Earth Day 2003 could best be called the day of the monsoon -- high wind and drenching rain -- as a consequence, the last of our planned projects, a tree planting wasn't finished until today. The wildflower garden (three times as big as 2002) was planted last Tuesday by Winifred Andrew with help from Local Brownie Troop 702. The birds love it and are already picking out their favorite seeds. (Unfortunately they eat their favorite seeds, we will have to wait and see if they missed any.)

Our advisor, Dana Filippini from Backyard Habitats, came this Tuesday with her truck full of plants, shrubs and our special tree. Her son, the ever cheerful Junior, was there and they did a beautiful job on the butterfly gardens. Quoting Brenda Bibb "I took a look at the work Dana did yesterday on the three Butterfly Gardens. The improvements are noticeable and very attractive. She has added some shade-tolerant perennials in shady places, and flowering shrubs and other perennials in sunny "bare" spots. Many of the previous plantings (particularly the heathers) are in full bloom right now and are lovely." ("Lovely" must be New England talk for fabulous, gorgeous and outstanding.)

As I waved goodby to Dana I looked up and saw six deer enter the upper meadow -- wow! They were too far away on a very misty day to see if there were any bucks so I presume they were all does; but, there were SIX of them, fabulous, gorgeous and outstanding, I was gob struck!

The new tree is a tulip popular, one of the tallest shade trees in all North America, and one of the most ancient, recorded in geological ages. This six footer should grow to 80 to 150 feet tall. It's greenish yellow and orange blossoms will stand upright on its branches and the fruit which ripens in late September stays on the tree through the winter providing food for the wintering birds. This tree was planted today in the small grove we chopped out of the bull brier and Asian bittersweet at the top of Tower trail. We have also planted butterfly bushes, phlox, heather, periwinkles, and blue violet in the grove. Check it out it is starting to look fabulous, gorgeous and outstanding.

They are not a part of the gardens, but a highlight of the site this week are the white-flowered trees in the islands of the parking lot on the right as you come towards the Nimitz Building. These are called Bradford Pear and are a hardy and beautiful landscape tree. Their white bloom coincides nicely with the pink of the Magnolia and the flowering cherries.

For those interested in crab apples (the small flowering trees in the coutyards of Nimitz)that kept their fruit until the hungry robins found them last winter, URI will hold its annual Crab Apple Field Day at East Farm on Rte. 108 in Kingston. See
http://www.news.uri.edu/releases/html/03-0425-01.html

Thanks Brenda and I love the opportunity to brag the nature trail, "Woodland Wander", so:

The silver cherry and high bush blueberry are in bloom. These are not as beautiful as the parking lot pear trees, the cherries are way too high-up and the blueberries are too subtle; but, they do add a "fabulous, outstanding and gorgeous" white dappling to the dark trail surface when they fall. (Maybe we should turn this into an acronym to describe everything about REWHC: FOG (fabulous, outstanding and gorgeous). I am sure one of you knows an appropriate "R" word to make it FROG -- let me know.)

Just wait until next month when we add wild cherry blossoms to the mix, then it will be stupendous and FOG. Wait to see our greatest show, the wild cherry blossoms; but do visit the trail now, it is exploding with shades of green and every day is going to be different. The forest is closing in on the trail as the new foliage hides the long sight lines of winter. The best part is: The trail is remaining in great shape except during and just after a very hard rainfall. All those water breaks, I call them jogger speed bumps, are really working.

The resident writer says, "How about resplendent?"