Curt Swarm

Iknow summer is here when I see the Goldfinches return. I call them Iowa Gold, and they are the State Bird of Iowa. They color coordinate with the dandelions that are ubiquitous in our yard. I'm not going to lift a finger to eradicate these globes of sunshine for three reasons: 1. When my grandkids come out to the Empty Nest Farm, I can show them how to hold a dandelion under their chins, and if their chins reflect yellow, it means they like butter. They love it! 2. The bees use the dandelions as a source of nourishment. We must protect our bee population! And, 3, I'm too short of breath to risk inhaling a herbicide, even with a mask. So there, mother bear.

Twenty plus years ago, Nikolas (Nik) Kerr, formerly from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, was in Minneapolis.

The author reflects on the annual shedding of samaras from their soft maple tree, noting an unusual absence of seedlings this spring despite no evident environmental changes. The investment in

You know those whirly-gig helicopter seedlings that soft maple trees shed in the spring by the gazillions, clogging gutters, and sprouting little trees in all the places you don’t want trees, like your flower bed, cracks in the sidewalk, and your manicured fire bush hedge that you’re so proud of? Those seedlings are called samaras. As a kid we used to bite off the seed, and put the blade on our tongue, blow and make a buzzing sound, like locusts in the fall.

The Lincoln Log Raised Garden was finally planted in early May after delays due to health and motivation issues, replacing a larger, harder-to-maintain garden with a more manageable 8' x

The Lincoln Log raised garden replaced the conventional garden on Empty Nest Farm.

We finally were able to get our Lincoln Log raised garden in (planted). It took us until early May, which is late. Better late than never, unless you're clever.

I like Cheerios, the plain kind, not Honey Nut, although they’re okay. I’ve been eating 100% Whole Grain Oat Cheerios for years. Not with sugar, either. (As a kid, we

I like Cheerios, the plain kind, not Honey Nut, although they're okay. I've been eating 100% Whole Grain Oat Cheerios for years. Not with sugar, either. (As a kid, we were allowed one spoonful of sugar.) Cheerios is my favorite cold cereal, or food in general. It's healthy for you, I believe. Fiber. In fact, I prefer Cheerios for breakfast over any other Ginnie delectable, like bacon-egg croissants. I'm not kidding. I can even eat Cheerios for lunch or supper, and often do when Ginnie's gone, and feel satisfied. (It's also a great way to get me to drinking milk–vitamin D and calcium for strong bones.) We eat so much Cheerios at our house that we buy the MEGA Size. No fooling around with the Family Size. And it's just Ginnie and me.

Empty Nest: a weekly column by Curt Swarm.