Mid Summer Heat

Mid summer in Wisconsin means heat and humidity, which frequently means storms, sometimes wild ones. Here in Okee it seems we get one or two real wild ones each year that take out trees on Cave Bluff. We had our first one a couple days ago.

I walked over the hill yesterday, and several of the trails have trees down on them. We'll get them cleared out as we can, but I was drenched in sweat just walking so playing lumberjack will wait until things cool a bit!

It's not just storms that take out the trees. Summer also bring oak wilt, a fungal disease that our big population of black and red oaks is susceptible to. Trees that look healthy one week will suddenly start to wilt and drop leaves the next. Once this happens the tree is pretty much a goner.

Oak wilt is endemic in this area, spread by beetles. It's a natural process, but it also means that our oak trees only live about 50-60 years max before they succumb.

This one just started turning the other day on the Manchester prairie. It will be turned into firewood this winter.

It's not all bad news, however. The black-eyed susans are in bloom and the black caps are ripening. Get outside! Mornings are best and wear

your bug spray.