Sunshine Days ~

 Last year, we were working on fencing at the farm.  Riding was always my priority, not a lot got done around home.  This year things have changed.  Without Farah, I still feel some-what incomplete.  So many years of self-imposed responsibility & the huge joys (along with the time commitment) that came with it - now over. 

Trail into the Timber~

 With the warm & sunny spring weather, I've found plenty of new challenges to keep me occupied.  I go to the Y, three times a week. The elliptical is my torture of choice, pushing the time, distance & incline, competing against myself.   I've always enjoyed some sort of challenge.  It seems normal after so many years of competitive riding.

June 3rd - Rain~

Our Mills County Naturalist - used the term infestation - to describe all the bush Honeysuckle on our property.  It is truly amazing how quickly these plants sucker, grow & spread.  I've taken down all the huge plants that were on the back side of the south fence.  It's really expanded our view & given the small trees there a chance to grow.

Butch brought me a reciprocating saw with an aggressive blade.  It does a great job of cutting the woody stems down to the ground.  A treatment of Torodon, should kill what's left.   Butch will use the chain saw on some of the largest & we'll probably rent a chipper to get rid of the debris.  It will take years to finish the job.  So far - I have at least five piles about ten-feet high.

Iris

A friend invited me over to collect plant starts from her stunning yard! The Iris above actually bloomed two-days later. I planted it in the corner of the marsh & I hope it spreads! Another friend has given me huge & beautiful hosta's. Those are now in gardens at the edge of the Timber & on each side of the Cabin.

"My" Yard~

The lower backyard used to be such a mess.  All the Autumn Olive here, have been cut down.  The four varieties of edible Elderberry I planted last year - are almost five-feet tall & blooming.  Soon, we'll be able to sample the berries.  We've planted a small White Pine & two Swedish Aspen that I hope don't sucker.

Nika hears Butch's truck!

It's been in the low 90's most of the week with crazy high dew points.  I take my electrolytes, drink water & wear a sweatband.

Awaiting blooms!

The days have been stunning, the ground still damp from all the rain.  Usually, there's a breeze to dry the sweat.  The evenings are warm, the air thick & rich with the smell of blooming flowers & trees.   Earlier this week, the Lightening Bugs returned!   A spark here, there, high in the air!  Giving us notice that summer right is around the corner.

Certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat!

It seems yet another circle has been completed.  The Home Place has now received Certification as a Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation!  It's hard to believe it's been eighteen-years since we certified the Homestead Woods as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat.

Our new sign~

 The program - which began in 1973 - as of 2006 - had certified over 60,000 yards!  Things have changed over the years we've been members.  The sign now incorporates Ranger Rick & is more colorful.  The term Backyard is no longer part of the designation.   Otherwise, the goal is the same, homeowners working together to make their little corner of the world friendly toward wildlife.  To provide cover, food, water, places to raise young & use sustainable practices.

Habitat~

 Since we've seen a fox, woodchuck, several deer etc.  We know the corridor along Tinkle Branch Creek gets used by the local wildlife.  We put the sign out near the front - where it can be read when people walk by.  Hopefully questions will be asked & I'll be able to promote the program here.

Downstream, Tinkle Branch Creek

 We really didn't think the creek ever carried much of a flow, until after a large rain storm.  A few days later Butch saw where the water had almost crested the bank.  Our side is the lowest by several feet, as you can see in the photo above.

Upstream ~

 I've been told this will dry up mid-summer - we'll see.  I'd forgotten how much fun the first year on a new place can be.  Watching as the month's go by & what each season brings.

Late afternoon sun through the trees~

 After our storm on Friday - Saturday dawned clear & so clean!  The air was fresh - as though it had been re-charged by the storm!  We did have some light rain late in the day - but it was one of the coolest days we've had in weeks & one of the most beautiful of Spring.

Saturday evenings Rainbow~

As dusk fell, there was such a silky softness to the darkening sky.  The Lightning Bugs were Everywhere!  Even flying near us as we sat on the deck & how fun to see then up close as they glowed green!

Forest Spirit Face~

 Once it was completely dark, the stars were brilliant, with the Milky Way directly overhead.  Tomorrow, is the Garden Club's annual garden tour - where we visit some of the gardens of our members.  I'm looking forward to seeing what I know will be some totally stunning flowers & garden displays!

Signs of Spring~

It's finally warming up! The weekend was beautiful, if very warm, at least for us! We worked outside most of both days. Butch dug an old rose bush out of Clara's yard & in return Lloyd gave us three tomato starts! They went right into the ground when we got home. He also planted three zucchini plants - I'm pretty sure I'll have plenty of produce to make Zucchini relish!
We were sitting out on the back deck later than usual last evening - it was cooling down - dusk was upon us & suddenly I saw what I thought was a flash light - on the far side of the creek? Just a second later it had moved faster than anyone on foot could have! Was I seeing things? I asked Butch if he saw something & yes he did! Lightning Bugs! I was so excited - it was like a gift that you never expect to get - but appears as if by magic!

Iowa Firefly~

Even Nika saw them & of course - started barking! She was running from one side of the yard to the other - trying to figure out what was going on :-) After doing a lot more reading on the subject - I'm sending a letter to our power company - to ask what they can do about the street light that is oh so much brighter than we need. To actually still have this colony living here at the edge of town is so wonderful. It would help if that light could be dimmed - giving the Firefly's a better chance of communicating. The light show lasted most of an hour - one coming within a few feet of our deck!

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

This morning & went out for my usual walk along the creek & noticed these large leaves, actually similar to a Trillium. Closer inspection revealed it to be one of the wildflowers that I tried for years to establish in the Homestead Woods, Jack-in-the-Pulpit! There were two areas where they seem to be flourishing in the dappled shade.

A true beauty~

Butch weed-whacked the whole area along our side of the creek & I've been knocking things down, such as the Stinging Nettles that you can see coming up around the wildflower. I think that getting all the grasses down, gave the flowers a chance to really flourish! Now, I'm going to get little flags to mark their location - so we won't disturb the bulbs.

The part of Twinkle Creek that we border has been missed by the usual burning, trashing, dumping etc., that I've seen has happened so many other places.  Not that I don't pick up at least a couple pieces of trash on every walk.  Gradually though - I hope to enhance as much a much of the area, as I can~