50 years.
Chipmunks scurry about in the dry leaves on the forest floor. A red squirrel gnaws on a nut. A gray squirrel is splayed out in the shade on the pavement — perhaps to cool off? All three belong to the order Rodentia (from the Latin rodere, “to gnaw”) — mammals that have a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. Other members of the rodent order include beavers and muskrats, groundhogs, porcupines and voles (but not moles or shrews, which belong to the order Insectivora).
The Prairie Garden is full of color and activity. Much is in bloom, including butterfly weed, black-eyed Susan, purple prairie clover, harebell, pale purple coneflower, spiderwort and white wild indigo.
A goldfinch lands beside the water that flows around the garden and takes a quick sip. A ruby-throated hummingbird probes a beardtongue blossom. Dragonflies dart around in search of food. A great spangled frittilary nectars on milkweed blossoms.
I welcome the cool shade as I enter the Wildflower Garden, then stop suddenly as I spot an indigo bunting perched on a wire tree enclosure. These birds usually hang out high in the treetops, so I hurry to take a few photos before he flies away. But this one seems content where he is, and I observe him for a good long while, thoroughly enjoying his singing and his various poses.
Just as I reach my car an osprey flies overhead, clutching a fish in her talons. Perhaps this is one of the Arb’s resident ospreys taking food to her nest. You can watch (and listen) to the osprey on the Arb’s Osprey Cam. This year’s nest has suffered some setbacks, with one of three original chicks surviving in the nest. It’s a privilege to view these amazing creatures up close, but it can be difficult to watch the course of nature unfold from this intimate perspective. Viewers of the Osprey Cam are sure to be moved by the beauty and complexity of the natural world.