Help for Wildlife in Minnesota

I can't say enough about the tremendous work the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota (WRC) is doing to care for sick, injured, and orphaned wild birds and animals.  It is one of the largest wildlife rehabilitation clinics in the U.S., treating more than 8,600 animals each year.

For the first time, I attended the WRC Open House on Feb. 7, 2016.  I picked out a stuffed toy robin to go through a mock exam.  My robin needed to be taped up because he had a broken wing.  We went to radiology and along the way, volunteers and veterinary students explained how and why certain procedures are done and what type of cage my poor robin would be in during his recovery of about 3 weeks.  Everything was so interesting!  For one thing, I did not know birds have nucleated red blood cells!

A Wonderful Surprise in Boston: The New England Aquarium

I was pleasantly surprised by the large collection of penguins at the New England Aquarium.  I spent quite a while watching the African, rockhoppers, and little blue penguins in the various pools along with a number of people in the pools cleaning the displays.  I would guess this is a constant battle.  The giant ocean aquarium also has a nice display of sharks, sea turtles, barracudas, and moray eels along with divers who were again cleaning the display.

An Inspiring Vist to the Massachusetts State House

Since the legislature was not in session, I was able to visit both the House of Representatives with its wooden Sacred Cod hanging over the gallery and the Senate Chambers at the Massachusetts State House.  To think I was walking the same halls where John F. Kennedy once walked!  Boston is truly a unique city!

Overwintering Shrub Roses in Minnesota

Although our Flower Carpet Ground Cover Roses from Monrovia should overwinter well, I still cover them in the fall.  After cutting the roses back to about 6 to 8 inches, I heap a  mound of dry oak leaves on them, holding the leaves in place with some sections of chicken wire and a few pavers or small logs.  Oak leaves are by far the best because they do not rot and they are easily raked way in the spring.

Really? Tropical Cannas in Minnesota?

Yes, you can have cannas in Minnesota, but it entails a lot of work!  I keep planting canna bulbs each year because of the magnificent cardinal red blossoms on top of  5 to 6 foot-tall stalks.  These flowers attact hummingbirds late into the summer. 

Between June 1 and June 15 of each year, I plant the bulbs in the ground, covered with 2 or so inches of soil.  Light soil is best, because pure black dirt can be too heavy when digging up the bulbs in the fall.

After the first frost, I cut back the canna stalks to about 3 inches above the soil.  I dig out the bulbs in a large clump, with most of the soil removed, and place them in plastic bins containing vermiculite or wood chips in my basement.  These large clumps produce the tallest and most flowers compared to bulbs that have been separated.

Until next year!

   

Angkor Wat: Arrive Early in the Morning, Enter Via the Exit

To me, the magnificence of Angkor Wat could well surpass the architectural and sculptural genius of many of the great cathedrals of Europe.  The immense size of the temple complex and the huge number of intricately carved bas-reliefs makes Angkor Wat truly magical.  The best way to visit Angkor Wat is to arrive very early in the morning and start at the exit.  This will give you time to view the bas-reliefs in the southern and western galleries before the onslaught of tourists arrive through the main entrance.  This same approach works well at many of the other temples in Angkor.  Our private tour guide had it right!

Cheese Curds and Pronto Pups

No, I didn't eat cheese curds, but I did have two Ponto Pups at the Minnesota State Fair.  Each year, we enjoy many of the same attractions and food on our usual route around the State Fair.  The crowds were huge on Sunday and it was a bit hot, but we had a great time.  We were tasked with checking out Mom's winnings in the baking division at Creative Activities.  This year she won a blue ribbon for ice box cookies and several other ribbons for pies and coffee cake.  People-watching was especially entertaining this year!