February Phenology Report

Phenology is the study of cyclic and seasonal changes in nature. It's nature's calendar - when flowers bloom, leaves break bud, birds begin migrating, leaves change color and begin to fall, and so on. Farmers and gardeners use phenology to develop a planting schedule. Researchers observe changes in phenology as an indicator of the vulnerability of species and communities to changes in climate.

I've decided to study the phenology in my garden to broaden my awareness, deepen my connection to the wildlife around me, and to better understand the calendar of my environment and how it is changing. I'll focus on a few native plants and personal favorites in my yard, the birds at my feeder, and some specific patches of leaf mulch (for insects).

Agenda Today:

1. Read "The Serviceberry"

2. Penology Journal

3. Mason bees

1. Read "The Serviceberry":

Today I'm reading from "The Serviceberry", by Robin Wall Kimmerer (2024). I got this sweet little book for Christmas. 

"To name the world as gift is to feel your membership in the web of reciprocity. It makes you happy -- and it makes you accountable."

She says we are more likely to take good care of gifts than of commodities - it's the motive force of gift thinking. "Mistreating a gift has emotional and ethical gravity as well as ecological resonance."

2. Phenology journal:

Red-flowering currant, 2-1-25

At the end of January 2024 we had a week of cold and ice that demolished trees all over town. Even our strong Hawthorns took a hit; after the third bought of freezing rain the ice was just too heavy, and a major limb bent and cracked. And that was followed by a week of warm (60-70º) weather.

We've again had freezing weather in late January - from the 19th - 30th, with the lowest temperature being 20º on the 30th, followed by warmer weather and rain at the end of this week. 

February 1, 2025, Phenology Notes:

• General: Sunrise = 7:29 am; Sunset = 5:24 pm; Day length = almost 10 hours (almost an hour longer than last month!). Temperature high = 50; Low = 35. 

• Rainfall so far this year: 4.34 in. This amount is 72% of normal.

• Birds: Lots of chickadees, some dark-eyed juncos, stellar jay's, and what I think was a pair of pine grosbeaks! Also, my Anna's hummer. And a sighting of a varied thrush down the block.

• Insects: Tiny white flea-flys in the leaf mulch (?) and a tiny white worm.
• Plants: Oregon Sunshine - early opened buds have died in the freeze; Daffodils - taller; Red-flowering currant- swelling buds; Snowberry- bare; Milkweed- dormant.

• Fungi

3. Mason bee care:

This is best done in the fall, but better late than never!

Mason bee cocoons

Mason bees can bring the hairy-footed mite, also known as a pollen mite, into their cocoons. The mites will feed on the bee larvae pollen stores, bee eggs, and larvae. When mites infest a nest and adult bees emerge from the infected nest the following spring, the mites can climb onto bees and hitch a ride to a new location.

In the wild, mason bees rarely reuse the same nesting cavity, and so in order to be a careful steward for my bee hotels, I will have a yearly “house cleaning”. Today I harvested and cleaned 128 mason bee cocoons, and around 50 leaf-cutter bees!

1. First, use a thin stick to check for cocoons. Save empty reeds for next year.

Leaf-cutter bee cocoons

2. Pinch the mud-capped end with your fingers or a pair of clippers, splitting the reed open. This won't harm the bees. Pry the reed apart and gently remove the cocoons with a stick or a bit of reed.

3. Put the cocoons on a sieve, run cool water over them, and very gently move them around with a paint brush to dislodge any mites.

4. Dry the cocoons on a towel, and store them in a box with small air holes for ventilation. (Or since it's now almost spring, put them outside near the bee house, after it's clean).

5. Clean the house by submerging it in a water bath for 10 minutes, then scrub off any accumulated debris and let dry thoroughly. If you have a drilled block mason bee house, soak it in a water bath; then use a garden hose to blast out the holes. Sterilize the house in the oven at 150˚ F for 1/2 hour.

And it's now time to buy new reeds!