Moose Tracks

 

During the mild spell a moose was crossing in my back field, close to the creek and using part of the trail Teaka and I made, but I only saw the evidence, not the animal. There isn't much for the moose to feed off of in my field so I guess it was just a thoroughfare.  They like to nibble on dogwood shrubs, which there are plenty of around this area. Here is a size comparison photo of Teaka's and the moose's footprint. 

Also during the milder weather I took on the job of cutting down a cottonwood tree that was close to the house and sometimes dropping big branches when there was a high wind. I worried about damage if a large branch fell on the house. I plan on leaving the stump and planting a flower/plant garden around it.  The large trunk I will use for a sitting bench or two around the property, placing one for sure by the vegetable garden and another perhaps in the corner field by the creek, and if a third is possible I'd like a sitting area by the oak tree I planted last year. We are bound to get more snow so that job can wait for spring. I may be able to use some of the straight branches to build a fence somewhere, or as stakes in the garden.

In reference to my previous post of 'A Story to Tell' about the large cottonwood tree in my driveway: There once were a number of trees lining the driveway but in a strong wind storm one year they all blew over except for one.  That also explains why the still standing tree seems to have lost its top, and subsequently to have grown multiple top branches that give it character. There is benefit to having trees or shrubs line the driveway, particularly in the winter to mark where the driveway lies under the snow and to cut the wind so snow doesn't blow right back into a nicely cleared driveway.  Whether I shovel or use the snow blower, it is difficult to know where the driveway is because the ground all around is generally flat. I planted two shrubs last year, (ninebark and nanny berry) more as a visual feature in the front yard, but they will help with the wind situation.  Markers of some sort in the ground before next winter will be beneficial along the driveways, on both sides of the property.