Yard, Gardens, Birds and Critters

How I Feel By Mary J Williams © I was at the store A donut did I see Went to the case Picked some out for me Thought of what’s for supper What do I need to buy Grabbed a bag of carrots Then gave a great big sigh There were some lovely green beans When can I eat those I will have to clean and snap So, they were what I chose Wanted something different To go with the roast beef Hope that’s okay with hubby And he doesn’t give me grief Home, I went with my groceries Planning ahead is hard Think I will take a walk And take pictures of my yard It’s pretty darn windy out Which makes it pretty cold I have my jacket on My camera I will hold Look at the survivors Flowers still in bloom Temps below freezing Dying was not their doom Inside and cooking Gardening feels like this Flowers and fresh air Snapping green beans is bliss Even watching Starlings And the sparrows too Bathing and splashing the water How can winter make me blue Snapdragons Vinca               ...

My Cantaloupe By Mary J Williams © I had a couple of plants That were growing under the deck I was hoping to see what they were So didn’t pull them, many times I checked Lo and behold a melon one day Didn’t know what kind But left it to grow It was never out of my mind I took my phone That had an ID app For plants of all kinds So, I snapped it with that A muskmelon it said Cantaloupe was another name I knew I put seeds out But both plants weren’t the same Both melons kept growing One looked like those from Shirk’s Couldn’t wait till the stem Looked like time to jerk Ah well, the bugs beat me to it The melon had a great big hole Where it laid on the ground My cantaloupe they stole There was another kind I would have liked to try But a critter got to it Chewing a hole in its side I saw the melon And much to my surprise Saw a little white dog I thought I would cry That little dog was Lacy She likes cantaloupe I guess I should have picked it But, no, I was a dope I waited until it was ripe...

 I am a Master Gardener. What exactly does that mean.  It means I went to classes to learn about different aspects of gardening and also volunteered 30 hours of my time to maintain different areas that Master Gardeners take care of. There is quite a list of places including the Cole County Extension Center.  The grounds are what we take care of and sometimes it's a huge challenge. Like the time I was trimming the bushes on the side and ran into a hornets nest! Scared me right out of doing that again!  Just imagine an older, heavy set, gray haired lady with an electric trimmer in her hands running away from a bush! What a sight that would be.  I also attempt to do my own yard which also has challenges seeing as I keep changing my mind and adding or subtracting plants and hardscape. We, hubby and I, put in a little pond and had fish a few years ago. We were both pretty much able to clean the filters and all the other maintenance, like weeding around the pond. Year...

 Gardening has begun! I don't have a large garden, but my flower beds will be holding both flowers and veggies.  Just because I can, I cut the end off the large bunch of celery. That end went directly into a flower pot outside. Since I planted it we have had below freezing temperatures. I figured if it was going to make it would, if not, I would try again! It is still growing strong.  I also cut a potato that had sprouts. Put the cut pieces in a 1/2 whiskey barrel I used last year for flowers and peppers. I have two potato plants growing. Today was the day of cleaning up after my son and granddaughter built a shed for us.  I have decided I need a shelf to put the flower pots on. I can't wait to tell you what happened.  I was cleaning the top of the table I had put my flower pots on, for the winter. I covered them up with a large container with rope handles.  I lifted up the top and little mice went running everywhere. I laughed. There were several pots, one...

A Squirrel on Father’s Day  By Mary J Williams ©  It’s Father’s Day today  Got up early doing a tribute to my Dad  Found a poem I wrote  Lots of pictures I had  It was still real early  So, decided to go outside  Needed to water the plants  I didn’t want them to die  I just had to bend over  And pick a weed or two  Pulled out the dead pansies  Leaving them in the pots wouldn’t do  A little pile of weeds  Laying everywhere  But I am also watering  So, at this time, I don’t care  I caught a little movement  In the corner of my eye  It was a critter running at me  No time to think, I cry  I swung that hose around  As fast as I could  Yelling funny sounds  It’s running right to where I stood  Nope, he veered to the left  He jumped up in the tree  I’m still spraying the hose  In the direction he could be  I’m Bad!  I am laughing out loud...

 Will it never end?  I don't think so! As long as I am feeding the birds this critter is going to come to the deck.  The jelly dish was empty so, shame on me, I left it and didn't bring it in the house.  Flower Box Clean-up By Mary J Williams © The jelly dish was empty Guess the smell was there Raccoon just had to check it out Grab on the planter, he didn’t care The planter fell to the deck floor All the plants and dirt came out That’s what greeted me this morning Not again, I shout! I put out all the suet And the bird seed too Got that chore done The other will take more time, I knew Grabbed my gloves and soil Left both in the back room I used the water for clean up And not a little broom I separated the plants From the soil that's laying there. Started picking soil back up Getting exercise, I swear Got the soil and plants back in Now to wash off all the deck When the planter fell, Had to wash the steps too, by heck Well, I got those morning chores done And it’s no...

 It's gardening time but no more big plots across the river. I just don't feel like I can do it on the large scale. Keeping up with my yard and having some veggies planted in the flower beds will be plenty.  The problem is, my yard has been let go for so long, mostly the sides and back, I have lots to keep me busy right here at home! The beginning is going on   Gardening at Home By Mary J Williams © I gave up the garden plots Over across the river All that work Just made me shiver Trying to do some planting But doing it at home Planting in the flower beds I just need some loam Almanac said 28, 29, or 30 To put the potatoes in the ground Didn’t know when the next time For planting would come around So, I dug and I dug Then got the tiller going Up and down the area A place for the growing I added some soil Don’t think it was the right kind But I used it anyway Getting done was on my mind Tilled that soil in A trench was then made Potatoes were put in And covered with my sp...

You know, every time I go to the gardens, I think I could write a poem. Poems come to me out of the blue. Sometimes I need help with a rhyming word or two but the thoughts are there. I was worn out, hot and sweaty after physical therapy. Don't think the air conditioner was working to well. Lots of fans, but I still got hot. Then I went to the garden to water. I can't just go to do one thing. I got out my hoe and tried to chop out some of the weeds. That didn't work well. Doesn't look like there had been any rain over there either. So much for weather forecasts!  Quit chopping and got my handy dandy little hand trowel. Dug up some weeds. Then watered some, then home. The Garden This Year 2020 By Mary J Williams I went to the gardens After physical therapy No Elves or Fairies Had weeded for me The garden is a mess All kinds of weeds do I see The path by the tomatoes Is still pretty much weed free I pulled out some weeds Right near the beans They are vining around Just ...

The Coons are Back! By Mary J Williams   It was yesterday morning I was letting Lacy out When a critter jumped off the feeder Of that, I had no doubt   Little Lacy took off She was in hot pursuit I was sure hoping She wouldn’t catch the brute   If she caught it by chance Was my biggest fear I yelled at her As I shed a tear   The raccoon was fast Down the steps he did go Out in the yard He wasn’t moving slow   Over the fence And now out of sight I was afraid for Lacy It gave me a fright   Last night the trap was set The nuts were brought in Yes, we caught the coon Looks like its starting again.   Do they find their way back, From when we did it before? Took several away Now they’ve come back for more?   Will set the trap again And just wait and see If, again, we have to trap The whole damn family!

I decided to go across the river to the garden plot. I should have stayed home, but then I would have lost everything I planted to the weeds the aliens put in my garden plot.  They knew I wasn't able to work hard in it this year, and so took advantage of that fact.  There was sedge and Johnson grass, the wild purslane, many other weeds I don't know names for and the five foot tall lamb's quarter. Okay, kidding on the height, was about 3 foot tall. Good grief, I could barely see the tomatoes. I could see the corn, only because the weeds are still shorter then the corn. I couldn't see the green beans at all. I started in, just taking a random point and started ripping out the weeds. I looked around and decided that wouldn't be in my best interests.  I moved down by the corn and started weeding around the stalks. A couple came in to work in their garden across the road. The elderly gentleman used to work on a farm.  I asked him what he thought of me weeding all tha...

I was determined to head out into the back area and get something done.  I was standing in the bathroom getting dressed and thinking "Figuring on what you want to do and then what you actually will be able to do are two different things".  First thing was spraying myself down with bug spray. I grabbed my hand shovel, my clippers, gloves, a small towel and my weed eater and out I went.  The back area is what we call the "dog yard". It's all fenced in, with two gates and we can let the dogs out from the back kitchen door, which is up on the deck. Yes, there are steps down to the yard. The other door is out of the garage, which is also where the laundry room is, the car, and the door to the bedroom on that level.  On went the gloves! My first things to do was to cut back some of the ivy, then started in on the bushes. Add caption Just along side of the steps down the fence line That rosebush at the corner of the fence is a menace to anyone who happens to walk by it...

I was watching a female Cardinal. I thought she had grabbed something in the Rose Moss but couldn't tell what it was. A bud perhaps, or a spent flower? I really couldn't tell. My eyes focused a tad closer and there was a squirrel on the feeder closest to the window. The one they can't get seed from if they are on the front. When their weight hits the bar the seed windows close. This squirrel has the technique of sucking some loose seed (thistle and sunflower hearts) from the drain holes in the bottom. It takes forever, but that little squirrel is determined. I caught a movement on the banister and stood over by the back door very quietly. I watched the progression of a chipmunk make his way to the barrel.  At that point I said, okay, gotta get the camera.   I snuck back to the back door and got a back shot of the chipmunk. At least I had proof. Not a great shot but you could tell it was a chipmunk. I gently eased the camera in another position trying to get a better shot....

Trip to the Gardens By Mary J Williams ©   Went to the gardens What did I see? Many, many weeds Looking at me   The weeds were in the corn Around tomatoes too In the row of beans I have no clue what to do   I pull out the weed eater And started it going Whipping down the weeds To keep them from growing   What is the saying you hear every year knee high By the fourth of July   Even with the weeds It will be higher this year Just keep out the critters And all of the deer.   I didn’t get the job done My arm is really shaking Time to go home A shower I am taking.   On the way out Birds are out there splashing In a puddle by the road They want to look dashing.   I sat for awhile The birds flew away I did see a Grackle So, I didn’t stay. At least corn is tall enough to see One and half row of beans

I was on Facebook, just a few minutes ago and apologized to my neighbors.  I have been hitting a stick on the frame of my swing on my deck, in an effort to run off the Grackles. I was in the hospital yesterday and was talking birds with one of the nurses. She said "do you want to get rid of your Grackles?  I can tell you how I did it."  I, of course, said yes. The story was she had lots of Grackles. One day she picked up a pan and lid and banged them together. The Grackles flew off. She continued this practice until the Grackles quit coming.  It didn't bother the song birds. She said, "evidently the Grackles can not tolerate loud noises."  I will give it a try and that was why I was on Facebook apologizing to my neighbors.  I have been standing on the deck when just one Grackle flies in. I start pounding my stick on the tubing of the swing! They fly off quickly.  I will keep it up and see how long it takes for them to come back, get used to the sound a...

Hubby took it for a ride, hopefully no more!  This one was bigger he said.  Hubby gets a work out in the mornings, at least the last three anyway. Our deck is off the back door of our home. The back door is a full story up.  What, 12 feet or so?  I have no clue. Then to the gate. Now remember he is carrying a cage with a heavy raccoon in it! Out the gate, put the raccoon in the bed of the truck. Climb in!  Drive to the dump off location. Back home. For someone that has fallen with the cage before and not real steady on his feet this is quite an accomplishment for the first thing in the morning.  This almost always takes place before 6 a. m.  I wasn't even up yet! My job is to clean off the deck. Those raccoons, do lots of messes while in the cage. I don't want the dogs in those "messes". Eww!   Grab the hose and start washing down the deck. Not only do I clean up the raccoon mess but I have tons of birds that leave their marks all over the de...

Did you really think I only had problems with raccoons? I don't think so! There are also the chipmunks, which dig holes, tunnel, and eat bird seed too. Then there are the moles, the unseen terror of the yard! You know you have moles when you step outside and look at your yard and see piles and piles of dirt mounds. Then upon closer inspection you see the tunnels that push up the dirt that connect to the mounds.  I always knew the moles didn't eat the plants or the roots but they were on the search for the earthworms, grubs, insects and slugs. Some homeowners, I don't know of any, like having them because they aerate the soil and take care of those bad insects. My yard, looks awful, so wish they would move on to someone who would appreciate them more.  Have you ever Googled the mole? I just did here are some facts from  https://www.havahart.com/mole-facts Fun Facts Moles can dig tunnels at a rate of up to 15 feet per hour. Although moles may resemble mice and rats, they ar...