rain gauge

5/8 of an inch in the rain gauge at 5:30

facts for the day

The strawberries are blooming among the bee balm.










The spinach is sprouting outside










Zucchini and thyme are sprouting inside











It's been over 80 degrees for two days. We got an inch of rain yesterday, and have had 1/2 and inch so far today and the Chives are blooming (I think. it's possible an alien has landed in my garden.)

We wait in hope

So, we are finally nearing the point in our warmer weather where we are almost brave enough to believe it's really spring. The rain has stopped for a few days, although the yard is still squishy and requires gum boots in most places. We are playing outside without jackets and the flower beds are cleaned out for the season.

Yesterday my dad came over with his wader boots and went out to check on the wood duck box. He saw several eggs, but no wood duck. We though this was not good. This morning there was a worse sign. Instead of the daddy wood duck sitting on the box, there was a juvenile red tailed hawk. I'm pretty sure he didn't eat our daddy duck, but I'm sure he gave him a scare. Today dad came over and installed a raccoon baffle to keep the eggs safe.

I was ready to give up on the eggs after spotting the hawk this morning, but apparently dad still has faith. We'll see.

Meanwhile this little guy

has moved into Fort Katie. He's a cute little tree frog. They are usually hard to spot but his camouflage doesn't quite match the redwood stain.

Dad also installed this for me.

The bluebirds are probably all nested by now, but they might use this for a second round of babies.

And I set up my birthday present:

Something to keep me from mowing up my garden hose. Kate and I planted pumpkin seeds today, and her zucchini seeds are coming along.

So baby plants and baby birds are all the world right now. There's not much we can do in either situation but wait in hope.

Spring News

Garden update: Pine tree gardens have been weeded, and the silver mound, dames rocket and phlox look good. The coral bells and ice plant are currently questionable.

There's also the mystery bush:

Came up on it's own, and I let it live. It doesn't seem to bloom or anything, just be green.

In the upper garden, last week's weeding has allowed the bee balm to flourish, and the strawberries are blooming. Also, the stargazer lilies are coming back. If only I can keep the myrtle from strangling them.


And now for the big news. Thisis a wood duck box. Been there a few years. A few days ago, while in the shower, I though I saw something sitting on top of it. Our shower has a window onto the back yard which is cool because you can see things while shampooing. However, since I need glasses to see anything past about 6 feet, I pretty much only know "something" is out there, not what it is. Turns out it was a wood duck! He seems to spend pretty much every morning out there. I'm hoping this means he's got a family in that box, but I can't be sure, and I'm afraid I'll scare them off if I go out there and check. Also, I don't want to get too close, so I can't get a good picture. This is the best I can do, through the scope:
Terrible picture but wonderful news.

Garden Log April 30

Kate and I planted pepper and zucchini seeds along with lavender, oregano, and thyme inside. Spinach seeds planted outside in planters. Dandelions pulled from upper garden.

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.