Backyard Safari

Aunt Amy and Uncle Clint started it. They bought Kate a bug gun for Christmas. For those of you who may be uninformed, a bug gun is used to vacuum up bugs which can then be transferred to an observation jar before being released unhurt. This idea was very exciting to my youngster, as was the accompanying book that was filled other equipment she needed for proper backyard safaris. The Easter Bunny managed to provide the necessities. Here she is all ready to go.

Utility belt, spotting scope, binoculars, tools, butterfly net...the works. We caught a spider, a beetle, a grasshopper, and a moth. She caught the moth herself in the butterfly net. She was so proud.

We also saw a ton of toads in the pond. The were moving kinda slow as they were ummmm...playing piggy back. Right, that's it. I'm trying to teach her about nature, but there's a limit to what I'm gonna explain at this age.

Garden Log

Kate and I planted two Dahlia tubers and cut back the old growth on the frog's tongue, oregano,lavender, sage, lemon balm.
The hollyhock

and veronica

are coming along well, as are the peony.


I still dearly love my perennials because they come back with very little work so far. The bulbs are also paying off well.

and my narcissus are doing well.

However, it is all for naught if the rain never stops. It is pouring now, and the water has no where to go. The ground, cricks, the rivers, the lakes, everything is full. Soon the basement will be as well.