Losses Thursday, May 5 2016 

Uncategorized acairfearann 18:51

A Cat: 1999-2016

It will be, I think, a long time before I stop looking for the second black shadow at dinner time coming with his tail high to get supper.  Even if in fact, it had already been several months since he had done so.  Or led the parade each evening to bed. Not sure why we have pets, we love them and they always, always break our hearts. I’m sure a philosopher or theologian has a reason, but it doesn’t make it any easier. I figure if a good Catholic-Anglican like C.S. Lewis can write the ‘Last Battle’ I’m not wrong in my belief, that soul with the golden eyes is still alive and still loved.

Good hunting, A, out there in wild woods.

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A is on the left, B is on the right.

 

Finally Wednesday, May 4 2016 

Uncategorized acairfearann 20:52

a good lengthy spell of rain, a bit chilly, but just what was ordered for the plants around here, especially all those spring bulbs and other spring bloomers. This is the only time they have to prepare for next year.

It must be May too……the early bulb catalogue email alerts have popped up in my inbox!

Otherwise, not too much, we have a new (actually replica) lawn chair in a distinct variant on the Adirondack style all ready to go thanks to Dad’s carpentry this winter.  Now, will any of us have the time to sit in it?

The spring peepers are at it again, the rain having assured them that their pond won’t be drying out. These later guys aren’t quite as shy or as frantic as that first deafening March chorus, more contemplative and centered.  If a mating frog could be either of those things….

 

 

Sweet Woodruff Monday, May 2 2016 

gardening acairfearann 19:55

A very nice ground-cover, even though it really can’t compete with heavy mulch or cold, dry winters; so it is best to let it amble about in a number of places where it can be an unexpected delight and not asked to really fulfill a Function as a ground-cover.  It likes these old stone steps:

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Bold combinations Friday, Apr 29 2016 

gardening acairfearann 20:26

I couldn’t actually get a good photograph of this, the framing was all wrong, as is the placement; but, a good example of how once in awhile a really bold color combination can work.  This is accidental, but the orange and the pink don’t seem to clash. Perhaps because none of them are really ‘pastel’ or ‘soft’; the phlox isn’t due to its sheer size, the tulips by nature. I’m not really a fan of ‘hot’ borders and that sort of thing, but bold colors as accents do catch the eye.

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Tulipa Sylvestris Wednesday, Apr 27 2016 

gardening acairfearann 21:04

I planted them on the old tennis court, the soil type may be right, but it may be too shady for effective blooming.  Also known as the Florentine Tulip, the shape is lovely.  And yes, sometimes there is a very faint scent. The flowers don’t last very many days though.  Are they naturalizing perennials? That I don’t know, though after three years, they are all still there. They might, which would be nice.

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Judicious pruning Monday, Apr 25 2016 

gardening acairfearann 09:50

Accomplished.  The big Fringe Tree* by the drive way pillars had over the last century developed an impressive arching branch some six inches in diameter.  For the last few years it had been propped up, having split decades ago.  It was rotted, but still alive.  Then, a few days ago I noticed that the arch was no longer a nice curve but was instead sharply angled at the point where the main support was.  Sure enough, it had split and dropped even farther.  There was however a good new branch about an inch and a half in diameter, coming up from the roots and not the old trunk, that could replace the old arch.  Assuming the arch didn’t fall on it.

And so, it was time.  A few careful cuts with a saw and a bit of maneuvering to get the big branch out, and the job was accomplished. The fringe tree now looks almost exactly like it did a century ago.  I wonder what the next century will bring?

* Chionanthus virginicus to be precise. Is it properly a bush or a tree? I think, if a chainsaw is appropriate for cutting it down, it is a tree.  Actually, we used the Sawzall, mostly because the easiest way to do it was to have me support that arch while dad cut.  That meant standing about a foot from the blade.  You do Not do that with a chainsaw.

 

They’re back! Friday, Apr 22 2016 

gardening acairfearann 23:08

After several years’ absence, though they may have been around (just invisible), I startled one today.  Probably not the same one, of course; but a very handsome one. Perhaps even one of the kits seen in this photo from 2014.  Let’s hope they make a dent in the rodent population.

Who are they you ask? The Grey Foxes.

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Right of Way Wednesday, Apr 20 2016 

Uncategorized acairfearann 07:21

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and just whose right of way is it? Note the scale in this uncropped photo.

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He eventually ambled off to the fallen trees over on the left side and we continued on our way.  I think we had disturbed his nap….

 

 

Miscellany Monday, Apr 18 2016 

gardening acairfearann 19:32

The canoe is out of the basement and back in the barn! Several more pieces of vegetable garden beds dug, miscellaneous tidying up here and there.

What’s blooming? The daffodils and a few tulips, various spring bulbs such as the scilla, chiondoxa, muscari, and the like.  A few wildflowers such as the violets, bluets, and pussytoes (out in the real woods, this is a good year for a number of spring ephemerals) The Star Magnolia is just opening today.  The crabapples will be opening by this weekend, as will the shadblows.  The peach and cherry are unknown quantities.  It looks like the cherries weathered that last cold snap, but I am not quite sure about the peach…..we will see shortly.  The forsythia didn’t care for it.  Odd plant, it should be reliable; but more years than not it doesn’t bloom well.  Strange.

It has swung over to hot and dry (for us) though, so I think a lot of things are going to go bang and grow very fast indeed.

 

Water’s edge Saturday, Apr 16 2016 

Landscapes and Modern Photos , acairfearann 16:04

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Ambitious animals, those beavers! This dam, with its classic serpentine shape, ranges from two to five feet in height and is about sixty feet long.  It is actually part of a complex of ponds, there is another higher pond (different stream) just off to the right.  While chewing on several good oak trees (annoying), the beaver also seems willing to use barberry that has gotten to the inch plus in diameter size in his construction.  Or possibly as a food source.  This is rather nice of him.

 

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