November 1998

     Happenings in and around Linnaeus Arboretum

Listed below are a few observations from a year ago made in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas, including the Linnaeus Arboretum/Nicollet County area (and out of the area where indicated). Many of these observations have also been recorded in the Minnesota Weatherguide/Environment Calendar, published in conjunction with the Freshwater Foundation and WCCO Radio/Television, to which Gilbert has contributed since 1977. These events can be used to anticipate upcoming seasonal happenings and will help to compare this year with last.
 
 

1 - Lombardy poplars have beautiful golden-yellow foliage. Honey bees visit alyssum flowers in the garden. Painted turtles out sunning on a log. Fresh pocket gopher mounds found in Brooklyn Park. Recurrent bloom on false rue anemone (Isopyrum) in Faribault. Ninety percent of Minnesota's field corn is harvested.

2 - Picked last garden tomatoes. At 7 a.m., Canada geese are heading out to corn and soybean stubble fields in Brooklyn Park. Hundreds of ring-billed and Franklin's gulls follow chisel plow in Waseca area.

3 - First ice on birdbaths and first heavy frost; begonias and fuchsia plants killed. Steam fog coming off lakes. In St. Peter, weeping willows have about 30 percent sunny-yellow foliage; the rest is green.

4 - Norway maple leaves falling. Red cedar trees have begun taking on the maroonish-brown look for winter. Some small ponds have ice covers. At Gustavus Adolphus College, the Boston ivy on various buildings is probably at its fall-color best and showing many tones of red. Beautiful!

5 - Pin oaks still very attractive, foliage showing dark reds and rich browns. The last of the sunny-yellow leaves of the bittersweet vines are falling. Snowshoe hares in northern Minn. are changing from brown to their white winter coats.

6 - Asparagus plants are golden-yellow. The silver and green leaves of the Russian olive are dropping. European larch trees showing mostly smoky-gold needles.

7 - First ice on backwaters of Lake Minnetonka. Niger seed attracts pine siskins at a feeding station in Victoria. Opossum comes to Bloomington feeding station at night. Twenty bald eagles seen at Reads Landing. About 300 tundra swans at Rieck's Lake near Alma, Wis.

8 - First snowfall in Waconia area; the landscape is white this morning. We can still pick and eat ripe Regent apples off backyard trees. Flying squirrels visit feeding stations in the evening.

9 - Small flocks of eastern bluebirds linger. Some mums and petunias continue blooming in gardens. Short-tailed weasels are now white except for black at the ends of their tails.

10 - The rose hips and American bittersweet berries are attractive on this wet day. It's quite easy to see and count 100 bald eagles while driving between Red Wing and Wabasha. At Finland (Minn.) area feeders, observers are seeing evening grosbeaks, purple finches, and a half-dozen other species.

11 - Last big raft of American coots on Lake Waconia. The red fruit on Korean barberry, highbush cranberry, and many varieties of crabapples is very colorful. About 2,000 tundra swans at Rieck's Lake near Alma, Wis.

12 - Cedar waxwings, gray squirrels, European starlings, and American robins relish crabapple fruit. Freeze-up for Portage Lake at Park Rapids.

13 - Small ponds frozen over, again. Dandelions continue blooming on short stems. Juncos numerous at feeding stations; they like millet seeds scattered on the ground.

14 - Northern cardinals arrive at feeding station 25 minutes before sunrise. Approximately 800 tundra swans can be seen in Alma, Wis., area.

15 - Bald eagles are seen in Lake Minnetonka area; each fall a few come here to feed on fish and wounded waterfowl. Rutabagas and parsnips, now sweetened by frosts, can be dug for good eating or stored for winter.

16 - Ponds are ice-free again. European larch trees are dropping their smoky-gold needles. 1985: About 6,000 tundra swans are at the Weaver marshes. 1983: Petunias and marigolds, plus geraniums and mums, are still blooming near homes.

17 - Flocks of both American robins and cedar waxwings feed on crabapple fruit. Sod is still being cut and put down for lawns. Fresh pocket gopher mounds in Brooklyn Park.

18 - Fresh-cut pine, spruce, and fir trees for Christmas are now out on some retail sales lots. Mosses in the forests are lush green on this mild, wet day.

19 - American crows feed on road-killed skunks and raccoons. The rutting season of the white-tailed deer reaches its peak during the last two weeks of November. Gray squirrels work on their leafy nests.

20 - Lake Waconia steaming this morning. Ponds frozen over again. Landscape evergreens such as pines, spruces, firs, yews, and hemlocks add much interest to the mid-November landscape.

21 - Golfers out on some Twin Cities courses today. Brown creeper, a 5-inch camouflaged tree-climbing bird, seen ascending a green ash tree spirally from the base. Juncos are the most common of the birdfeeder birds at many stations. 1997: Freeze-up date for Lake Waconia.

22 - American crows are in large winter flocks. People continue to mow their lawns. Dandelions blooming. Sailboats and fishing boats seen on lakes. Bikers, walkers and runners out in numbers; some in shorts and T-shirts. Flock of snow buntings seen in Grygla area.

23 - Late sightings of earthworms above ground. From mid-morning to mid-afternoon, deer often bed down to rest. Windsurfers out on White Bear Lake.

24 - European starlings are in their winter dress; they have speckled feathers and black bills. Much fruit is left on highbush cranberry shrubs. 1997: Green Lake at Spicer and Lake Minnewashta near Excelsior froze over today.

25 - Once again, ice is gone from area ponds. As long as most days remain above 27 degrees F., the raccoons will be out and about the landscape. Jack rabbits, in southern Minnesota, have turned from brown to white.

26 - Great horned owl heard calling at 6 a.m. Last big flocks of Franklin's gulls on Lake Waconia. Ornamental kale very attractive in gardens. Alyssum and some pansy and snapdragon varieties still blooming. People out in boats, fishing on this warm Thanksgiving Day.

27 - Parsley and garden sage still green and growing. Canada geese in Twin Cities on lawn areas, grazing on green grasses. People out picnicking. Bohemian waxwings finishing off crabapple fruit in Grygla area.

28 - Sod is still being put down for new lawns. Established lawns continue to grow and be mowed. Red-osier dogwood twigs are glowing bright-red in sunlight. Three Eurasian collared doves seen at Lynd, in southwest Minn.; this bird species is rapidly expanding its range and was first observed in Minn. this year (1998).

29 - Picked and ate last Regent apple off backyard tree. Late leopard frogs heading for lakes, spiders ballooning, some ants out. Thousands of Canada geese wintering at Silver Lake in Rochester. Evening grosbeaks return to Grygla area feeders.

30 - All southern Minnesota lakes and ponds are wide open--no ice. Some Twin Cities golf courses still open. Over 1,000 Canada geese seen at Loon Lake in Waseca. 1992: In spite of danger from thin ice, several ice fishing houses are out on Mille Lacs Lake. Remember: It takes 4 inches of new solid ice for safe ice fishing and skating.