Cold, Then Rain

Last week started off clear and cool if not downright cold. The trillium continued to hide, but, if the light was just right, a small touch of green could be seen in the trees.

Mornings had plenty of sun and the remains of a hard freeze littering many decks and lawns. Now you'd think that the extreme cold would have damaged the mayfly population. You'd be wrong. Near the lake shore there are multitudes of the small, flighty things. They don't bite, but the air is thick with them and they have an annoying habit of trying to cram into every head hole left exposed.

The water is getting warm enough for some to swim. Not us though.

With barely swimmable water comes the sprouting of the piers and the planting of the boat lifts. The pontoon crane guy planted lifts all week and a few piers have sprouted, but it'll be past Memorial Day before a full pier crop will be extended from the entire shoreline.

By the weekend, there was just a shade more green in the trees and a dollop more warm in the air.

Evenings were still a little cool and had an almost autumnal look and feel. Also Lakes Wabikon and Riley are still ice free.

Most sunsets last week were golden and close to cloudless.

The cold has not had any noticeable effect on the yard ducks that populate the North end of West Shore Drive.

Late on Saturday, it started to rain. It did not stop raining for the rest of the weekend. Sometimes the rain was light. Much of the time it was moderate. It came down heavy more than once. The temperatures stayed above freezing so none of it required any shoveling.

The trillium began to pop during the rain on the weekend. If the rising waters of Lake Lucerne doesn't cover them, we'll get pictures up soon. The hints of green in the hills should become louder by Memorial Day weekend if the trees can stay above the waterline. We've got plenty of air in the SCUBA tanks, so we'll get pictures regardless of the lake level.

-Nemo's warming up the underwater camera.

Cold, Then Rain

May 11th through 17th, 2020