It is lonely at the top!

   Late winter saw me hauling compost to the garden spots.  This was necessary from two points...one,  the compost pile needed cleaning and...two, the garden needed prepping for the spring gardens.  There must have been thirty wheelbarrows of the compost so it took me several days to complete the job but finally, the gardens looked nice!  They still do even though I am waiting to pull the last few broccoli and cabbage plants so the tomatoes and peppers can be set in the ground.  Hopefully, that will happen by this weekend...weather permitting.

  There is one lovely plant that sprouted from a seed in the compost.  Since all scraps go to the bin, hundreds of seeds (food scraps) wind up there, too.  Obviously, a pumpkin seed was among those hundreds.  That seed was the top of its game and now one lone pumpkin plant has taken up residence in the garden.  It is sad and lonely as there are no others.  I fully had expected the late freeze of a few weeks back to kill the plant but, somehow, it survived!  While the bees are working the blooms of this plant, the pollination is not happening.  I wish there were two or more but this sole seed sprouted and grew.  Poor, lonely pumpkin plant!  

  My intentions may be late but tomorrow will find me planting a few more pumpkin seeds along side this one.  I doubt that those plants will grow fast enough to bloom before this one withers away but maybe?  Oh, well, I had not even planned to plant pumpkins.  I guess, now I am.  Poor, lonely pumpkin plant.

One Pound Pears!

  Just off the back porch, there are two pear trees...one on either side of the steps.  The trees have been there for ten years or there about so they are getting quite large.  In fact, Son had to trim the limbs this past year because they were too large.  I figured that may have put a damper on us getting any pears this year but the trees were loaded.  Then, along came squirrels and coons. They feasted upon the unripe pears before moving on to the muscadines and figs.  Still, dozens of pears hung on the trees.  It gave me hope that I would have some to can for the winter.  This past week, Son helped me pick the pears and two dozen jars were canned and put on the shelf.  The peels and cores provided enough juice to make a half dozen jars of pear syrup that was added to the shelf, as well.  Not much goes to waste.

  While I was happy to get any pears at all, what surprised me was the size of the fruit.  Anjou pears normally weigh about a half pound each.  We did have a few that size but the majority weighed about a full pound!  One pear filled both hands!  This made for some easy canning, to say the least. 

  One thing come to mind about the large fruit.  Perhaps the proximity to the porch had something to do with it.  I have a habit of never putting any kitchen scraps in the garbage can.  Instead, everything goes to the compost pile.  Well, almost everything.  If there is only a tiny amount of scraps, I have a habit of dropping it off the porch near the pear trees.  We have two box turtles that feast upon these few tidbits but sometimes they do not come to eat.  I also have the habit of emptying all coffee grounds near the trees. The scraps and daily coffee grounds are the only fertilizer the trees ever receive.  Perhaps my laziness about traipsing to the compost pile has proved to be a boon for the pear trees!  Something worked anyway!

It Stole My Compost Pile!

   Ruellia Simplex is a pretty plant.  It grows easily, has no known insect pests, attracts hummingbirds, moths and butterflies and blooms profusely from early spring to late fall.  How awesome is that?  What could ever go wrong with such a "perfect" plant?  Well....well....

  Also known as Mexican Petunias, this plant is highly invasive.  If you are not diligent, the plants will take over!  Not only can they grow from the billion or two seeds that spew from the pods, they easily shoot up from underground rhizomes.   Those can be ten feet from the original garden plot.  Plus, if you do not carefully destroy any trimmings, those can (and do) take root.  That is how I got my "garden" of Mexican Petunias.  I had one small plant in a pot.  My brother had given it to me so it was sort of special.  Once it got tall and lanky, I trimmed it down to about 4 inches and tossed the trimmings into the compost pile thinking they would rot and add nutrients back to the ground.  Nope.  They took root.  Every...last...one...rooted.  My compost pile became a sea of purple!  There was no scooping that rich soil for the garden as the roots of the Ruellia Simplex had become a gnarled mess.  At least, my "garden" had a healthy place to grow!

  This plant is touted to have many uses in herbal medicine.  I have not tried any so can not verify the outcome of using them but it is said to be used in treating everything from viral infections to cancer. Like I said...I cannot verify any of that but, at the rate this plant grows, it sure would be nice if something could be cured by using it.  In the meantime, I will enjoy the beauty (while keeping its growth in check)!  

The Compost Has Been Invaded!

  What started as a potted plant soon spilled over and became a garden plant.  Then, as things do happen, it spread a bit further.  Clippings were dumped into the compost pile and, now, the compost pile has the healthiest bunch of purple blooms atop of four foot tall stalks!  Did I make a mistake by tossing the clippings?  Will our place soon be overrun with ruellia as it is with wisteria?  Hmmm...both grow continuously, spread rapidly but have beautiful purple blooms!  Mistake?  Or happy accident?

  Ruellia Simplex goes by about a gazillion different names.  Mexican Petunias, Purple Showers, Wild Petunias, Mexican Bluebells, and Hardy Petunias are a few of the monikers used to describe the plants.  There are as many different names as there are people growing them.  One odd thing...even though most of the names label them as petunias, they are not even related to that plant.  They belong in a completely different family of plants. The plants are considered invasive in Florida and some other states but, for some strange reason, the plant is readily available at nurseries everywhere.  My start came quite by accident as it came with some "hand-me-down" plants.  In fact, it did not seem to be an aggressive spreader until it hit the compost.   The plant has always stayed more or less contained near the Frog Pond but when those "cuttings" hit the fertile soil of the compost, things exploded!  The compost has become a flower garden covered in a sea of purple blooms.

  Now the question...do I eradicate the plants or let them grow?  As the compost pile sits, I can easily mow around it and keep the plants under control.  Unless birds carry seeds far from the area, that mowing will keep any from spreading.  I have to admit that I do like the plants and have been studying a bit to see if there are other uses for either the roots or leaves.  In that aspect, things look promising but, on the other hand, do I really need to "farm" Mexican Petunias?

The Fertile Soil of a Compost

  As a kid growing up on the farm, my life, of course, was filled with plants.  I was taught how to plant, tend and harvest.  The lessons started with the seeds and how to tell if they were viable and ended with how to preserve the bounty of our harvest.  Pop made sure that his knowledge of caring for plants (and the farm animals) was passed along so "if there is ever a need", I would be able to provide for myself and family.  The knowledge has come in handy as our pantry shelves stay filled with the most delectable treats from our garden plot.  One of the all important instructions was to "never let anything go to waste".  This not only applied to what we could eat or share but even the scraps.  On the farm, most kitchen scraps were fed to the farm animals.  The chickens, hogs and cows loved any vegetable scraps!  What was deemed too far gone to feed the critters was placed in the composting pile.  That, as we all know, is grand stuff for the gardens.

  The compost pile here is in steady use since I am not allowed by the city to have multiple critters running around the place.  So, every table scrap is dumped to be broken down into soil additives.  Of course, the wild critters around the Bayou have a fine time finding free foodstuffs each night but a good bit still rots and the nutrients can be used to grow more plants.  Of course, a lot of rubbish from the gardens makes its way to the pile as well and, occasionally, seeds sprout.  I allow a good many flowering plants to live where they sprout so the compost pile is a makeshift flower garden of sorts.  

  After emptying some coffee grounds into the compost, I noticed that the oxalis or (pink wood sorrel) were blooming in one corner.  They flourish here and are always the earliest to bloom.  Today, however, one bloom was the largest that I have ever seen!   The normal size of each bloom is about 1/2 inch in diameter but this one was easily 2 times that (maybe larger) and, instead of the normal 5 petals, this had many more.  The whole bloom was like a big ruffle!  Thinking this was just a fluke and nothing to be excited about, I checked the other plants and sure enough there were others with the large blooms and equally oversized leaves.  

  Maybe the compost pile is a really good place for the wood sorrel to grow.  If that is the case, I am purely happy to let it thrive there.  These plants hold a special place with me since they have always been favorites of several of the important ladies in my life.   Grandmother, Mom, Aunt Helen and my grandmother-in-law, Momie, all adored the little pink blooms.  Each made the same remark at different times of how they knew spring was here if the wood sorrel bloomed.   I wish they could see these blooms!

Pretty Checkered Wings

  Earlier today, a walk to the compost pile was necessary to empty the kitchen scraps.  This daily chore, not only helps to clean the kitchen, it supplies a good bit of healthy soil for the garden, snacks for whatever critter is hungry and a chance for me to be outside.  Compost piles are good for what ails you!  It was on that short outing that I noticed a dragonfly resting on one of the tomato crates.  The garden has gone the wayside but I have neglected to gather the crates.  The dragonfly was readily identified as a Common Whitetail Skimmer.  Earlier in the spring, dozens of the female dragonflies of this type visited the garden but nary a male could be found.  Now, a fine specimen was here.  Better late than never, I suppose.  Fortunately, there were still several females in the area flitting about the Frog Pond.

  The Common Whitetail Skimmers are a bit different from other dragonflies.  Their bodies sort of chunky compared to other dragonflies.  The wings are checkered black and clear.  The male and female wing bars are almost the exact opposite of each others.  With these dragonflies, it is easy to distinguish male from female even at a distance.  The female is dark brown while the male is almost white or pale blue.  This color difference is due to a coating called pruinosity.  It appears as a light dusting of color and the males use in it territorial displays.  (The female does not have this.) The males will lift the abdomen high to let other males know that this is their territory.  If that does not work, then an aerial battle will take place. After mating, the female lays her eggs in water where they will hatch and the nymphs live until they morph into adulthood.  The Common Whitetail Skimmers are highly dependent on fresh water.

  My short outings to the compost pile can be looked upon as a much needed break.  I can escape for a few moments before having to return to the reality of caring for the old dog.  Hopefuly soon, he will feel up to joining me on longer hikes but, for now, I will be thankful for a compost heap!

 

Meet Virginia!

  Over the years, I have written a lot about the turtles and tortoises that roam the marshes, woods and creek bed.  It seems that the area is a favorite place for many different kinds.  Every type from snapping turtles to box turtles make their home here.  All this is good as the critters are some of the better ones to have around the place.  They eat a lot of things that would otherwise make the place not as comfortable.  They are not picky eaters for sure.  I have also written a lot about critter instincts and learned behaviors.  Our friendly turtles have both.  While some folks may make claims that "learned" behavior is pushing the limit when applying to turtles, I beg to differ.  They can and do learn.  It has been proven that turtles have long memories when it comes to feeding spots. They had to learn that spot before it could become a memory.

  Years ago, an elderly neighbor lady, Ms. Virginia, used to feed turtles that were in her yard.  She, too, lived near a bayou and had dozens of fine turtles.  Each morning, she would go to her back door to find many turtles had come to dine so she started buying containers of chicken livers to feed them.  She claimed that the livers were a favorite among the turtles but I never could quite understand how they might obtain those in the wild. Still, her turtle friends had learned to wait at the door until Ms. Virginia brought them breakfast.  After they ate, they would go on about their merry way until the next morning.  I was fortunate enough to "help" Ms. Virginia feed her turtles on several occasions when I was just a child.  It made a huge impression on me and was one of my lessons on respecting all critters.  

 My turtles, on the other hand, eat more fruit and veggies.  These are remnants from the garden and food preparation that are tossed into the compost pile.  Occasionally, there may be an odd piece of meat but, on a whole, the critters are on a vegetarian diet.  Among the several turtles that visit the compost on a daily basis, one is a nice sized box turtle.  This turtle has been around the Bayou for years and seems to appreciate the readily available foodstuffs that can be found in the compost.  Here recently, I have started calling it "Virginia" after the dear old lady from my childhood.  The idea behind this came from the fact that I recall that Ms. Virginia loved strawberries and this turtle seems to think that strawberries are a special treat.  While I am not too sure that Ms. Virginia would appreciate having a turtle named after her, I am quite sure that she would be pleased knowing that her lessons about respecting animals were remembered.

There's A Catch To It....

  Usually, if something sounds to good to be true, it is.  Somewhere hidden in the midst of things is a catch that brings trouble one way or another.  I found out the hard way.  Today, while out prowling about the hillside, I made the mistake of getting a tad too close to the compost pile.  Normally, there is nothing wrong with that whatsoever but today, I was "caught"!  

  My meanderings took me far down to the compost and beyond. While there, I noticed that the compost pile must be doing a good job of composting because it was being overtaken by some bright green plant.  I admit that I have been lax on mowing the area since I have been putting in a new living room floor.  Still, that green was really bright and drew me to investigate just what plant was flourishing so.  Big mistake.  Never...never get too close to catchweed!  You will be caught, for sure!  That stuff is remarkably clingy!  I have never felt so wrapped up in a weed in my entire life!  That stuff is like nature's Velcro!

  Catchweed, stickywilly, Velcro plant, bedstraw or cleavers...you can call it what you please but I call it a nuisance!  The plant's square stems are covered with tiny hook like hairs that grab hold to you and cling like crazy!  This weed can cause machinery to come to a standstill and literally coat a critter with a plant jacket.  This clinging is the dispersal method of the plant.  It assures that the plant will be spread far and wide...which, in my opinion, is a terrible thing!  Cutting it with the lawnmower will not kill it so I am thinking that a good dousing with homemade weedkiller is in the works.  There is no use in letting that stuff take advantage of my nice compost while it spreads like wildfire.  Catchweed...get rid of it quick or it will catch hold and create a major mess!

Of all times....

  Mr. PJ, the old dog that has come to live with us, has been a perfect jewel the entire time I have been ill.  I think he understands that I am under the weather and has not wanted to aggravate me in any way.  I can open the door and let him go do his business far down the hillside without worry.  He has not tried to leave the Bayou.  Actually, that would be nigh on impossible with his aging legs and arthritis anyway because of the sheer distance but it is a relief that he has not ventured far off his given track....until today.  Today...today, of all days, he decided to raid the compost pile which is far down behind the house near the canebrake in the opposite direction of his usual roaming spots. 

  While this would have been aggravating enough, he would not return when called.  Ugh!  This meant that I had to don a jacket and head out to retrieve the dog.  Still not bad except for the fact that there was pea-soup thick fog and a fine mist falling.  Still...not the end of the world...except that I have the flu.  Added together, the events deemed troublesome enough to rile me a bit.  As I traipsed through the drizzle to fetch the dog, I kept calling.  He was not even paying one iota of attention to my yells.  As I rounded the corner of the shed and he was in view, he darted under the small deck on the back of the storeroom.  Now what??  It was all I could do to control the temper that was welling up inside of me.  Two things....one...he knows the compost pile is off limits.  Has been ever since he first started to visit the Bayou some ten years ago.  Second....he should know that going under decks, sheds and the house are a no-no.  He has been reprimanded enough to know better.  So, his infractions kept piling up.  

  After I finally persuaded the runaway dog to reenter the Little Bayou House, a foul odor hit me.  Ugh.  Yep, he reeked to High Heaven!  Obviously, he had not gone for the fresh orange peels, mushy banana or anything recent.  HE had to wallow in something that had been there for a while!  By this time, I did not even have the energy to fight him into the tub. The bath would have to wait for another day.  Darling Daughter had given me a bottle of "doggy perfume" back when Ms. Ez was with us so that came into play.  A few spritzes later and I could breathe.  I looked at the old dog and his tail started thumping on the floor.  Big, sad, puppy dog eyes glistened up at me as if to apologize for his misdeeds.  Oh, geez, Pup! You were grounded...were...ok, I still love you.  Now to get the wet clothes off, brew a mug of herb tea and try to stop the shakes.  Of all the times in the world for you to choose to go on an escapade, this was probably the worst.

The Beautiful Compost Pile!

  Oh, my beautiful compost pile...how you make the yard lovely!  Yeah, you read that right.  What normally is an eyesore at its best, the dumping ground for foodscraps has taken on a new appearance. Literally, it has come to life!  Mexican Petunias, Elephant Ears and Morning Glories have taken advantage of the vitamin enriched soil. They are all flourishing!  No, these are not necessarily volunteer plants that grew from seeds.  They were spent plants that I pulled from the gardens and plopped into the compost pile.  I figured that any scrap would rot to make more mulch.  Nope.  Instead the roots buried down and took hold.  The plants are enormous now!

  While I should have taken a photograph of the entire spot with its new growth and happy blooms, I instead focused on a tiny lizard.  A three inch long, green anole was determined to catch its breakfast and had chosen the pile as its diner.  Good choice.  With the daily dumping of food scraps, there are any number of critters at the pile.  Most are there to dine upon the kitchen scraps but a few predators are lurking up under the lush foliage.  I have seen the green anoles, skinks and a Southern Black Racer stalking the smaller critters, such as insects, birds and mice, that visit. The compost pile is definitely alive with all sorts of flora and fauna. It is a complete mini eco-system all in a four square feet area.  At least, the huge plants decorated that corner of the yard a bit!

You Just Never Know....

  When gardening, you just never know if a season is going to prove to be productive or if the crops will be a bust.  Weather, pests, and personal mistakes can blow a garden right out the window.  Then, you could have the storybook plot full of gorgeous tomatoes, perfect squash and delicious cucumbers.  You just cannot predict the outcome of something that hinges on so many different things.

  While out cutting grass, I noticed that the compost pile looked awfully green for something that consists a lot of dead plant remnants.  It was time to investigate what was growing so well in that fertile soil. Obviously, the water hyacinths that were pulled and discarded as compost builders were agreeing with something.  To my surprise, several potato plants had sprouted and were growing prolifically.  The plants were covered with the telltale blooms that were signs that all was well with the plants...they were healthy.

  Now comes the problem.  The potato plants sprouted in the same compost pile that is known to also house a yellow jacket's nests. These foul-tempered wasps will attack me as soon as I start shuffling around the compost but I am curious to see if those potatoes are working.  You just never know what might be hiding under that rich compost!  

Down in the Compost Pile!

  One never knows what can be found in a compost pile until a good bit of time is spent there.  I am still cleaning the gardens so I have become quite familiar with the contents of the pile.  A good bit of refuse is hauled to the fenced composting area.  Every year, wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of leaves are dumped in to mulch down for potting soil.  Every day, the pile receives kitchen scraps such as coffee grounds to add to the nutrition in the soil.  Occasionally, some stray veggie or fruit that is a bit over ripe is tossed into the pile as well.  More oft than not, seeds will germinate there.  I have always thought that if a seed sprouts in the compost pile, it would flourish and be amazingly productive.  That is not always so.  This past summer the only thing that flourished in the rich soil was some odd vine that sort of resembled a Morning Glory.  It was a huge vine with saucer-sized leaves but made the scrawniest flowers I had ever seen!

  I was thinking about that plant today when I dumped another load of leaves over the fence.  I wondered if the vine was going to make another appearance this summer.  The vine and I battled over who was going to have domain over the compost pile and I do believe the vine won.  Although I tugged at the thing seemingly on a daily basis, I could never completely get rid of it.  Then in midsummer, I gave up.  I did not admit defeat but rather found that a few moths and butterflies seemed to crave the nectar in the tiny blooms.  If I wanted to enjoy their beauty, I had to tolerate the vine cluttering up the compost pile.

  So I learned that the compost pile not only held a bunch of decomposing vegetable matter, it also held life.  A lot of critters crawl, creep, slither and fly about under and above the pile.  These critters all help with the decomposition of the contents of the pile so are therefore a necessary part of it.  With all of those critters creeping about, it sure makes me glad that the pile is a good distance from the back door!