July 11, 2008
Mr. Skunk Returns
About two weeks ago during his morning constitutional on the South 40, Harry was excitedly fluttering his tail at a critter whose own tail was long and gray and stood straight up. I called him away from a large skunk next to the volunteer cherry tree.
Lately, Roomie has been wondering about little piles of disturbed leaf matter in front of the casita. She wondered to me if it might be the work of a skunk. But surely we would have smelled it? Last night after she had put out the lights, Roomie stood at the window and observed. Within several minutes after lights out did the skunk appear and begin rearranging the piles of dirt. To get a better view, Roomie turned the outside lights back on, expecting the skunk to run off. But the skunk kept about its business until she tired of looking.
Personally, I think skunks are OK until curious dogs mess with them. Then it is good to have ingredients for a skunk bath on hand.
RECIPE:
- ¼ cup Baking Soda
- 1 qt. Hydrogen Peroxide
- 1 tsp. Dish Soap
Mix and use immediately. Repeat if necessary.
Posted by Underblog at 6:25 AM | TrackBack (0)
Rain
We finally got our real rain this morning.
Posted by Underblog at 6:23 AM | TrackBack (0)
Melons and Zucchini
We planted (finally) zucchini and melons on Sunday afternoon. By Thursday afternoon, a dozen sprouts are showing. Nothing like warm nights and evening monsoons to germinate late-season crops.
Posted by Underblog at 6:19 AM | TrackBack (0)
June 29, 2008
Tomatoes and Peppers
We got a late start putting in the tomatoes and peppers. But that is OK, says Roomie, because they grow fastest in the warm part of the season. Still to follow are the squash and melons. Last year we grew cherry and yellow pear tomatoes, and longed for some big juicy tomatoes. So this year we are trying heirlooms. We put them in the ground late May, and already a couple have set fruit. Here are a couple of maps of the varieties we are trying:
Posted by Underblog at 4:56 PM | TrackBack (0)
June 3, 2008
Cactus Flower
Our neighbor Jerry collects cacti, and he has given us some of these prickly pear. I adore the color of these, which I deem "honey." What do you think?
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Bull Snake
Today while checking out the new cactus flower, we saw a bull snake. No wonder the birds were not all over the place, as is usual. By the time I ran back to get the camera, he was slithering away in the shadow of the Dead Catalpa.
Posted by Underblog at 5:39 PM | TrackBack (0)
May 19, 2008
Western Tanager
Yesterday, we almost flipped when we saw a Western Tanager in the big elm out back. It flew to the Mulberry and disappeared from view.
In other news, Saturday saw the tilling in of the rest of the green manure, as well as the tilling and leveling off of a little patch of dirt by the back peach that never gets water and therefore never grasses in. When we irrigate next week we shall see if the problem is fixed.
Plug aeration continues. When the grass begins to achieve summer stress I may discontinue it. But the earth is so compacted from the silted water and the weight of being underwater that it may need it all summer.
Posted by Underblog at 6:07 AM | TrackBack (0)
May 13, 2008
Greenery
The Bermuda grass in the back is finally turning green. Once the irrigation begins it only takes a couple of weeks. In other news, the cherries are now pea-sized and the peaches, pears, and apples have all passed the almond-size stage and are proceeding directly to grape-size. The peas that Sherm planted way back when are now bearing flat little pods. Sherm also planted some sunflower seeds last week, along the eastern wall.
Several cacti are now blooming, including an Old Man of Peru and a very spiny Prickly Pear lookalike. The local Prickly Pears have many buds, but have not yet bloomed. See a few pics here.
This has been a big year for aphids. Many of the early blooms on the roses have been damaged, either by the little green insects or by frost and wind (both of which they have endured).
The cottonwoods are ominously bearing their seed pods, and I suspect that it will not be long until we are inundated with cottonwood seeds flying about.
Finally, Sherm scored some cushions for the bancos in the courtyard. Harry seems to enjoy them, and between the cushions and the indoor plants moved outdoors for the season, it is really looking quite quaint out there.
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April 8, 2008
Cover Crop
Sunday, we tilled in the cover crop where the Vegetable Garden is going to be. We will let the "green manure"* Currently, the peach blossoms are waning, the apple and cherry blossoms are in full force, and the figs and pecans have yet to show signs of life. All the roses except for one of the "rose bomb" roses have leafed out, the climbers along the back fence having wintered over successfully. There are still small piles of raked up debris which will require the Nunu to be driven around and have the debris scooped up.
In other news, Roomie witnessed a hawk swoop down and subdue a mourning dove under the pyracantha. By the time I got there, the desperate coo'ing was done and the hawk was merely preparing to fly off with a substantial meal. The aftermath consisted of two small piles of feathers and a 2*3 inch pool of dove blood. It has been a good year for goldfinches, which discovered the feeder early and have since been frequent visitors.
Posted by Underblog at 6:15 AM | TrackBack (0)
April 4, 2008
Irrigation Pt. 2
On Sunday, March 30, 2008, we irrigated for the first time. I also planted Cosmo seeds up in the front Desert Area. Still need to plant Sunflower seeds. And while we're on the topic of seeds, the hollyhocks that we dropped in front of the courtyard bucket-wall are sprouting. Yay, nature!
Posted by Jill at 7:58 AM