Garden Talk

 Last week we had an ugly storm that took out the cucumber vines.  Happily their season is just about over so the loss is a few rather than dozens.

The zinneas also took a hit.  Sorry there are no pictures.  It seems that my computer's idea of updating involves the removal of pictures, writing and probably some other things that I had planned to keep for a reason.

Couldn't find Roma tomatoes this year so am growing a similar variety called Sam Marzano.  They are starting to redden up.  If all goes according to plan there will be lots of sauce in our freezer.

Trail Camage 20

 About a month ago, we saw some youngsters.  Here they are again: a little bigger.

Racoon mom with kits.

Doe and fawn

They are likely heading towards the mulberry tree which still has fruit.

Mulberries are popular with deer.

Fawn with the zoomies.

It is quite common around here.  The groundskeeper has witnessed fawn zoomies many times.

The Annual It's Hot Enough for Malcom 2021

 

It's been an unusual year.  Malcom was outside in early May when it was 80 degrees then he was back inside in mid May when it was in the 40's.

Now it's July.  Hopefully we can now announce that it is officially hot enough for Malcom to be outside -for a while. 

Trail Camage 19

 

Twin fawns

Doe and fawn

During the day, the groundskeeper has seen a doe with one fawn and a doe with twin fawns.   

There may be more...

Trail Camage 18

Here we have a mother racoon followed by some youngsters. 

Here they are again.  Is it the same group or another?  

Who knows...

Around this time, a raccoon was seen in broad daylight climbing the fence in an attempt to remove the orange left out for the Orioles.  

We have no picture of the attempted theft.  The groundskeeper was too busy yelling and waving her arms at the miscreant to record the event.

Memorial Day

 

The Riderless Horse is an old military tradition.  A horse is led behind the casket wearing an empty saddle with the rider’s boots reversed in the stirrups, indicating the warrior will never ride again.

As we do on this day each year, we remember the men and women who died fighting for our freedom.  Let us pause with gratitude for their sacrifice.

Trail Camage 17

Set up the camera just off the side of the garage.  The duck pen is a mere ten feet or so to the right.  Wanted to see activity there....

Racoon

Fox

Cat

Possum

Strangely cool temps for May.  Thus, the groundskeeper is wearing a hat with earflaps.

Spring grass grows and grows.  The groundskeeper is busy this time of year.

No unusual traffic detected...

Stay tuned.

Groundhog Close-up

Groundhogs, aka woodchucks, are rodents closely related to squirrels and are found in lowland areas in the eastern US, Canada and Alaska.

They spend much of their time underground in burrows that can be as much as 6 feet deep and 20 feet wide with multiple entrances.

Groundhogs are solitary creatures.  When it is time to mate, typically in early spring, a male groundhog will stroll into a female's burrow and mate with her.  

Gestation is 32 days.  Litters consist of 2-6 pups.  The youngsters stay with mother for 3-4 months.  Then they go out and dig their own burrows.

Groundhogs eat fruit, plants, grasses and tree bark.

Average life span is 3-6 years, weight is approximately 13 pounds.  They measure 17-24 inches from head to rump.

Groundhogs are homebodies.  They typically don't wander more than 50-150 feet from their den.

Groundhogs eat a lot during the summer and live off their fat while they hibernate in winter.