Wordless Wednesday - The View from the Screen Porch

Time to Plant Tomatoes

If this volunteer tomato can grow this big, it's definitely time to plant tomatoes.  And it was going to happen today except it rained during my window of opportunity this afternoon and continued to rain into this evening.  Maybe I'll get to it tomorrow.  In the meantime I'm pleased with how the veggies are progressing.

Spinach

 Garlic

 Volunteer pumpkin with carrots and 2nd planting of snowpeas.

 Bok choy with carrots behind

Bok choy with carrots behind.

 Tatsoi

 

Snowpeas in bloom

 

Mesclun

Capturing Elusive Birds

I have not had the best luck obtaining photos of some of the birds that visit my yard.  My luck runs like this:  I see the bird; I watch the bird; I think "Oh, I should get my camera."; I watch the bird some more;  I get my camera; the bird is gone by the time I get back with camera in hand.

Yesterday, my luck changed.  The camera was easy to grab.  The bird was absorbed at the feeder and didn't startle when I opened the screen door.  I capture this shot and several more.  It was a rose-breasted grosbeak.

 I think he's quite proud of that rose spot.  He never turned his back on me.

 When the grosbeak left, the towhee showed but only to have the one photo taken then he was gone.  He has become a frequent visitor checking out the tasty morsels under the hostas every day.

Joining World Bird Wednesday.

Dang Blasted Rascals!

We had more lovely rain this morning and when I awoke the woods were filled with fog. A lovely sight to see.






In the perennial garden this beautiful iris had opened overnight and the clematis was showing off it's finery too.  I was thinking I needed to take pictures to post.

Once in the kitchen I glanced outside and what did my eyes behold:  rascal raccoons had been calling!  Not one, not two but multiple pots and locations.  And I had just finished potting up many of these annuals yesterday. 

Why pick on the cactus too?  What could they find in that dry sandy mix?





The repairs have been made but my frustration is still present.  I don't know of any deterrents but I'm trying black pepper sprinkled on all the potted plants.  Liquid Fence doesn't work for them I don't believe.  I'll have to reread the container.  Any suggestions anyone?  I think the plants will recover at least I hope they do.  Time will tell.

This wasn't the first time they've done this to me.  See last year's post and damage.  I guess this is what comes with living in the woods.