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No butterflies, low creek levels

Paul was out to count Fender’s blue butterflies last week. Neighbor Johnny had 65. Shiver River had 0. Not a misprint. Zero.

On the good news side, Sandra is going to paint/stain the front porch! What a blessing! Here is the before photo.
Sid is good at mechanical upkeep. Here he is putting a new, sharp chain on our marvelous battery chain saw.
Even a good mechanic needs an extra pair of hands sometimes and Bianca chose to nap rather than help.
I left the game camera up for a month. All I got was deer … lots of deer…
and the occasional brother with dog.
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The Scotch broom is blooming. Makes it easier to spot and kill …
Rock Creek and Griffith Creek are low.
The sharp bladed chain made clearing the forest roads much faster.

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Day After Earth Day

Battery powered chain saw in hand, Bill takes on one of the many trees blocking the forest roads.
Some are easier than others.
The woodpeckers love our snags.
Between the blackberry bushes and the Scotch broom, it is a miracle any of the little fir trees can regenerate and survive.
And yet they do.
Lower left is the Scotch broom pile for the day. It looked bigger in person.
A row of poison oak. Ick.

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Earth Day

Sandra and Sid have worked hard to get the farmhouse flower gardens looking pretty for Tory and Robert’s upcoming wedding anniversary.
Enough of the beautiful, blooming plants around the farmhouse. As Bill and I went out to find and conquer Scotch broom, we saw some newly fallen trees in Rock Creek and elsewhere on the forest roads. We will bring the chain saw tomorrow and clear some of the debris.
These guys are no match for our Puller Bear!

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Rhubarb!

Sid and Sandra planted rhubarb in the same spot Granny planted hers!

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Baby Crawdaddy

  • This cutie was lost, wandering on the Creek trail. We returned her to the creek.
  • Yes. More Scotch broom pulling.

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Spring planting fever!

Sid works on expanding the edging around the side of the farmhouse. It will act as a safety barrier when we mow the lawn.
Making it level is of utmost importance, of course.
  • A little mulch will help define the area.
  • Progress on the evil patch of Scotch broom
  • Bill points to the location of the trail camera, newly placed

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Spring Weather and …

Sid, Bill and Diana spent quality time attacking the big patch of Scotch broom.
  • Bianca watches for danger as Bill pulls Scotch broom
  • Sid has mulched and mulched and mulched
  • Two new elderberry plants are keeping their feet wet
  • The peach tree near the entry gate got girded by rodents. New tree planted.
  • Sid guards the new peach tree

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Another day, more Scotch broom

Although this patch contains young plants that are easy to pull up, the patch is so big it will take awhile to demolish. Then … on to some other, more familiar, patches.
It is important to keep our forest roads accessible in case of forest fire. The hanging limb you see ahead has to go … it will take strategic thinking to take it down safely.

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Safety First

No limb is going to fall on my head!
See the dark green vertical stems sticking up? Scotch broom!!!!! A huge new patch!
Bill begins the long process of pulling the Scotch broom up by its roots. It will take us awhile, but we will eventually get it all. For this year, anyway.
Too bad Bianca forgot her chain saw … there is a tree down on the “uneven aged” demo trail.
If you look closely, you can see spots of yellow daffodils Unk planted on the side of the hill.

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