We had unexpected visitors today. Roger and his wife Sharon stopped in this afternoon. I shared a garden space with Roger for almost 15 years and I've known him since I was 18 (well more than half my life!) They haven't been out here since last fall and haven't seen much of what we have done. We took a long walk to show us the land and made some discoveries.
The Mayapples are up, but not blooming yet.
We have Dogtooth Violets!
I don't remember seeing these last spring. Maybe it had been too overgrazed and they have finally recovered enough to bloom. We also made another discovery that I hadn't noticed last year:
Horsetails!!!
These are also known as Scouring Rushes and have been called a living fossil. They are a wetlands plant that has been around since the age of the dinosaurs! Officially cool! I remember a stand of these across the road from the entrance to my parent's timberland that I loved to play in when I was a child.
The lilacs are ready to burst!
Woodpeckers have been at this dead branch that finally fell.
And way up high in a tree, what we think is an owl nest (based on the feathers that are on the ground nearby and the other owl evidence.
It's hard to see, but it's right at the top of the broken off tree.
And speaking of nests, a poor misguided Robin has built a nest:
Between the hydrant and the barn!
Shh, it's sleeping!
Even though we've been out and about and using the hydrant, she still has an egg in the nest that wasn't there on Thursday evening. I just hope that she won't abandon it now that we were busy outside all afternoon.
It was great to see Roger and Sharon but their visit threw a wrench in my plans. We didn't get around to chipping or shredding this afternoon. But, there is always tomorrow!
It's always nice to stop and smell the roses every now and then. You've been going top speed all week and maybe the good Lord decided you needed a little rest and sent Roger to help you out. That is a silly place for a nest isn't it! lol. We have a Robins nest at Kelly's house up on the drain pipe near the eve. Ours was a little smarter! lol Pretty photos of your flowers around your property! and look how rested you are now!...debbie
ReplyDeleteSo much to see on a walk. The Scouring Rushes, I've never heard of that. Plants as living fossils :-)
ReplyDeletePlans for work, well, yes, they are there, but time with friends like those.... that is special in a unique way I think.
I can't think of any ideas for your talk that you posted about last time, but I'm sure that you could *never* ever come off sounding "better than". You will be fine. Good luck!
Love the horsetails! It's always so fun to discover new things on your own land!
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