2 thoughts on “June 8 – 14, 2015 Kaw Valley Almanac”
What contrastive elements do you see from last year? From deluge vs drought. Does it make a big difference in animal cycles, slow plant cycles or speed them up? Just wondering if you have any ideas on the differences?
The berries and nuts are definitely more prolific, which are partly tied to also not having a late hard freeze this spring, but also encouraged by plentiful rains to flesh out the sweet/nutty fruits. I think the pervasive hackberry butterflies are more prolific in wet years as well, with more surviving from caterpillar stage with plenty of leaves to feed them. The apple cedar rust on the cedar trees was the most prolific in years due to ideal damp conditions, and a more leisurely development in wildflower seed and rhizome production will hopefully spell more of them next year. Of course more seeds, fruits and healthier plants will likely mean more animals surviving the spring birthing seasons, which can be a double edged sword: more mammals and more chiggers and ticks!
Kaw Valley Almanac 
What contrastive elements do you see from last year? From deluge vs drought. Does it make a big difference in animal cycles, slow plant cycles or speed them up? Just wondering if you have any ideas on the differences?
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The berries and nuts are definitely more prolific, which are partly tied to also not having a late hard freeze this spring, but also encouraged by plentiful rains to flesh out the sweet/nutty fruits. I think the pervasive hackberry butterflies are more prolific in wet years as well, with more surviving from caterpillar stage with plenty of leaves to feed them. The apple cedar rust on the cedar trees was the most prolific in years due to ideal damp conditions, and a more leisurely development in wildflower seed and rhizome production will hopefully spell more of them next year. Of course more seeds, fruits and healthier plants will likely mean more animals surviving the spring birthing seasons, which can be a double edged sword: more mammals and more chiggers and ticks!
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