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Junior chuck is still here and momma still tolerates his presence even though she has a new batch of children.
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This is surprising and has never happened before.
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She usually kicks the kids to the curb as soon as they can fend for themselves.
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But Junior persists. Though like every adult child who lives in the basement, I’m sure he gets on her nerves now and then.
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It’s Japanese Iris season at Casa River and I couldn’t be happier.
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While I’ve never been a fan of the fleshy full size irises that always hump their monstrous rhizome roots out of the ground… I adore their smaller less arrogant cousins.
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Daintier, more delicate and frankly less look at me darling, aren’t I gawgous!… they’re a lovely pop of perennial purple.
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Number two rhododendron is now in full bloom though not nearly as full as it’s neighbor. Why this should be is a question that stumps gardeners everywhere. Same soil, same sun exposure yet one is always bigger and better. Personally I think Mother Nature just likes to keep us guessing.
And if you’re wondering what the woodchucks have been chewing this week ?
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The toothy little buggers are eating marigolds!.
Marigolds!
The plant so disgusting no one will eat them. I don’t even like the silly things but have been putting them in my pots on the barn porch simply for the woodchuck gag factor. I thought they’d be safe.
I was wrong.
Very wrong.
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My husband has a bad habit of leaving the little barn/shed doors open in the summer. He thinks he’s airing it out and cooling it off but in actuality all he’s doing is this:
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Giving momma and baby chucks another area to explore.
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And chew.
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They seem to enjoy it.
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Though if they start chewing tractor wires my husband may have to rethink this habit.
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The baby nibblers are on the move and my flower beds are quaking in fear.
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For that matter so is my wallet.
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I thought the head count was four, then five..
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But yesterday I think I spotted six.
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It might be a very colorless summer at Casa River.
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Whoever said if you don’t like the weather in Maine, wait a minute wasn’t kidding.
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This is what early June looks like. It’s enough to give you whiplash.
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Another one bites the woodchuck dust. It was a fully bloomed stock. Graceful stalks filled with fragrant pink blossoms. May she rest in peace.
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Route 1 in Wiscasset was closed last week due to an accident. Apparently the Wicked Witch was in town.
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This hall closet contains coats, (spell check changed that to goats which would have been much more blog worthy, sorry) assorted LL Bean bags, a pair of snow boots, extension cords, a pillow, two blankets, a step stool, 4 umbrellas, a lobster pot and the air conditioner we just put in the window.
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Since it’s always full of the aforementioned clutter, Lord Dudley Mountcatten only gets to explore it twice a year and made me wait half an hour to put all the stuff back in there.
Cats.
They’re easily amused.
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Remember the perennials I bought for the stone bordered garden bed out back?
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There was a big beautiful purple and white lupine ready to go.
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They’re iconic in Maine and I’ve always loved them.
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But apparently so did the woodchucks.
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Goodbye bloom.
Goodbye leaves.
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This is what’s left of the lupine and what used to be a lovely pink phlox.
Grrr….
😡
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Lately we’ve just had the junior woodchuck visiting the backyard. He was the runt of last year’s litter and though momma chuck is famous for booting all the kids out of the den as soon as they’re grown, this little guy is still living at home.
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But momma is not pleased.
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Every time he gets near her she barks and bites and drives him off.
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Watermelon is not to be shared with deadbeat kids who live in the basement.
🤣
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Critters be multiplying here at Casa River.
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Along with some green grass comes another woodchuck.
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I believe that’s the old momma from previous years at the dish.
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She has some distinctive scars on her face and has been calling our backyard home for the past four years.
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Must be last season’s baby to the left.
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Woke up to this the other morning.
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And I have to admit, colorful sunrises never get old.
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Our one chuck is still visiting daily looking for treats.
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Apples and carrots are his (her?) favorite.
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Temperatures are rising, the snow has melted and we’re seeing a bit of green grass.
But the surest sign of spring at Casa River is this:
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Our first woodchuck sighting!
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We’ve had a momma raise her young under our barn for the past 6 years or so and always wonder if they’ll be back.
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Of course laying out some carrot slices helps.
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Welcome back spring!
😌
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River's world..... 