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March 05, 1981 - Spring Ready to BurstSECTION TWO Tbr *Uffath MARCH 5, 1981 Spring Ready to Burst Like the opening of a valve, nature takes advantage of every opportunity to burst out of its winter wrappings whenever there is a break in the weather. Yet there are some plants that have evolved solutions to function even when the valve of winter is closed. The skunk cabbage has the incredible ability to literally thaw its way out of ice and snow. Living in wet swampy areas that are frozen in winter's grasp, it can be found green and blossoming in late winter. Of course, its blossom does not resemble anything we usually think of as a blossom, but nevertheless it is there waiting patient- ly for that break in the weather when some insect is warmed by the sun and ventures out. Then the intricacies of pollination that insects and plants have brought about create the miracle of reproduction. Closer to home, along our wooded edge, we've had cultivated snowdrops blossom- ing for the past week. Many's the time I've photographed them with snow about, but now they're popping up among the leaves to show their modest white blossoms. Again, not a showy flower, but enough of one to give us hope that warmer days are ahead. This morning when walking out to feed the chickens I saw evidence of the first ground mole. He had pushed his dirt - humped trail across my pathway. He, too, has been released from below winter's frozen ground and is now redoing his tunnels throughout the woodland and, of course, across my lawn. He's on an endless search for crawling things below the surface in a darkened world. The slightest sound of a worm or bug alerts his super sensitive hearing and directs his tunneling toward them. No wonder we can never sneak up on these moles. Our footsteps must sound like giants above the ground as we approach their work. It is then they scurry off down their endless passages to safety. Hello, Red - winged Blackbird It's ironic but as I was writing at my desk I saw perhaps the most welcome of all sights of spring: the return of the red - winged blackbird. I caught a flight of birds of some sort heading east when all of a sudden the bottom dropped out and 20 or 30 birds swooped down and settled in the tops of the trees. It all happened so quickly that I was not quite sure what they were. Always having binoculars at hand, 1 merely reached over and checked them out. Sure enough, they were redwings. Their cocky attitude and now palish red wing band stood out against their polished jet -black feathers. These were the males who later would bring out those scarlet epaulets on their wings when courting and singing their song of love. Where the others went I do not know, but one thing is for sure: I have my redwings down at the pond again this year and the cycle of nature has started over again. Within a few weeks the females will arrive to see what kind of homestead the males have selected. See Pristine Beaches Now Is it in our minds or is it truly as beautiful outside as it appears? I rather think that the cold and dreary days of February have had something to do with our thinking -- in the sense that when a good day does come it seems to have that extra sparkle. Yet we did experience the warmth of the sun and the bluest of skies just this last week. Barbara and I had occasion to be down by the bay. What a pleasure to walk a beach without a footprint on it...no crowds of summer... no busy boating, just clean open vistas across the bay interrupted only by a small flock of cavorting ducks. It seemed to us that winter had been a Cooking with Jules Bond ONLY IN THE SUFFOLK TIMES ft(�m� @M U��2nq cleansing time. Its storms, its ice and snow, its fierce rains and high tides of February did their job well and polished the beach to a newness found only at this time of year. Many live on the bay and have the changing days unfold in front of them, but most of us must be content to live up back. Because of this, I truly encourage those who live up back to get down to their favorite beach and walk along it in its new- ly polished state. Choose your day well and stay in the lee of the shore to keep away from the still chill northern winds that seem to persist. Our bays and shores rank among the best in the world and this is a good time to take advantage of them. PAUL STOUTENBURGH SKUNK CABBAGE - -This plant of the swamp has the ineredible ability to thaw its way out of winter's freeze and can be found blossoming during the late winter months. Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh MOSTCASHORGIFT FOR Open a new accoYOUR any of o!s and walk away with your choice from a selection of beautiful new FREE GIFTS or CASH and the highest interest allowed by law on your savings! No bank or savings institution gives you more for your savings. or: Lion Monf alankel st ley Hnberta'N pc. rlatware set Prealo Mot Atr corn Popper Daaer Pool Sorer ./Hear and Massaro, r/wrlty Men's sh- FREE GIFT FOR DEPOSIT OF $1,000 or more to any new or existing Savings or Certificate Account: norelrnemrna evn NOW ACCOURT GIFTS, TOOT FREE GIFT FOR DEPOSIT OF $500 or more to a new Flee Checking Plus 51A Interest Account, or any new or existing Savings or Certificate Account: urning Tea Pr Af 3 ti Luggage Harrier Tote Hall or empro, Blanket by SL Mary 's mfrs Men', or Ladles Umbrella Toles Rain Rat for Ladies Northern Healing Pad All gills must be picked up at each office. Ile gifts will be mailed. Offer limited to one gift per account We reserve the dgM to substitute comperaWe merchandise in the event an item is not available. Minimum balance required for gift must remain on deposit for 12 months. 26 weeks for 6 Month Ma1ey.Market Certificate Accounts. 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