Thursday, 25 May 2023
We live in an orchard (here). The apple trees are in bloom. Last night and tonight both, the meteorological minions indicated below freezing temps in this area, and possible frost. I believe the blooms are when the crop is most vulnerable to a freeze. Last night, we had no frost, and I think we skated on freezing temps.
In any case, the blooms look fine. And huge IMHO.
Wednesday, 24 May 2023
First produce from the property. Yay! These were easy finds, right next to the chives up by the garage. Both species are likely escapees from my great-grandparents’ gardens.
Had to go to town and the Guru was off doing Man Business, while I wandered the parking lot of goodies, an outdoor showroom, basically. I was not shopping. I was collecting information. This beauty was larger than most of the similar vehicles on this lot. The smallest ones were like two-seater golf carts. This is nothing like that.
And neither is its price tag. Yikes. This is way more than our also brand new pickup when we bought it back in 2019. However, this Can-Am beast comes with “all options,” which is totally the opposite of our pickup. Still.
Tuesday, 23 May 2023
The soil is dry, dry, dry. See the v formation of the lupine leaves? It’s too dry for them to open flat. I’m glad to see a bud on the way…there probably won’t be very many…we shall see.
Any property means chores, and they have begun. This is on the short list for near daily forays with shovel, carry-bucket, and truck (for removal to a burial location). “This” is Heracleum maximum, invasive cow parsnip, also phototoxic. Yuck. I say near-daily because the mosquitoes are viscous (intentional mis-spelling), and I just can’t face them every day. [Can you tell I’m trying to talk myself into doing a session tomorrow? I did other important items today and skipped cow parsnip removal….]
Monday, 22 May 2023
I call this the bloom of spring welcome. Or better: the spring bloom of welcome.
Sunday, 21 May 2023
Looks like it might be a dead lake, but there’s a fine fishy…in the algae (pronounce fishy and algae to rhyme, plz). S/he’s toward the back, a horizontal grey shape with a dark shadow.
Saturday, 13 May 2023
Once again, my ignorance is revealed as vast. Magnolia grandiflora, and I think this is a specimen, is native to southeastern North America, although perhaps south of this actual location. [Or is it Magnolia virginiana; I get confused.] Still, it’s generally local and native. But perhaps that qualification means that it is an ornamental and non-local. Ah, horticultural fine points.
Friday, 12 May 2023
I especially enjoy evergreens; they are so bold through the winter blahs. I am pleasantly surprised to see the berries this early in the season. Or maybe I’m just ignorant of the pacing of the juniper growth patterns.
Thursday, 11 May 2023
Yeah, I know, this peony’s past its prime. It’s still stunning. And I quite enjoy the juxtaposition of the petal-pink with the distinctive green of the lichens.
