We'll All Be Licking Our Lips

It's true!  Spring really has arrived in Wisconsin and even in northern Illinois too.

My running trail in Richmond, IL this week

We went from a high of 46F on May 1st to a high of 86F on May 8th.  That's the Midwest for ya.

My garden's growing like mad and I have rhubarb I could even start harvesting.  I've been busy the last couple of days getting it all mulched before the plants really take off.

I also picked up a couple of new Columbine plants because for some reason mine have gotten fewer every year coming back on their own from seed.  I've got about a dozen infant seedlings popping up, but they won't flower until next year so I needed some new blood.

I had a lot to get done around home and the weather forecast included the possibility of thunderstorms so instead of heading out to Kettle Moraine to camp I stuck around home.  I will head up there tomorrow morning for the wildflower hike, but to make up for not going today I stopped at Big Foot Beach State Park in Lake Geneva after picking up a prescription at Walgreen's.

This pretty plant was growing near the entrance.  It's Marsh Marigold, otherwise known as Cowslip.

Americans Indians used various preparations of the roots to treat colds and sores, as an aid in childbirth and to induce vomiting, and as a protection against love charms.  Yeah, vomiting would counteract love charms I would imagine.

Also seen on the trail were large groupings of May Apple, but none are ready to bloom yet.

I saw a few Trillium, but only one had a bloom on it.

Like me, it just couldn't wait to officially usher in spring, I guess.

We did have storms come through last night.  Seems like it's always wet when I decide to take a walk at Big Foot.

Makeshift bridge over muddy trail

There are plenty of plants that like it wet though.

Skunk Cabbage blooming (maroon "spathe")

I looked in the woods for Spring Beauty and the other wildflowers I saw last week up by Palmyra, but the conditions must not be right for them here.

I think the conditions might always be right for violets.

The Wood Anemone seemed pretty happy.  There was lots of it, and most of it was just starting to open.

I knew Jack in the Pulpit was easy to find at this park, and sure enough there was a ton of it just off the trail.

I wanted to get more shots, but the wind was making it kind of difficult.  You can always count on the wind in southeast Wisconsin no matter what the temperature is.  Click on the YouTube link in the bottom right corner or on the little "box" to see the video large.  I know John told me how to make it bigger here, but I'll mess with that later on after I find that darn email!

Spring in Wisconsin also means it's time to attack the Garlic Mustard.  I easily spent an hour making two large piles in the middle of the trail for the rangers to find later.  You can't tell by these two pictures but there is an insane amount of Garlic Mustard at this park.  It's even worse in the campground.  Speaking of the campground, they are putting in new shower and bathroom facilities...but they won't be finished until September.  Anyone camping here this summer better be prepared to use the portable shower trailer according to signs posted at the campground entrance.

Think they'll see my pile?

I think I'll have to grow my short haircut out for summer.  The wind and the humidity were wreaking havoc on it today and summer hasn't even begun.  It'll be ponytails for me again before long.

Gotta get it all....

I felt so good after my stroll that I stopped at River Valley Ranch to pick up some herbs for my flower bed.  My parsley and thyme come back every year, but I needed some rosemary and basil.

River Valley Ranch specializes in mushrooms, but they grow lots of other edibles as well as producing their own line of salsas, dips and spreads.  They make yummy scones and cookies...I forced myself not to buy, I put on a few pounds in Tennessee from all those cupcakes.

The cats were under the impression that I bought the herbs as some sort of treat for them.  Teeny just sniffed them, but Goofy took a couple of bites of the rosemary.

Katrina will love that picture of Goofy licking his lips!  I also stopped at Lake Geneva Country meats and picked up some steaks for the men and some jam for me.  We'll all be licking our lips before the day is over.