Wildflowers and Bees

Today's warm weather not only opened several of the wildflowers but it also brought out many of the bees.

A small bee on Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys)



Honey bees on Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)









A bumblebee on Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)



A bumblebee on Honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica).

Spring Wildflowers

With today's warm weather the Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) flowers burst open and the smell filled the air. While the spring flowers are welcomed by the bees, this invasive plant has taken over fields and hedgerows on our property.



One the more unusual spring flower blooms is the chokecherry (Prunus virginiana). The flowers are arranged in tightly packed clusters on a single stem. Click on image to enlarge photo and see the flower detail.



Another bush with clusters of flowers in bloom now, is the Honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica). The honeysuckle is another plant species that after its introduction to the area has become invasive and is crowding out native plants.

Honeysuckles range in color from white ...



to yellow ...



to pink.

Pipeline Construction

A beautiful sunny day and the welders continue to work on the fabrication of complex piping to connect everything together.



Making cut on the 12 inch pipe.



Rigging the pipe into position for some welding.



A section of 20 inch pipe connecting the pipeline to the "pig launcher".

Spring Wildflowers

While walking back to our cabin from the pipeline construction we found our first Blue-eyed grass flowers (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) of the spring. The flower is less than 1/2 inch across and found growing in moist open meadows or fields with poor soil.



Although the plant is small and has grass-like leaves, it is a member of the Iris family (Iridaceae).

Pipeline Construction

The welders and crew were busy today connecting the complicated bends and angles required to connect the pipeline with the "pig launcher".



More bends and turns to connect.



Fitting the pieces together.



A prefabricated section of pipe being unloaded

Turkey Hunting Problem

We've all heard the story of the boy that went to school and told the teacher that the dog ate his homework. I went turkey hunting and a bear ate my decoy.

It's the start of the second week of spring turkey hunting season and I was up early this morning to try my luck at finding a gobbler. I had placed 5 decoy birds in a field before daybreak and positioned myself in a hedgerow 100 yards away. The plan was to draw a gobbler past my hiding place on his way to the decoys but a large black bear came in before any turkeys.



The bear came in very slowly, sneaking up on the decoy.



As the bear got close to the decoy, a cub then approached.



The mother bear grabbed the decoy by it's head and soon released the untasty bird. A close up view of this photo shows the decoy's head in the bear's mouth.



Mother bear didn't taste test any more decoys and had to explain to the cub about different breakfast plans. As the mother bear and cub walked toward me, 3 more cubs came out of the woods to join them.


No real turkeys were hurt today.

Spring Wildflowers

The Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys) is a very small spring wildflower (1/8 to 1/4 inches) that needs a closer look to see the detail of the flower.



What the Germander Speedwell lacks in size, it makes up with in numbers. This patch of flowers was located in a hedgerow behind of our barn.

Pipeline Construction

The welders were out of the trenches today and working on fabricating sections of pipe to connect the "pig launchers" to the Wilmot Pipeline.



Welding on a 45 degree bend to 20 inch pipe.



Welding up a section of 12 inch pipe for the Wesauking Pipeline.



A fabricating section of 20 inch pipe bolted to the "pig launcher".

Spring Wildflowers

I found my first Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) of the spring next to our cabin lawn. Buttercups contain ranunculin, which breaks down to the toxin protoanemonin, a chemical that can cause dermatitis and vomiting.

Pipeline Construction

The 20 inch "pig launcher" was set in place yesterday and the installation of the supports for the 24 inch "pig launcher" started today.



Pouring concrete into the supports for the 24 inch "pig launcher".



Trimming the corners on support plates that will be placed on top of the concrete to support the frame of the "pig launcher".



The welders were busy fabricating the piping for connecting the "pig launchers" to the pipelines.



View of a weld from the inside of the pipe.



Cleaning the first layer of weld before applying the next layer.



Much like "an army travels on its stomach", pipeline workers like a good meal.

Pipeline Construction

The welders were back in the trench today welding connections to tie in valves and the two pipelines.



This fitting will tie the smaller Wesauking Pipeline into the Wilmot Pipeline.



The 20 inch "Pig Launcher" for the north end of the Wilmot Pipeline was place in position today and needs to be connected to the pipeline. A 24 inch "Pig Launcher" will be installed to handle the south end of the Wilmot Pipeline.



Getting another section of pipe ready for welding.

Spring Wildflowers

Walking through a wooded area today, I came across my first purple trillium (Trillium erectum) of the spring.

Purple Trillium

Purple Trillium

Pipeline Construction

The crew was busy again today laying another section of pipeline through the wetland area.



Unlike yesterday when the trench was dry, the overnight rain and water from the wetland created a muddy bottom to the trench.



Cleaning the slag off the first layer of weld in preparation for additional layers.



Welding overhead, while on your back, in a wet/muddy trench.



Back by the pipeline borehole, an excavator uses a "sifter" bucket to remove rocks from the dirt used to backfill the pipeline.



One of the three valve assemblies for the pipeline arrived today.