For the Birds

There are enough goldfinches and other birds in the yard that refilling the feeders is now a daily chore. Refilling birdbaths will soon be added to the list. So far I've only put water in one of them, the one that's a full-time fixture in the yard. It's the one not apt to be broken by hail nor freezing water, so it stays out year-round. The other ones (glazed ceramic and colored glass) still need to be brought out from the storage shed. That has been added to my "to-do" list.

There was a bit of mayhem (not covered by anyone's insurance) in the yard this past week. The birdhouse attached to the tree by the garden was discovered lying face down upon the grass early one morning. I thought maybe the screw holding it to the tree might have pulled free from the bark in the ever-constant wind. However, upon going out to reattach it (and check on the occupants), I found all the nesting material that had been inside it scattered over the ground near it. I didn't find any sign of the sparrows I'd seen entering and exiting that nesting box. Wondering what might have wrenched the box from the tree and dispatched the poor birds inside, Dennis pulled up footage from our Ring camera. A large raccoon had sauntered across the deck during the night, checking out items left there, and heading towards the back. Circumstantial evidence leads us to name said bandit as the culprit. I'm so sorry the inhabitants were molested/evicted/destroyed/killed. (The nesting box is securely reattached to the tree, and the live trap set and baited with a tasty marshmallow.)

The lawn has been mowed a second time. The clippings are distributed under the electric fencing on the south side of the garden to discourage weeds. I do need to get out there and spray the dandelions that are merrily blooming. The lilacs are laden with soon-to-open sprays of blossoms. The lone chokecherry, planted by the birds, is likewise about to burst into flower. It's soon going to smell heavenly out there.

I have planted a few more things, namely onion and radish seeds, as well as another packet of onion sets. I have one more packet of sets to go. I put in some new garlic bulbs, after weeding their assigned place. I've had to weed the rows before planting since weeds are coming along like gang-busters. I have the row for more lettuce and parsley weeded. I'll put basil seed in the same row in another week or so. Basil does not like being chilled. I have put in some tomato plants and a few pumpkin plants from the greenhouse, which I've finally visited. I've yet to purchase any annual flower plants for my planters though.

I did buy several (okay, it was nine) perennials to plant. In order to put those in, I've embarked upon wholesale revamping of existing beds. First I dug up the bed that abuts one side of the garden. Grasses and bindweed have been tossed aside. Shoots from the cotton-less cottonwoods were dug around and chopped out in hopes they won't return. Tiger lily bulbs were either worked around, or dug up and replanted after the grass/weed/tree roots were removed. Three of the new perennials have joined that bed.

Next I tackled the bed off our living room where several bird feeders are located. There was a lot of grass (with long rhizomes) invading that bed, such that the entire bed had to be dug up. I have spiderwort there, and distinguishing between that and the grass is difficult. I also have daylillies, iris (they needed thinning anyway), and chrysanthemums there. They've all been replanted, but no new perennials added as yet. I'm not sure there's room for anything new in that bed, but I might add one of the perennials anyway.

Four of the mango seeds that were showing good shoots have been planted. They'll stay inside. So far, only one has burst through the soil and is forming a leaf. It's growing fast. One of the avocado pits is also in a pot, but isn't yet showing any more growth than it had before going into the potting soil. I've stuck a few orange and lemon seeds into the soil around other plants. We'll see if any will sprout. It hasn't cost me anything to try growing these seeds, unlike the seeds specifically purchased for the garden. I regularly purchase mangos, avocados, oranges, and lemon to eat. (No, I don't eat lemons as such, but I add a slice to my tea, make lemonade, and cook with them.)

Next week I'll probably get most of my houseplants outside for the summer. I'm going to keep my kafir lily inside this summer. It's always suffered damage from our gale-force winds, and so far, this year seems windier than usual. I also keep my Hoya vines inside. I have a new variety of Hoya, sent by my Florida daughter. I'd told her about the one called Shooting Star, that has flowers that look like dragons. It's a very healthy specimen, so I hope it flowers soon for me. My original one is currently blooming, and so my kitchen smells lovely. The waxy flowers are very aromatic: I know when it's flowering before I see the flowers.