hesterredhen
Registered: 07/02/07
Posts: 167
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Reply with quote | #1 |
Hello again,
It's raining still here in South Central Illinois even as I type. Our creek has just decided to meander across the west lawn for the umpteenth time this year. Hard to get the mowing done in between rains. We were finally able to get the bank cleaned up on one side a couple of weeks ago. Maybe the magic lilies will have a chance to shine next month. At least the ones that haven't eroded down the bank. As soon as it is not too muddy too walk I saw a huge bunch of the bulbs had been uncovered by all the water over the creek bank that will have to be replanted. They are tough though.
The farmers here in our county reported 10,000 acres of corn not planted due to rains preventing them from getting it in early enough to mature before frost date. Some of my vegetable garden suffered the same fate. I may still be able to put in some for the fall. My early tomatoes are just starting to ripen. Those are the heirloom types I ordered over eBay and planted in April. The garden centers around here didn't have any ready that early. I also noticed a few of my peppers are nearing picking size. I never got my cucumbers planted, but may still try. I really wanted to make pickles this year. Limited time in between rains made it necessary to pick and choose what I got done.
I don't know about you guys, but it seems that in this 7th decade of my time on this ole earth I move at a much slower pace than I really like. But still happy I can.
Sam has had some heart problems this spring so we have been taking time out for lots of tests, Dr. visits and hospital trips. Our son Matt, and our grandson, Michael were able to get the crop in. But not before Sam came home from having heart catherazation on a Monday and was back up on the tractor with them on Wednesday, oxygen bottle and all. I follow him out the door shaking my head, but it falls on deaf ears.
This has been his way of life forever. and I'm pretty sure he's happier for it.
This has been one of the prettiest springs and early summer I can remember. Because of all the water, everything is lush and green.
The phlox and asters just won't quit growing. They are at least a foot taller than normal. You need a machete to get through the paths.  That just
makes it easier to watch the tiger swallowtails and frittalaries from the kitchen window as they stop by for a drink from the blossoms. The gold finches have been frantically collecting the seeds from the sweet rocket. I try and leave the tall stems and let them go to seed just for the birds. They look like butterflies themselves flitting from plant to plant. When it comes to tidy or wildlife, I usually choose the latter for my garden style. Of course the help they give in scattering volunteer plants is a bit to keep up with.
Then there are the raccoons. They keep bringing me lots of unwelcome gifts, (weed seed bought in on their fur and scattered about where they are least wanted!) I keep feeding them anyway. It's worth it to watch the mama's and their babies in the spring.
I was sitting watching Larry King about 1:30 in the morning last week. Sam was asleep and Michael was working out of town on a conveyor in a coal plant. The house was quiet. All of a sudden I was startled when the dinner bell by my back porch started ringing. It sits on a telephone pole about 6 or 7 feet high. from the ground and right next to my back porch where I can step out and ring it for the guys to come and eat. I thought Michael had come home early. I opened the door and looked.
Nobody there. Then I saw the muddy footprints on the bell. The raccoons had used it to jump over to the bird feeder about 3 feet from it. They just climb up on the porch steps and then the telephone pole. Easy reach for them.
Usually I don't fill this feeder in summer because of the coons, but the rose breasted gross beaks have been feeding there all spring and I hated to let them down. They are so beautiful. We feel privledged to have them.
Well, I think it has stopped raining so best make the most of it. Till later.
L. Red Hen
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stutler
Moderator
Registered: 06/28/07
Posts: 291
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Pburgh
Registered: 07/03/07
Posts: 169
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Reply with quote | #3 |
Rebecca, I had a visual of you following Sam out the door waving that finger and him, completely ignoring you and going about his business as usual. LOL
Men, can't live without them, can't train them, gotta lov'em.
My finches are getting FAT!!!! I've gone thru 40 pounds of thistle so far this year. They're a wonderful addition to my oriental garden. I'll have as many as 6 at a time at the feeder. Then the morning doves congregate below the feeder to pick up all the thistle that drops to the ground.
The lawns and gardens are lush and green up here too. I'm having my siding and shed painted in September so I'm trimming everything and pulling down the vines from my shed. Yep, I find that I move slower and slower all the time.
Ben, it amazes me how strong those little maple tree seedlings are. Once they start growing those little suckers put out a root system that's hard to yank out of the ground.
Have a great day.
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stutler
Moderator
Registered: 06/28/07
Posts: 291
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hesterredhen
Registered: 07/02/07
Posts: 167
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Reply with quote | #5 |
When we first made the move to the family farm in 1977, there were 29 hard maples in the yard, most of which had been planted in the 1860's. according to what we have been told. There has been lots of storm damage and loss over the last 30 + years and we have replaced several, but not all. Still in the spring there are several hours spent by me pulling up new seedlings in places where there isn't grass to mow. But some always escape me After the first year's growth they are a struggle to pull. But that hasn't been all bad. A few I have let grow and pruned until they were big enough to transplant to replace ones lost. They also seem to be a magnet for lightning. I have played hooky from chores and taken some time this season to just sit on the front porch and listen to all the song birds perched high in them around the yard.
We have been blessed with a beautiful assortment of winged friends this spring and summer. Some of the smaller ones I have trouble seeing well enough to identify, even with my trusty binoculars, when they are up high, but their songs are lovely.
We have had a pair of ring necked doves. My old Peterson guide lists these as Florida birds. They seem to be perfectly content. Guess they didn't read the guide.
Last week there was the largest Great Blue Heron by the creek that I have seen here. They visit often enough through the summer but never saw one this big here. Audubon says they can get to be 52 inches tall. I had the pleasure to go wading with one in Donna Bay,(whose shore is lined with mangrove), in Florida that was about this size. It was in a protected area and there were all sorts of water birds that apparently weren't too afraid of people. That was where I watched a night heron feeding on tiny crabs as well.
The wonder of nature ,developed as a little girl, on fishing expeditions to the old farm pond with my grandmother, is still there. My brother , sister and I were always catching something wild and bringing it home. Snakes were a favorite. We had a very tolerant mother. Before I was born they say my sister ,(who is 9 years my senior), had 100 terrapins in a fenced in area in our back yard for a short while one summer. They said she had taken fingernail polish and painted names on all of their shells. To this day she is still "capturing" nature, but on canvas.
I've spent the last several nights trying to get the message across to my "friendly raccoons" to leave the bird seed alone. They have taken to eating all night and half of the day. It is nothing to see them when I first get up at 5 or 6 and still be there until about 8 in the morning. Then they will be gone until about noon to 2 p.m. before some are already back. The poor birds have a hard time finding anything left. I didn't fill the feeder by the kitchen window but that doesn't stop them from hoping. I have had a ladder setting there from washing the windows and last night one of the young ones had climbed up the ladder , jumped over to the kitchen window frame and was trying to hold on for dear life so that he could jump from there to the feeder (about 2 feet). On the other side of the feeder about the same distance, there sat another one on the dinner bell waiting to jump,  while a third had beaten both of them to it and was already on the feeder eating what ever remnants he could find. One more small one was at the base of the feeder, while three more larger ones were feeding on birdseed I had scattered on the lawn about 15 feet away. As I said earlier, when they are just little they are cute, but sure get to be problem when they bring in all their cousins.
And they aren't the only thieves. Something is eating my cantaloupe and watermelons. We think it could be coons, but also maybe a possum or groundhog? Not sure. We have tried red pepper on them. Don't know if that will work or not. Well at least life is never dull.
We are hoping to get our shed roof painted this August or September, Karen. The grandson and son are trying to work it in around their work schedules. I think Sam said it is about 4200 square feet.
Well enough for tonight. I just happened to remember the latest about Matt's adventures in Brazil, but will save that for later.
L. Red Hen
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