Tried a different ‘link’ on the postimages for the monarda pics. One regular click (not a ‘right’ click) on them & they will open in a larger format. The smaller pictures on the actual thread seem to be in better focus.
It has been GORGEOUS here the last two days - mostly blue skies, sunshine galore, low humidity, temps in the 70’s. The farmers at the mountain place are all cutting grass and making round bales. Here in the flatlands, I have gotten the entire place mowed (brother mowed 1 field & the old riding ring, which helped). No mowing to do today .... what to do, what to do?!
I have decided, since it’s still low humidity & not all that hot, to try to dig out at least one metal raised bed today. I will be saving the dirt (will have to pull the weeds out first - all the beds except the herb beds are overgrown). The other project is to see if I can get 3 huge slate slabs on the trailer and I might try getting my double wash tub planter on there, too. It’s rusty & needs painting, but I can paint it under cover at the lean-to attached to the barn. It’s ‘open air’ so paint fumes won’t be an issue. Very ambitious ‘things to do’ - I have had these on my lists for about 2 months & other things (like the new mower) have taken up trailer space. PS - I need to take the live trap this trip - the groundhog has 3 holes going in the pole shed ... just disgusting. If I don’t catch it pretty quick, I will be buying a snare, which is supposed to work pretty well.
My niece gave me a 3’ x 9’ metal raised bed. It’s in a box about 2-3 ft long & there is a bag (literally) of bolts to go with it. Initially, I thought I would use it, but I just cannot make myself put the thing together - I stress out just thinking about it & ‘stress’ is the last thing I need right now. My 3’ x 6’ metal beds only needed corners attached at initial assembly & I think I’ll stick with them for metal - the hope is I won’t have to take them apart to move them. My youngest brother gave me some tips on making reasonably cheap wooden beds (easier than what dad & I did for my original wooden beds) so if I add beds, I am going to make wooden ones, using his method.
Plant happenings other than monarda ... that Super Blue lavender plant is outstanding right now - loaded with blooms. The bumble bees have found it and I’ve counted up to 10 at one time on it ... it’s the “happening place” in our garden. The other “happening” is that the deer found mom’s hostas in the back yard and ate 7 almost down to the ground. That’s about half of her variegated hostas in that particular bed. I haven’t told her yet - it’s going to be “war” around here when she realizes the deer are once more visiting her gourmet salad bar.
My tomato plants are doing tremendous. All except one - maybe a little nitrogen burn - oops. It’s the time of year for growth and the insects haven’t started attacking, yet. Squash and peppers look great as well. I’m excited. All raised from seeds - about 40 tomato plants. Hopefully no helicopters checking me out like last year. Next time I will motion him down to land and show him they are T o m a t o plants.
Wildlife update (some acting badly):
Friend has a juvenile bear terrorizing the neighborhood: destroyed his hummingbird feeder & knocked over his Green Egg grill. He had been grilling earlier & hot coals spilled on his wooden deck. Luckily, he was home & could clean it up before anything caught on fire (dog chased bear away). Other neighbors are having similar issues - same bear. One neighbor is Fish & Game who has been getting complaints from all the neighbors - gave friend rubber bullets to give bear an unpleasant experience if it comes back, but if it persists (and it is already rather habituated to finding food around humans), it will be euthanized.
Brother & SIL spotted a bobcat walking down the middle of our road the other morning. Worrisome because they are usually elusive - hoping nothing is wrong with it (rabies).
Coyote spotted chasing 3 deer out of our back field last night. Distressed rabbit call did not call it back in - will probably try again.
Coyotes & bobcats do not bode well for fawns, speaking of which my niece has spotted 2 brand new fawns in the last couple of days - one wobbling after the doe, so new it could hardly walk. The other was a doe who had probably just dropped her fawn - in a fairly open area & the fawn was trying to nurse.
Our white “Angel” deer could have a fawn this spring, but not expecting a white offspring.