Come take a walk with me. I rode to the top of the lane with Dan and walked back with the recycle bin. Here is the top of the lane looking down towards my destination.
One of the houses along the lane is this one built in 1808. It was home to a Quaker family when it first was built.
There's a lovely old stone wall on the left as I pass the 1808 house.
Passed the house the lane gets steeper.
Everything is lush and green from all our rain.
Almost to my driveway, it's ahead on the left.
Here is our marker. You can see the surprise lily on the right. There are astillbes and foxglove growing. I planted a young red bud tree here too.
The wetlands are to my right as I start walking on my driveway.
The first of many turns in the drive.
Another turn ahead.
One of the few straight almost level sections. There are young sycamore trees growing along the right.
Ahead is the glen. Our house is on the edge of it at the top. The tree on the ground covered with vines is a walnut cut down by Dan. It was dead.
Another view of the glen. Isn't it like a cathedral?
On my right is the wetlands where the skunk cabbage has grown very large.
Another turn - the steep part starts.
Another view of the wetlands.
I huff and puff on this stretch.
Sometimes I turn and walk up backwards and here's what I look back on.
First sight of the house.
Almost at the top.
I made it.
A quick stop by the vegetable garden to see how well
everything is growing. Peas are in full bloom.
A tomato bud is spotted.
Beans are growing.
Cucumbers have germinated.
Another tomato bud.
Close up of the peas' blossoms.
Lettuce is growing well. Spinach on the right has almost all been pulled.
On to look for other blossoms in the gardens. Pinks by the pond.
Miniature garden is looking lovely.
White iris has shown itself.
A single purple among the gold irises. It will have to be moved to a new spot.
Lupine is starting its bloom.
Deep purple iris are still in fine form.
Everything is very wet. More rain on its way.
Knock out rose joining the bloom parade.
Clematis close up.
I had had an inkling that raccoons (has to be them) had shown an interest in my pots on Monday when I found the largest one in disarray. It wasn't dumped but some of the plants were uprooted and the self watering indicator straw was out. I put it back together without thinking that it was the precursor for more destruction.
They must be looking for grubs and the potting soil is easy to dig in. They must also be frustrated to find no grubs because it is potting soil.
This morning I will repair the damage as best I can and take on another line of defense. Moth balls. Each pot will get one, even the ones they haven't touched, yet. If I have enough I'll be placing them around the vegetable garden fence line just in case they get ideas and want to dig in the rich composted soil of my vegetable garden. And I did check there this morning and they weren't there last night but there are many more summer nights for them to sneak in.
Those bandits! I had intended to do a Wordless Wednesday post today. It will have to wait. Garden damage control awaits me.
