Rain - Wind~

I looked out at the Woods during the height of the wind/rain event last weekend & the view wasn't what I'd expected... One of the dead trees on the far side of the creek, had come down.  The last few gray days continued the spell of big winds, cold & damp. Everyone was complaining - even the weatherman! Dismal - far from the taste of spring we had a week ago. 

Regardless, I went out to see just how much work we'd have to do. I could hardly walk. My leg & both knees were giving me such fits; I was starting to wonder if my mobility will be more compromised than I've expected. Butch took me out for a meal & trying to keep up with his walk was difficult.

Today~

But today - the sun returned! I could never move back to the never-ending gray days of WA now!  I'm back to being a sun worshiper!  Above, is the dead snag from the far side.  The squirrels & racoons have a new bridge!

The second snag, down~

The one above really made me unhappy though!  It managed to hit right on the exact center of the glass post cap on the signpost!  It was broken to bits!  (At least the post & sign weren't damaged.)  When I was down there today, I found two pieces, but there should be at least two more, someplace.  I'd emailed Island Post Cap, but hadn't heard back, so I put in a call yesterday.  My replacement was already in the mail!  What a great service!

A miss!

It did manage to miss one of my remaining, surviving Rhody's!  As you can see in the photo below, there are two other big dead snags.  I'm surprised they didn't come down too.  I wanted to leave them up - but am now reconsidering.  The honeysuckle was sucking the life out of these woods.  At least the Walnut trees are healthy.

Two more to go~

Now, when navigating the woods & stepping over logs, I have to remember my left leg doesn't go up as far as it should.  Instead, my foot hangs up on whatever I'm going over & the result is a faceplant.

The last week, Karen took a fall & managed to break her right arm.  Doris fell too but came away mostly unscathed.  I told them both - we are done falling!  Done!  Spring is so close - I can smell it today!  The greens are returning - none too soon!

Spring Ends~

In a rush!  We went from what I thought was a wonderful spring, to heat on June first!  Once it arrived, it stayed.  Since, we've just had a day or two here & there where the temperatures were moderate.  Very little rain to date, we're four inches below normal.

6-16-20 SW Corner~

Our view has changed pretty dramatically.  The Walnuts have taken over!  It seems like they've doubled in size with the honeysuckle gone.  The edible Elderberry, (blooming far left) are now huge!  Much nicer than nasty Autumn Olive.

5-23-20 Bleeding Heart~

 Very thankful for all my friends, (especially Clara) who've donated plants to my Timber project!  I want to re-do the page, for a better timeline, of my work to rehab to this area.

6-4-20 Wild Iris~

 The Wild Iris, from Jean, have doubled in size since last season.  They are thriving at the east end of the marsh.  I hope they continue to spread!

6-4-20 NW from the Swing~

 I've been spending hours & hours working on both the Marsh & Timber.  It's about keeping the weeds down & spot spraying.  I was still planting too, right to the end of June.  Butch put hoses all the way down the hill - so I can keep the newly introduced plants alive.

6-4-20 Tinkle Branch Trail~

 Weeds will be an ongoing issue, since the area is surrounded by them.  I keep a strip between our lots & the neighbors mowed down, which I hope will help.  My plan is to prevent the ones I can, from going to seed.

6-9-20 East - The Marsh~

 I thought the Marsh was no longer a Marsh, until we finally received a couple good rains!  The water appeared & it was so wet I couldn't get the mower through at all for a while.

Part-time resident Snapping Turtle~

Mr. Snapping Turtle returned too!  He made a huge hole in the mud & held his ground as I weed-whacked past him.

6-9-20 From the Marsh, West~

 It's so pretty down here now...  We put grass seed in all the areas left bare after removing the Autumn Olive & Bush Honeysuckle.  I'm keeping it mowed & hope eventually more natives will return.

6-13-20 New Signpost~

 My other project was the trail sign posts.  Butch cut the cedar & I did the lettering & painting.  This time, I found colored glass post caps.  They sparkle when the sun strikes them.

6-13-20 Timber Trail~

This is the trail that starts behind the Cabin & goes around the bottom of the hillside, before connecting with Tinkle Branch Trail.   Butch ordered 3-yards of mulch delivered.  I spend two-weeks getting it moved to the places I needed it.  It was more dust & pieces of plastic than mulch, but it covered the ground in my new flower beds.  After a heavy layer of preen, it should help with weed control.

The lightening bugs returned in June & fly through the woods in the evenings!  It's so much fun to stand at the top of the hill & watch them zipping between the trees. 

Spring Xplosion!

Last week, when I thought I was done transplanting, my friend Clara called again!  All Thursday afternoon I spent digging & planting!   I sat up the sprinkler to water & the birds had an amazing time!  They flew through the water, stood in the sprinkling water & chirped about it!  If I hadn't been covered with dirt, I would have gone for the camera.

New Weigela showing pink blooms~

As the day ended, I was wishing for rain.  It's been so very dry.  By Friday, I'd planned to get my germaniums out of the house & into the ground, but Clara visited again, this time with ferns!

Newly transplanted wood fern!

I've missed ferns so much!  From being so thick, they were a groundcover in WA, they seem to be hard to find here.  As I was planting, dark clouds rolled over.  Rain!   It seems as though I've waited forever!

Chickadee in the timber~

Saturday, we drove to Malvern.  The Blooming Barn was open for business & they carry such a variety of bedding plants.  Over the past couple years, I've learned what works in the planters out front & found what I needed.   Next, a stop at Sherbondy's in Council Bluffs for bushes.  After moving two piles of wood debris Fri., I wanted shrubs to mark the path. Butch helped & by the time we were done, it was raining again!  Perfect timing.

Pink Sparkler Birchleaf Spirea

Sunday, we spent working at home.  Butch can get more done in a day, than I can in a week!  I took the germaniums out & made several starts for the gardens by the cabin.

Red Germanium 

They look a little weak, but last nights rain really helped.  I'll have leaves to cut off, but if they do as well as they did last year, I'll be happy.

This morning dawned sunny & bright!  It's hard to ignore nature this time of year.  Another big thunderstorm rolled through late last night - Nika wore her thunder shirt, but was still very distressed.

Ms. Quail has joined Mr. Quail

My challenge now, is differentiating between actual weeds & plants that may be considered a weed in a flower garden, but are a native of value in a woodland setting.

Daffodils!

Out of the 100 daffodil bulbs I planted last fall, probably half have bloomed.  Even half have given me a good start on naturalizing the marsh.

Tulips~

The new tulips, have their buds & I'm looking forward to blooms!  At least with these, I planted twelve & have twelve flowers!

Honeysuckle down...

But - we do have neighbors...  This one can't do anything without a backhoe.  Yesterday, he decided to do some bulldozing along his side of the creek & left the above honeysuckle pushed down & into the creek...  If we get a heavy rain it will cause the water to back up & create more erosion on our side.  He has put large chunks of concrete along his side.

New glass signpost caps!

I had to do some searching to find a company that sells glass post caps.  When I called, Island Post Cap,  I was told that the blue I wanted was sitting on a ship sailing over from China.  (The factory had been closed due to the virus.)  They did have one green & red I wanted, ready to ship.  Today, the box arrived by UPS.  Even with great packaging, the red one, still in it's tight, reinforced box, was shattered.  I called John & he'll ship the replacement when the blue arrives.

Next, I have to find time to letter & paint the signs!  This time of year, actually any time of year, I can hardly be inside, it's so beautiful outside.  Plenty of projects & I love doing them.