Enjoy flowers or fireworks this Fourth of July weekend

Common tern eggs have begun hatching on Interstate Island in the St. Louis River estuary. About 200 pairs of common terns nest on the island. The young grow rapidly and will be able to fly in about 18 to 21 days. By about 24 days of age they are strong flyers and soon thereafter leave the island.

Showy lady’s slippers are making quite a show with their striking pink and white flowers. It is reported that some large bunches can be viewed while paddling the Bois Brule River. Other flowers that have just started blooming are valerian, yarrow and spreading dogbane. In sandy country regions, purple milkwort, three-toothed cinquefoil, harebell and wood lily are blooming.

If you want to keep your car clean, keep it away from the pine trees. White, red and jack pine pollen has been coating everything with a fine layer of yellow for the past couple of weeks. On windy days, clouds of yellow pollen can be seen falling from the trees.

The Bois Brule River is flowing at 103 cubic feet per second, after a fairly dry June where about two inches less precipitation fell than the average for that month. The 64-year average rate of flow for the Bois Brule River is 151 cfs.

The holiday weekend is looking great for getting out and recreating in the northland. The weather forecast is calling for mostly sunny conditions with temperatures in the 70s.

For the coming July 4 holiday, the Brule River State Forest wishes to remind people it is illegal to set off fireworks in Wisconsin state parks and forests. Sparklers are OK to use, but anything that explodes, is self propelled or has flames coming out is considered illegal. The law is in effect to protect the fireworks users, bystanders and the natural resources.

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Tags: northland outdoors, northland, outdoors, places