Ex caliper

In the past, I have judged tree growth by how tall the said tree grows. Another way to determine how well one's trees are faring is to measure the diameter of the trunk. So today, using a not-very-sufficient caliper, I measured the oak (1 3/4") and the hickory (9/16") trunks. Hopefully, I will remember to do this every year.

What makes it feel like spring to you? For me, it is daffodils, forsythia, magnolias, and the greening of the grass. The lawn looked a bit raggedy, so I mowed today. I'm also still messing around with the arborvitae detritus.

A trip around the yard reveals more signs of spring.

Prairie Fire Crabapple

Hyacinth

Blue Star

I had to look up that last plant, as it is new and something I am unfamiliar with. The new growth is black, which is a surprise.

Some sad news: One of my garden blogger friends passed away, Jason of gardeninacity. I'm not sure how I came to follow his informative and enlightening blog, but through that venue I was able to visit his garden during a tour in that area. He and his wife Judy were also frequent attendees of the Garden Bloggers Fling, which inspired me to attend when it was in Minneapolis. Jason and his blog will be sorely missed.

Errata

The day after my last post, I realized the photo I identified as buds from the Prairie Fire crabapple was actually buds from the elm tree. I corrected that, but I certainly hope no one takes anything I say on this blog as gospel. I blog primarily to document the yard and garden for my own use, but I also enjoy sharing it with others.

I can tell spring is here because. while there isn't that much to do outside yet, there are more photos to post. My SO came over and helped me move the container plants from the garage to the backyard. Besides the rhubarb and penstemon below, there were two butterfly bushes and a clematis.

I bought some plastic drain pipe from the Home Depot. Stretching it out is a two-person job, so my SO helped with that as well. We had quite a bit of rain the other night, and I already notice that the sump pump under the four-season room runs less frequently now that the runoff from the roof is directed farther away from the house. Once the rain garden is installed, I'll half-bury the pipe in the mulch.

And my SO helped hang the metal sculpture I purchased at the home and garden show.

There is so much on my to-do list, once the weather warms a bit more, that it feels a bit overwhelming. While I love living alone and I'm grateful for the help from my SO, sometimes I wish I didn't have to do everything myself. I'd like to offload cleaning and cooking and TAXES!

Bugs, buds, and blossoms

I've seen a swarm or two of gnats this past week, but today I spotted this fellow feeding on the witch hazel blossoms. Some kind of bee, I guess. Honey?

Bee on witch hazel

Meanwhile, buds are starting to swell here and there around the yard.

Serviceberry

Chokeberry

Elm

Hawthorn

Ragwort

I didn't get a good photo of the snowdrops, but the "regular" croci are blooming as well as the daffodils (which look a little raggedy, due to the fluctuating weather).


So much for outside. Inside, I finally got around to starting the zinnias from seed. But first, I made some pots from newspaper, as described in this video.


Mine are not as refined as the ones in the video, but they will work.

Today I finished de-branching the arborvitae, so that task is finished. Now I am waiting on an estimate for the rain garden, because of this repeat performance:

I hope the rain garden helps.

Another pile of feathers

Just as I was about to go outside and fill birdfeeders, I noticed this fellow dining al fresco. From the remains (just feathers), it looks like dinner was something small, like a sparrow or junco.


This crow also paid the backyard a visit. I think that is the first time I have seen one at the feeders.

(From the quality of these photos, you can see why I would like a new camera, preferably one with a zoom lens.)

In the photos above, you will see a pile of arborvitae branches in the background. That is what I have been working on when the weather allows: lopping branches off the trunks of the downed shrubs and creating brush piles for the wildlife. Otherwise, I am (im)patiently waiting for spring.

More snow, despite the yardening

I managed to get a bit of outdoor work done before more snow arrived. The south side of the house is cleaned up and more of the arborvitae is taken care of. I also broke off the old blossoms on the 'Limelight' hydrangea. I am curious how that shrub will do now that the arborvitae are gone on that side of the yard. Hopefully, more sun will mean less spindly growth.

I didn't notice that one blossom I missed, at the tippy top, until I took the picture.

About that snow. This is in addition to last week's two inches, which melted. And this snow melted as well, but more fell last night. Winter just won't quit.

It occurred to me the other day that, if I am going to grow zinnias this year, I should get them started soon. That would be a great task for today.

BTW, my new shoulder feels *great*. Winter may not be the best time mood-wise to recover from surgery, but I am so glad to be able to do yardwork painfree. Well, except for the overall achiness the next day. But that's a *good* pain.

More yardening, despite the snow

Last Wednesday, two separate people told me we were getting a foot of snow on Friday. I don't know where they get their information, but my weather app predicted a few inches, and what we got was even less than that, after a lot of rain. Today is sunny and warm, so I worked on cutting down grasses on the south side of the house. Yeah, I do my fall clean-up in March.

I purchased this mason bee house several years ago (2008?) but kept forgetting to put it up. Something must have jogged my memory this year, as it is now hanging on the southeast corner of the shed. For more information on these super-duper pollinators, watch this YouTube video.

The Tommies (Crocus tommassinianus 'Roseus') are up, and I put the macro function on my phone camera to use documenting their existance before they disappeared. Rabbits probably snacked on the blossoms, as they are no longer to be seen.

I think I saw a redwing blackbird at the feeders the other day. They don't visit often but do make an appearance in the spring. Besides the usual fox squirrels, this black one (from a melanistic subgroup) showed up. Today, the dogs are keeping all rodents at bay, as I kicked them out to enjoy the sunshine before we receive more rain tomorrow.

My SO and I went to the Home and Garden Show last Thursday. It was unusually busy for a weekday, probably because of that snowy forecast. I purchased two pieces of yard art, which I will show you once they are installed. I also spoke with a solar salesman, as I'm thinking that may be a better solution than a backup generator in case we lose power, say after a storm. What say ye?

Some actual yardening

Despite some horrible weather lately, we have had a couple of nice days. I took advantage of them and installed different fencing around the "meadow", something more attractive and tall enough to keep the dogs away from the bird feeders. I bought these fence panels at Menards (11% rebate!), and they are my new favorite.

Another purchase, this one from Wild Birds Unlimited, is this wind thing. It shows the direction of the wind and the speed, plus I could not resist the kitties on top. I'm discovering some areas of my yard are more protected than others and have moved it at least once.

As I said, we have had some bad weather along with the good. Last Wednesday I awoke to an icy morning. Fortunately, it didn't last long and there was no damage. Then came the rains. I sometimes wonder if I should invest in a backup generator.

Besides daffodils popping up here and there, the ragwort that was installed last summer is starting to send up flower stalks. I don't think any actual blooms will appear until late March. I'm anxious to see what those beds will look like.

The goldfinches are starting to return, although still wearing their winter plumage. The starlings have lost theirs, so they don't look so ugly. And I think I saw a vulture today, scoping out my backyard. Come on, spring!

Up close and personal

The wind blew over the birdbath the other day. While setting it back up, I moved it closer to the window where I laze in my recliner. One purpose was to find an even spot. Another was to lessen the number of window hits; I read that feeders and birdbaths should be within 15 feet (or far away) to help prevent avian crashes. A side benefit is getting to see the birds up close... as long as I don't move too much.

Capture my good side

I wasn't quick enough to snap a pretty male house finch, but the bluebirds were very cooperative.

What are you looking at?

While glancing out the kitchen window yesterday, I witnessed a pair of mourning doves courting. It seemed early to me, but according to the Indiana DNR, they are right on schedule.

Something (raccoon or opossum?) has been knocking the mealworm feeder out of the redbud tree at night, so I've been bringing it inside after dark. Whatever the critter is, it is still checking that tree out, as this morning the dogs were sniffing up the trunk.

While messing around with my phone camera, I discovered it has, among other things, a macro mode. Who knew? Certainly not me.

New sprout on schefflera

I was thinking about buying a new SLR camera - and I may still do so - but it is nice to know that I can fall back on my phone camera.

The cactus that won't die

I ordered more catmint, this time 'Calamintha' nepeta, for the front yard. This one looks like baby's breath. My plan is to combine it with the 'Cat's Pajamas' I ordered earlier. The pollinators should be happy.

The mower is back - already! - but we are far from spring despite the March-like winds. I had a follow up appointment for my shoulder and was told to hold off on lopping branches for a few more weeks, and to start small. Aye, cap'n!

Right before my very eyes

I use one of the spare bedrooms as an exercise room. Per usual, I was standing by the window, watching the birds while shrugging my shoulders, thinking about scaring away the starlings, when all the birds in the yard fled. A large hawk swooped through and grabbed a mourning dove. (Mourning doves fly fast but are a bit slow to get off the ground).

My first thought was, Why couldn't the hawk have grabbed a starling? Maybe they don't taste very good. My second thought was at least the mourning dove was a single, not one of a pair.

Mourning doves look so soft to me. Guess what? Their feathers *are* soft.

Sean from Santuary Native Landscapes stopped by on Wednesday, before the subsequent rain proved my point by providing some standing water, to discuss installing a rain garden. We have a tentative plan to move forward.

The only other exciting thing to happen this week was the riding mower going in for its annual servicing. That's just how wild and crazy it gets around here. Have a stimulating week.

Snow's gone (mostly)

Is this the legendary January thaw, a bit late? Last week's snow is mostly gone. And more daffodils are pushing their way to the surface.


The helpful folks at Wild Birds Unlimited convinced me that the bluebirds would find their way into the anti-starling birdfeeder, so I put things back. And they were right. I admit it is a bit of a relief not to keep watch.

One end of my yard holds a lot of water. I called on a hardscaping company a while back, to find out what it would take to drain some of that off, and what it would take is a LOT of money because of how flat my yard is, plus it would tear things up dramatically. So my new plan is to work with the water. Step one: Sanctuary Natives is coming out later this week so we can discuss rain gardens and water-loving replacement shrubs for the arborvitae we took down. If I can run two downspouts and the sump pump outflow to rain gardens, that may just do the trick. Fingers crossed!

Guardian of the mealworms

Instead of modifying the starling-proof mealworm feeder, I put it out with the other nut feeders and filled its bowl with bark butter bits. Bluebirds like them, as do just about every other bird that visits, plus the squirrels. (Now that I think of it, I bet a red squirrel could squeeze into that feeder, if it could get past the baffle on the pole.) The "old" mealworm feeder is back in its original location. I moved the recliner in the den closer to the window, so when the starlings mob that feeder, I can rap on the window and scare them away. Interestingly, the bluebirds are not so rattled by my anti-starling efforts and stick around to take advantage of the situation.

We received even more snow - 6-8" - and I had to shovel the driveway myself. :-( The neighbor who usually clears it with his snowblower is out of town, leaving all of us on the block who depend on him out of luck. I started working on the snow, figuring if I couldn't finish it, I would ask another neighbor for help. But I did it! My left arm did most of the work.

While the bluebirds have been ignoring the wintergreen holly berries, this one robin has not. I keep wondering if it is the same robin who in the spring hangs out under the mealworm feeder and chases other robins away from the hawthorn tree in the front yard. Very territorial.

Today for lunch I fixed myself a club sandwich - turkey, bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes. It was delicious! Now I am back on the tomato wagon, so I guess I'll grow *one* plant this summer, in a container.

Snowy day

The snow started coming down during the night and continued for most of the day. It's a heavy snow, perfect for packing. My SO came over and helped clear the driveway, although I discovered it is possible to shovel snow using one arm. I welcome the snow, as a snowless landscape feels too much like February.

See the birdfeeder in the photo? That one is designed to let bluebirds in while keeping starlings out. It works, BUT. Only one or two birds can feed at one time, while I frequently have 5-10 birds wanting to eat. The floor of the feeder is solid, so spilled mealworms don't fall on the ground where the others wait. I think I'll replace the floor with hardware cloth and see how that works.

This past week I placed an order with Bluestone Perennials for catmint, specifically Nepeta 'Cat's Pajamas'. I also ordered a dozen purple coneflower, a.k.a. Echinacea Purpurea, from Prairie Moon Nursery. I *tried* to order some stuff from Burpee, but their site must have been overwhelmed with others doing the same thing, as my order would not go through, even after three tries on separate days. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something.

Spring has sprung?

I was more than a little surprised to see these daffodils emerging from the mulch. Yes, it has been mild, and yes, these daffs are the first to appear each year. But January 15?!? That's just not right.

While there is no outside gardening to do right now, today I took care of some indoor gardening. Four houseplants needed to be repotted. I purchased cheap pots from Target (which came without saucers, so there is a pottery project for me) for this task. And despite my efforts to be careful, made a bit of a mess in the kitchen. Maybe next time I should do this in the laundry room where there is a utility sink.

There has been more bird activity lately, specifically a flicker (a rarity at the feeders) plus quite a few bluebirds, so I've been putting out mealworms. I don't know what it is about seeing those flashes of blue, but it really cheers me up. Not to be outdone, my SO spotted a bald eagle a few miles from my house, near the county fairgrounds. Now *that* is really something to see.

I'm free! (sorta)

This past Wednesday, my ortho doctor told me I could stop wearing the immobilizer. Huzzah! While my left shoulder is still rather useless, at least I have two hands to work with. Another six weeks of ACTIVE (instead of passive) physical therapy and I should be well on the way to near normalcy. Just in time for spring cleanup.

The weather has been rather mild lately, so less bird activity in the backyard. Someone (starlings, perhaps?) has been pecking away at the hot bark butter cylinder. It's on a pole unprotected from squirrels, but they don't like the red pepper. I think it colors the bird poop, though.

S words

Starlings, sparrows, squirrels, snow, subzero...

... and seed catalogs!

I abandoned growing vegetables a couple of years ago, but there is nothing like a Burpee catalog to get one's saliva flowing. Of course, I don't want to disrupt the new landscaping, but there are always containers. And container gardening must be a thing now, as many plants are designated as being container-friendly.

My tendency to go overboard is being held in check. All I really want is a few fresh veggies that don't involve a car trip to an overcrowded farmers market where there seems to be few market gardeners. I'm glad that farmers markets are so popular, BUT. Most of the vendors are not selling fresh fruits and vegetables, which is what I want. So I will grow a few of my own. In containers. Like green beans, ONE tomato plant, some herbs. We'll see how that goes.

I'm also dreaming of populating the "meadow" - the corner of the yard that I reserved for my own puttering. Coneflower, rudbeckia, ironweed, monarda, penstemon, cupplant, etc. I'm sure there will be some volunteer sunflowers as well, as the birdfeeders are in that area.

With our recent polar vortex, the starlings finally showed up en masse. Ugh. Besides the usual fox squirrels, I've seen a gray squirrel (with white ears!) and red squirrels (very athletic). Today what I assume was a Coopers hawk flew through the backyard. Last November I heard sandhill cranes flying overhead - their "song" sounds like gargling.

Meanwhile, I wait for my shoulder to heal. I have one good day and think the worst is over. But I'm still not sleeping well, simple tasks take forever because of being limited to one arm, and yesterday the physical therapist made me cry, partially because what she was doing HURT, but also a brutal realization that I am not as tough as I thought I was.

What gardening dreams are you having this winter?

Insult to injury

Not only am I recovering from shoulder replacement surgery, I now also have a cold. Not the flu, not covid, not whatever else is going around, just an old fashioned cold. Ironically, the only place I could have picked up this virus is the doctor's office, where I went on Wednesday to have the staples removed.

Otherwise, not much going on. A half dozen bluebirds showed up at the birdbath today, so I put out some mealworms for them; so far, no takers. Ditto the seed wreath and hot butter bark I splurged on. I'm sure that will change once my fine feathered friends venture from their usual feeding stations.

The xmas cactus continues to pop out a blossom, one at a time. I'm not sure how one keeps this plant blooming, so I've continued to cover it at night to see if that helps.

Its cactus cousins are... weird. One is putting on quite a show while the others look dead or nearly dead. Are they just dormant? Inquiring minds want to know.

Have a joyful week.

A-OK

Just a quick note to say the surgery went well on Wednesday. I came home Thursday, had a bit of a scare yesterday and went to the ER (everything checked out okay), starting PT tomorrow. I sleep a lot, with one cat or the other in my lap; the dogs are at the kennel until Tuesday.

Despite my erratic efforts to force the xmas cactus to bloom, it complied.