Fear of Losing My Peas

Last spring I truly believe that a turkey was eating my peas as they poked through the soil. So this year I've had a net over the peas, but with rain storms it keeps being blown cockeyed. Today when leaving down my steep drive I spotted two very large turkeys in the wetlands at the bottom of the steepest part of the drive. They didn't fly away - they ran. Then I thought of my peas! I'd better fix that net and while I'm back up there, grab the camera. I turned around and did both of those things. Alas, when I returned to where I'd seen them they'd disappeared but left this deer behind. It wasn't there the first time.



It took its time walking away but I had a time trying to capture it so I took photos of the skunk cabbage instead.



Then here's my surprise lily that surprised me two years ago in the wetlands, I transplanted it last year to the entry way to our drive and this year it's growing.


When I got home from my errands the net on the peas was askew again. It's been a windy day. Maybe the peas are past the point when turkeys will eat them?

Harvest Monday

Enough spinach was harvested on Friday for a salad for three of us. Emily of Greens and Jeans was visiting and enjoyed the feast with us.

Check out other harvests at Daphne's Dandelions.

This and That

In July last year I visited some garden centers in Amish Country in Ohio. I was very inspired by a small garden scene in a metal washtub. I've managed to make my own such scene in a metal pail I got at a yard sale last Fall. Here is the inspiration:

Here is my rendering of this scene using only one purchased plant (the dianthus). The thyme, moss, cedar tree come from my yard. The hens and chicks were taken from another potted plant I purchased.


That project and the following were done with help from Emily who has been visiting this weekend.

We went shopping at a wonderful garden center and purchased a variety of succulents. Then Saturday visited Home Depot and found some cacti. My hope is these plants will better survive the heat and drying out and not need constant watering. I think we got some marvelous combinations of plants.




Finally some scenes from the garden.

Residents and Visitors

I'm sure you have resident wildlife that share your garden spaces with you. For me they are the deer, raccoons, frogs, all sorts of birds and these fine looking creatures who have become regulars each morning looking for a handout. They let me know they are ready to eat by coming up to the deck, climbing the beams and looking in on us as we have our breakfast. I tear up a piece of whole grain bread and toss it on the deck and grass. They aren't tame enough to stick around while I do that but once I close the window they scamper back to eat. This morning there were these two. A third was chased off so it didn't get to partake.



Then there are the occasional visitors. Yesterday it was a flock of cedar waxwings taking a drink from my pond. Didn't catch them on the camera before they flew off to who knows where.

(Photo from GBYBC - anonymous.)

This morning it was a single duck who landed on the embankment of the pond. As I reached for the camera she flew off chased in flight by another duck, I assume a male. I believe she was a female wood duck because she look somewhat like this. It was the white patch that was distinctive but she wasn't the lovely coloring of the male wood duck.

(Photo from web search - Terry Sohl)

Residents and visitors - an ever changing scene here at my gardens.