Tag Archives: gardening

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Mystery solved.

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Remember a while ago I posted a picture of the sunflower seeds the chipmunk from Hell had planted in my petunias… and how they were growing?

 

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Well over the past few weeks they grew tall and budded, and then started disappearing. One by one… shredded, stripped of leaves, and gone.

I’ve seen a few grasshoppers, so I thought maybe that was the reason.

 

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How pathetic is that?

One lone stalk remained.

Then I woke up this morning and saw….

 

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A woodchuck…

 

 

 

On the table.

 

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That’s something I hadn’t seen before.

 

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First there was a little pole dancing….

 

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Then he got down to business.

 

 

 

So now I know why there won’t be any blooming sunflowers this season.

 

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He made short work of it and left me this…

 

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As well as this…

 

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Yes, I could have yelled and scared him off, but I admit … I laughed instead.

We’ve had woodchucks all year and they haven’t touched a single plant, shrub or flower. Which if you’ve ever had woodchucks, you know is highly unusual.

So I let the little devil have the sunflower.

The fact that he can even get his fat butt up on the table to begin with is comical and worth the price of a sunflower to view.

 

 

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As my garden grows…

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Day lilies.

 

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They’re vibrant…

 

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And colorful…

 

 

(Is it me… or is that mildly disturbing?)

 

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They’re prolific…

 

 

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Long lasting…

 

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(Well that explains why my refrigerator died. They wanted it to.)

 

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And easy to care for.

Plant… forget… and enjoy.

 

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The same goes for Hostas, although they prefer some shade.

Everything is in marvelous bloom right now.

 

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Except the sunflowers the chipmunk from Hell planted in my petunias.

 

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They may take a while.

 

 

Happy gardening!

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Things I don’t like today.

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A switch from my regular happy to be alive posts.

 

 

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I don’t like….

Being bitten on the hand by a horse fly while mowing the lawn and having it swell up to 5 times it’s normal size.

 

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Hot, stiff and throbbing.

And not in a good way.

 

 

I don’t like….

Being bitten on the ankle by a horse fly the next day and having it swell up to epic proportions as well.

WTH?

 

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Did one of you clowns stick a Bite Me sign on my back…

 

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I don’t like….

Being late to lunch with friends because I lost the husband to yet another junk filled yard sale he just couldn’t drive by.

 

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He came back with a bag… and I didn’t even want to know what was in it.

 

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I don’t like….

The fact that the husband owns a chain saw.

 

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This birch tree had one bad section… one.

So bye bye entire tree.

 

 

Nothing is safe. Except the two dead flowering plum trees I’ve been after him to cut for years. Those?

He leaves alone.

I don’t like….

 

 

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Going out to check on the baby catbird nest and finding momma’s feathers on the ground…

 

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And an empty nest knocked loose from the bush.

Poor little things.

I don’t like….

Things that come in threes. First our  too new to die damn it  refrigerator, then my car’s air conditioner, and now the husband’s truck’s air conditioner. There’s a conspiracy afoot to make me sweat.

 

 

I really, really don’t like that!

 

 

 

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You’re never too old to learn…. Knotweed Flutes.

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It’s time for class!

 

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No worries, there won’t be a test.

Maine Adult Education offers endless opportunities to  shake your head and say WTF? enrich your mind. Last year there were some fascinating topics:

 

You’re never too old to learn…. Spoons.

You’re never to old to learn…. Potatoes.

You’re never too old to learn…. Ukulele

You’re never too old to learn…. Chakra Toning.

You’re never too old to learn…. Mindfulness.

 

And this year started off with a bang as well…

You’re never to old to learn…. Tin Cans.

 

Today’s selection from the  brochure of the bizarre  curriculum is:

 

weed

 

Yes, you too can have your very own flute made from a pesky weed in your backyard.

To hell with cutting it down…

 

 

Blow into it and start a band.

You’ll be the envy of your friends, I promise.

 

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And in case you’re unfamiliar…

Japanese Knotweed is a large, extremely invasive plant.

 

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                           actual photo of Japanese Knotweed swallowing small child

 

It’s almost impossible to get rid of once it takes hold, and ironically… cutting only spreads it.

There really is only one reliable course of action available.

 

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So why not take the class…

And make a flute before it swallows you whole?

 

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A little garden fluff…

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(Not to be confused with actually fluffing… because, damn. That’s another blog entirely. )

 

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The silver mounds are mounding nicely….

 

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And the red geraniums you all told me to plant? Made the bulkhead doors look even more red…. so, yeah.

 

 

 

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Day lilies are popping up among the peonies.

 

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As well as in the shadow of the giant quince bush.

 

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Not sure how that red fellow got in there.

Are there daylily postmen?

 

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Begonias are begonia-ing.

 

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And the lawn that never stops growing affords ample opportunity for the neighbors to test drive the husband’s new toy.

 

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If only they wanted to take more than a few swipes, we could sit on the porch with an adult beverage and enjoy the summer….

 

 

 

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Things I like today… chapter 4.

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I like…

This road sign we passed on a country lane.

 

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Notice to salesmen – please move along.

 

 

 

I like…

Sitting on my deck reading,

 

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And being quiet enough to have a few visitors drop by.

 

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I like….

This kind of race.

 

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I might get a little winded…

But at least I know I’ll be able to cross the finish line.

 

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I like….

My fruit infuser pitcher.

 

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I know I should drink gallons of water daily, but let’s face it…unless it’s toning down my bourbon?

I’m not really interested.

 

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But chop up some fresh strawberries and let it sit overnight?

Quite tasty.

I’ve tried pineapple. Wonderful!

Mango? Meh.

Watermelon? No flavor at all.

Pear seemed like a good idea….

 

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But it turned brown and slimy in mere hours… so no to pear.

 

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(Don’t worry, it took me a minute to get it as well.)

 

I like…

 

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This picture I took of my flower bed with a triple rainbow shadow.

 

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Alvin’s evil twin.

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Chipmunks….

Everyone thinks they’re cute.

Me?

 

 

Not so much.

If you think they’re cute, you haven’t met Ervin.

Alvin’s evil twin.

 

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He taunts me daily.

Digging into my mulch and planting stolen sunflower seeds in every available garden bed.

 

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He sleeps on the deck furniture..

 

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And is positively psychotic… staring in at me from the deck.

 

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And then launching himself in mid air to slam into the window.

Repeatedly.

 

 

He’s even made it into the house on occasion.

 

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But now…

 

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He’s discovered the plant pots.

 

 

How do I know?

 

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Aside from the scattered dirt on the table?

 

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Busted!

The little bastard is now digging and planting seeds in all my potted geraniums, begonias and petunias.

How do I know?

 

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The large sprouting sunflower leaves are a dead giveaway.

Cute? My ass.

 

 

Look at those teeth!

He’s probably plotting to chew off my toe in my sleep if he ever gets back in the house.