Same day...two seasons?

   You hear a lot about the crazy weather, as of late.  While it appears that the whole world has been having its share of weird weather related occurrences, it has really has not changed.  Weather has always happened.  What changed is that we are now bombarded with up-to-the-minute "news" about everything.  In other words, we have media overload.  Years back, weather happened everywhere on this old globe but there was not this instantaneous barrage of sensational news headlines to keep us "informed" or rather over informed.  I am not sure it is going to make my day any different if I hear of a rainstorm halfway around the world just as it will not be of importance to anyone on a different continent that the Bayou had an ice storm.  Media overload does nothing but create panic and raises the stress levels.  It is not needed.

  Still...closer to home...as matter of fact...IN my home, it appears that we have had two seasons in one day!  (Now isn't that of the utmost importance?)  I was in the kitchen baking up a batch of Bayou Cheesy Crackers when I noticed the view outside of the kitchen window.  Ahh, lovely!  It was nice to see the deep green leaves of the citrus trees as they are finally looking better after our winter.  Then there were the bright green leaves and red blooms of the Buckeye tree!  Those blooms looked fiery in the bright sunshine!  Springtime was definitely in full swing!  How lovely!  My eyes turned to the other window in the kitchen.  Uh, oh!  The view from that window appeared to be in the dead of winter!  How can that be?  The windows are only about two feet apart yet the views were in such contrast!  The left window showed a happy springtime view where the right one showed browns and grays of winter. 

  Actually, the left window overlooks a part of the yard that was quite dismal just a few weeks ago, the citrus trees had taken a beating but with a lot of trimming and hard work, they are now making a comeback.  The yard is alive again...well, some of it.  The right window overlooks the small Frog Pond backed by the canebrake.  The cane did not fare as well as the other plants and trees.  It is still brown and quite dead looking.  The 500+ canes will need to be cut back and ground for mulch.  Hopefully, new shoots will sprout from the rootstock.  The cutting is something that should have been done weeks ago but other things got in the way.  Now, I hate to do it.  Several birds have nested in the dead canes and small critters have dens among the roots.  All are raising their young and I do not have the heart to disturb that.  The canebrake will have to wait for a more opportune time to be thinned.  

  Still, I found the contrast interesting...on the left, the life only spring can bring and on the right, the death left behind by an unusual ice storm.  Perhaps, I am the only one to view things in this skewed way but, in all fairness, I was not feeling the best today so maybe it is just the brain that is skewed and not the view.  Oh, and yes, I do have hardware cloth on the window (and soon the others).  There are a few of the critters that live around here that stop at nothing to raid a kitchen.  Mere window screens are no match for them!

The Wind Did It!

   For the past week or so, the lane has been breathtakingly beautiful.  The azaleas have been in full bloom and putting on quite a show!  The heavenly scent made me want to pause with each walk about the place.  These bushes are as full of memories as they are blooms.  Each one was carefully dug from under the existing azaleas from the old homeplace, from aunts' and uncles' places and from any number of neighbors. The bushes are old...from back in the day when plants were shared and not hastily bought.  Everyone shared!  Even folks you did not know were more than happy to "give you a start" if you admired their yard.  Those were the days, folks.  Those were the days when everyone was kind, giving and helpful.  

  Now, however, like the days gone...the azalea blooms are gone.  For the past two days, stiff southeast winds have plagued the poor flowers.  Most are piled in heaps beneath the bushes instead of gleefully hanging on their stems.  A carpet of pink now lines the driveway.  

  These winds are to be around for a few more days so undoubtedly more blooms, leaves and limbs will come tumbling down.  The yard will need cleaning yet again.  Folks, enjoy things while you can...nothing is permanent and will soon become a memory that will rattle around in the dark, cobwebbed corners of the brain.

That is "Plum" Silly!

   After our "winter" last month, spring came in a hurry.  Our four day cold spell led to a bunch of confused plants and critters...me included.  The weather staying below freezing for four days (and nights) straight was almost unheard of around here.  Once it warmed again, we immediately went to spring with birds nesting, frogs serenading and plants blooming.  My brain can not wrap around the fact that essentially...we are still in winter.

  While the citrus trees in full bloom is concerning, one plum tree has gone whacko.  I was out cleaning the Frog Pond when I saw something that "just shouldn't be".  There dangling from one of the branches of the plum tree was a nice sized fruit.  It is still green and has a lot of growing to do before being deemed fit to pick but there is a plum...a single plum...no buds, no blooms, no leaves...just a single plum.  It is nonsensical to even consider.  It is March!  How did the tree decide to set one plum?  What possessed it to produce just a solitary bloom in the first place?  Oh, Mother Nature!  You are messing with my brain!

Lucky, Little Blooms!

   Back in December, we had winter.  Yep!  Old Man Winter made his way this far south and dropped the temperature down well below freezing for four days.  While I do not mind cold, the garden was not too happy.  I had planted (over planted because people forgot to come get plants) cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, green peas, beets, mustard greens and collard greens.  Knowing the cold for that many days was going to wreak havoc on the plants, I spent two days piling leaves in the gardens.  I figured that covering the plants with a foot of leaves may help.  Well, it did...it did not.  Several hundred of the plants perished.  Others survived and are now doing well.  I did have to replant the entirety of the peas but they are growing extremely fast so, hopefully, peas will be on the menu soon.  

  Since the beets took a beating, I decided to plant spinach between the few survivors.  Checking the spinach seedlings caused me to find my smile for the day.  Since the nice weather has returned, the oxalis have emerged and are blooming!  I love these tiny plants so much that I allow them to grow wherever they wish...including in the beet/spinach rows.  It matters not.  

  Back years ago, Mark's grandma (Momie) showed me her lovely pot of oxalis and it was during our conversation that I learned how she adored the purple blooms.  She and I shared a good many times together and I grew to love the plants as much as she did.  Oxalis are also known as wood sorrel and bloom in some lovely colors including purples, pinks, whites and yellows.  Their leaves are what a lot of folks call "clover" when they find that "lucky" four leafed one.  Most of the time, the leaf stalk is topped with three leaves but occasionally a fourth leaf shows up!  I suppose it can be lucky if you wish since I feel lucky just seeing the pretty flowers as they tell me that spring is on its way soon.

One Day...Four Seasons

   Sometimes, Mother Nature just cannot make up her mind.  She, like so many of us, can be described as downright fickle!  Frosty one day, hot the next seems to be the norm now.  I am ok with that but, my goodness, Mother Nature, don't go smacking the seasons totally together!  That just gets far too confusing for everyone!

  Early this morning, I wandered through the gardens only to wind up behind the greenhouses.  Being as this area is sheltered from the north wind, I had left the potted lemon trees on the little back deck with good intentions of finally getting them transplanted in the ground.  Since the other citrus trees fare well during our winters, I figured there was not much use in lugging the huge pots into the greenhouse.  The trees did well and I was fully surprised to see new growth and large buds on the branches!  Whoa!  Hold on, Lemon Trees!  It is not spring yet!  The trees begged to differ, however.  As I looked, I began to notice more and more buds on all four lemon trees.  Well, if a late freeze does come, I suppose I shall be hauling the trees into the greenhouse after all just to try to save the blooms.  Mother Nature!  You sure are pushing it!  I shook my head in disbelief.

  Turning back toward the garden, a flash of red caught my eye.  Oh, my!  Just a few steps before, it was spring!  Now, it is fall!  Yep, one of the Sweetgum trees was in its glory with red leaves!  The bright red leaves brought some much needed color to the yard but that poor tree must totally be confused!  The small tree stuck out like a sore thumb among all the drab of winter.  

 Huh?  Wait!  It IS supposed to be winter!  Fall was several months ago!  Come on, Mother Nature!  Really?  Spring and fall right in the middle of winter?  My thoughts were jumbled.  I was trying to wrap my head around what was happening here as I slapped a mosquito that was buzzing around my ear.  Mosquito???  Oh, no....summer, too?  Mother Nature!  This is too much!  Stop it!  *Just as an added note...our temperatures reached nigh on 80 degrees this afternoon but are supposed to plummet into the 30s tonight.  Crazy!

Forward Thinking Azaleas!

   Just about a week ago, the temperatures overnight took a nosedive to freezing.  While that may seem like a trivial thing to folks in other parts of the nation, here it is a BIG thing.  We don't do cold.  Well, we do but it rarely comes so we are pretty much unprepared.  Throw a tropical storm at us...we are good.  Throw a hurricane at us...we prepare but we are good.  Throw freezing weather at us...we are not the best.  No one down here in the Deep South are not sure if we should bring in the plants, wrap the pipes and hunker down with the pets or wrap the pets, bring in the pipes and hunker down with the plants.  So...we usually don't do much of anything and hope for the best.  I did pull Bat, the cat, up on the bed with me for extra warmth but those other things were pretty much left to fend for themselves.  Luckily, we still have water with no busted pipes but the plants look a little worse for wear.  Meh...they will be fine in a few days...I hope.

  To go even further with this, our plants do not even know how to react.  We have had two days of sunshine and warm temperatures and, lo and behold, the azaleas have decided it was time to bloom.  Imagine my surprise as I was gathering what my granddaughter calls "firesticks" (twigs for the fireplace), to find several of the azaleas with blooms.  Granted, these were tucked beneath the thick leaves or nestled near the ground covered with leaf litter but they were blooming!  I had to smile as I thought of how Mother Nature was trying her best to brighten my day after the past few gloomy weeks.  Ahh, she knew what I needed!  

  Now that I have spied the blooms, thoughts of starting seeds for the spring gardens are whirling about in the head.  I am definitely my father's daughter as he would have been doing the same.  "We have to build the hotbed tomorrow.  It is time to start the tomatoes, peppers and eggplants." he would say only to hear Mom say "It is too early!  What about that Easter freeze?"  The conversation between Pop and Mom would continue but he would inevitably build that hotbed and sow the seeds....and inevitably, two months later, that Easter freeze would see us scrambling to cover the plants that were already set out in the fields.  Mom would just smile that all knowing smile...

  Easter freeze or not, I am thinking some seeds will be started this week.  I do have the makeshift greenhouse where I can tuck them if need be but I agree with Pop.  Some cold weather makes for hardy plants!  It is early but I am so ready.  Spring?  Nah, just some "forward thinking" azaleas! 

At Least They Do Not Bite!

   So, true to my earlier words, spring has sprung and along with it came the bugs.  While the gnats and mosquitoes never left due to the lack of cold weather, the onslaught of other critters has begun. This afternoon, a cloud of midges could be found seeking refuge from the high winds.  Every nook and cranny on the north side of ANYTHING was covered with the bugs.  If you stepped too close (which I did), a cloud of the critters would soon engulf you.  Thankfully, these are the non-biting type of midges.  They may look a lot like mosquitoes but the soft bodied critters with their fluffy antennae have no blood-sucking intentions.  In fact, in their adult stage, the critters do not eat much if anything.  The larvae, however, eat whatever they find.  Speaking of the larvae, they are called bloodworms.  This is not because they have a diet of blood but because they are red!  If you ever look in the bottom of a pond, ditch or even your birdbath, you may find the tiny bloodworms.  I have to admit, they are weird looking little things.

  This onset of critter swarms is just the beginning.  The eastern lubber grasshoppers and termite swarms are probably set to start soon. Those, I detest!  I prefer the midge flies if I have to have any but it is all part of living where I do.  The Bayou has critters of all sorts...some are just worse than others.

The Blossom Munchers

   Barring that infamous "Easter Freeze" that was Mom's warning when Pop wanted to plant the fields too early, I am assuming spring has sprung.  In the past couple of weeks everything has burst forth with lovely blooms.  The pear trees are snow white with loveliness.   This should, by every account, mean a bountiful harvest of pears.   Should but never has.  Plenty of pears are set on the trees but as soon as they get marble sized, the squirrels start gnawing their way through the entire crop.  Nothing...NOTHING...stops those rascals.  I was so in hopes that our resident hawks would take a liking to squirrel meat instead of dove meat but, so far, that has not happened.  I am about to think that squirrel stew is going to be the "new" meat for the meat-eaters in this household. 

  Not only do the critters steal the fruit, now they are munching the blossoms.  Yep, that is a thing nowadays.  Never before have I heard of anything eating pear blossoms but I watched as several of the fluffy-tailed rats bounded into the trees and started stripping the branches.  They cannot even wait until the fruit is formed!   I would fully understand if it had been a harsh winter but that is not the case.  We had one...ONE...hard freeze so there is still plenty for the critters to eat without attacking the fruit blossoms. 

  The overabundance of squirrels is due to the fact that just to the west of my brother's place, the new neighbors have stripped almost every tree from the once wooded acreage.  It sadden me to see the many huge, several-hundred-year old live oak trees felled.  Now, nothing is there.  The place is barren.  It is saddening, to say the least.  Obviously, no one has any respect for nature.  So, I inherit all the critters that have been misplaced by the "progress"...blossom munching squirrels included. 

Big, Ole Snake

   Well, it is that time of year again when the flowers bloom, the birds sing and the moccasins start to come out of hiding.  All of those things were found today.  I was sitting with my brother in the warm sunshine when he actually noticed the birds singing and flowers blooming.  This made me smile as I have been working hard at getting the Small Gardens back in order.  His gardening skills have always inspired me and I know it is a compliment when he talks of flowers and plants with me.  The birds were not of my doing but they sure were adding to the ambiance of the visit!  He and I often did not even speak as we sat enjoying the day.

  Later, Son and I went to check the small skiff before the onset of the stormy weather to come for the next few days.  Son was leading the way and walked right past a cottonmouth without even seeing it.  I stopped, called his attention to it and we both marveled at the size of the snake.  Yep, we were sure thankful we were on that pier and out of reach of that snake!  It was a big 'un!  

  Most folks would have tried to kill the cottonmouth but, in this case, that would have caused more trouble than was called for.  To get to the snake would have put both of us in danger of being bit.  More snakebites occur when people are trying to kill a snake than any other time.  Leave it be, folks.  That snake wants no part of you just as you want no part of it.  It is best to let it go on its merry way.  We did just that.  We went our way.  The snake went its.  The birds sang.  The flowers bloomed.  All was good.

Buzz, Buzz, Buzz!

  These beautiful days are just perfect for gardening!  Once the chores for the day are complete, my time is spent puttering about the Small Gardens.  Right now, the vegetable plot is garnering most of my attention. It is time to get the spring seeds in the ground or in the hotbeds.  Since the garden has been used all winter, it is relatively clean and just needs minor work before putting in the seeds.  Still, there is always maintenance to be done and new planters to be built.  While Son is building a huge upright herb tower for me, I am erecting smaller versions to start the seeds.  Plus, he and I are reworking the drainage ditch that I dubbed Pebble Creek.  Raccoons decided that the small stream was their playground and literally tore up the entire thing.  Since it is not a natural creek in the first place, a layer of concrete should deter their efforts of digging beneath it.  

  Back in the veggie plot, however, I was elated to be in the company of a dozen or so bees.  Granted these are carpenter bees and not the sweet, little honeybees but, still, it made me smile to see so many working the garden alongside of me.  The mustard greens are bolting which is fine by me since it is getting to hot to grow them.  Several have already shot up their bright yellow blooms which attract the bees.  The bees will pollinate the blooms allowing them to produce viable seeds for next fall.

  This afternoon, after putting in two rows of yellow squash seeds, I sat and watched the bees for a few moments.  They seemed happy enough with the mustard flowers as not much else is blooming yet.  Given time, the entire row will be filled with the blossoms and more bees will come. It seems early to be putting in this many seeds but I am willing to take the chance of a late freeze.  There will be one, I will panic and try to cover my plants and promise not to push spring next year.  (I will, though, we both know that!)  For now...enjoy the weather, folks!  Get outside and do something.  You will feel better!

New Home For The Mockingbird Family

   Spring must be here, at least, according to the birds and other critters.  Nest building is in full swing with the songbirds.  Both hanging baskets of ferns have nests (one with a wren and the other with a dove) and, today, I watched as the mockingbird scoped out the jasmine vine as a possible site.  She must have approved the chosen spot because it was not long before the birds started bringing in twigs.  Unlike the dove in the fern, the mockingbirds make incredibly sturdy nests and the jasmine vines will provide a good bit of protection from the elements.  Some predators such as snakes can still access her nest but mockingbirds are well known as fierce defenders of their homes.  These birds can be quite feisty!

  I suppose it is because I spend so much time in the Small Gardens that the critters who visit have no fear of me.  This pair of mockingbirds often seem to crave the attention that I give them.  Yes, I talk to my birds especially now that I have no domesticated pets.  The wild critters are substituting as my pets now and are subject to the same attention that I plied to my dogs and cats.  The female mockingbird will often come sit by me as I rest from doing chores.   It is not uncommon to find her just a few feet from me.  She cocks her head to the side as I speak and will edge nearer and nearer until she is just inches away.  We will stay that way for the entire time I rest.  Then, as I rise to go back to work, she stares at me as if I am not supposed to leave her.  If I am working in the plants, she often comes to seek out any flushed bugs.  She and the mama wren work the gardens for their meals!

  The birds are welcome to taste the veggies or fruits occasionally in return for their constant bug vigil.  A few nips out of a tomato or peach is well worth the free pest control service they provide.  It is nice to live in harmony with those around you.  To bad humans cannot do that with each other.  Life is good here on the Bayou.  Life is good.

  

Creeping In...

  Despite have a couple of cool nights, I think spring must have come slipping in without big fanfare.  Lady Spring has a way of letting us know by subtle hints before bursting forth in all her glory.  A tiny wood sorrel bloom, a bird calling for its mate or just a warm night can bring joy because these are harbingers of what is to come.  Usually, here on the Bayou, one of our first clues is hordes of gnats.  This year, however, those gnats never disappeared so their presence meant nary a thing.  Still, I do believe spring has quietly come.

  As Son and I were working out back near the canebrake, a slight breeze wafted our way and caused me to stop in my tracks!  Yep!  That is the "smell" of spring.  The citrus trees are all pushing out their blossoms and the yard is filled with the sweet scent.  The first to bloom are always the lemon trees followed by the navel oranges then come the satsumas and grapefruit.  What I was smelling today was the navel oranges and lemons!  How delightful!

  Our chores soon took us to the opposite side of the house where I smelled the marsh but found more evidence of spring.  The fig trees were all budding out with new leaves and one had a brave little fig!  There was not a leaf on the tree but a tiny little fig had decided it was time to make a debut!  Ta-da!  I am here!  Oh, little figlet (yeah, I know...not a word but should be!), you may be getting a tad chilly before you are able to mature but I admire your tenacity!

  So, perhaps I did not pull all of the potted plants out of the greenhouse prematurely.   Perhaps, I will not have to drape blankets over said plants because of threatening frost (like last night).  Perhaps...just perhaps Lady Spring is here to stay.

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!

The Question Mark

  Down behind the canebrake, there is one spot that gets direct beams from the sun in the late afternoon.  The trees block most of the ambient light but one shaft of light causes a bright splotch right between the canebrake and a large maple tree.  During my hikes around the marsh edge to the back of the creek, the canopy of trees almost gives the path a tunnel-effect.  That one brilliantly illuminated spot can be seen long before I reach the actual spot.  It was there that I found the Question Marks!

  As far back as the wild persimmon grove, I could see something fluttering in the sunbeams ahead.  It took a few minutes before I could actually identify the orange flutters but, once I did, I was amused at the antics.  There were five Question Mark Butterflies flitting about in the sunshine.  Several would try to "rest" on the dried leaves or downed twigs but they would be immediately "attacked" by the others.  This was a fine show of territorial rights and only the strongest would be allowed the comfort of the sunny, wind-free spot.  The others would have to seek another spot.  The strongest would stay, mate and lay eggs.

  Question Mark Butterfly is a strange name for an insect but it is named as such for a good reason.  While I could not get a photograph of the underside of the insect, it has a definitive sign on its hind wings.  On the underside of its hind wing, there is a pearly white "question mark" in the markings.  Other than that signature mark, the underside of the butterfly is relatively nondescript.  The outer part is beautifully colorful.  Bright orange base color, black dots and white edging on the "sculpted" wings give the tiny butterfly quite the elegant flare!  In the "winter" mode (those early butterflies), the wings show more orange but the "summer mode" ones have a good bit of black on the hind wings.

  The butterflies this evening put on quite the show.  Their territorial behavior was rather amusing as there is plenty of space for all of them.  I am assuming that these all hatched nearby and the adults wish to linger here as there is a ready supply of fruit castoffs for them in the compost pile.  The caterpillars (like most) eat leaves but the adult Question Mark Butterflies prefer to eat the juices from rotting fruit.  Odd meal but, hey, whatever makes them happy.  Just watching the butterflies made me happy so who am I to question their meal of choice?

Tangled Vines Are The Perfect Protection

  Again today, I worked in the yard.  There is so much to be done and, well, to paraphrase an old saying "If you want something done, you have to do it yourself."  (Notice that I left "right" out of the statement because I am not sure I am doing everything correctly but, at least, it is getting done.)  Today's chore was digging out the gravel drain that runs alongside of the house.  The torrential rains we get here wash huge ruts in the ground if something is not done.  We dug a trench, lined it with pond liner and filled it with gravel.  It worked great for years but, over time, it has become clogged with leaves and dirt.  The gravel all washed down into the center leaving a mound instead of a gully.  My job was to clear the debris and shovel out the gravel.  It had to be washed and put back in place.  I found out that an old lady has no business shoveling gravel all day!  Needless to say, I am sore tonight but happy that the job is completed.

  While out, I noticed a beautiful male cardinal on the grape arbor.  Since all of the other arbors have been removed, this was his only choice of a protected roosting spot.  The vines completely framed the bird.  I first noticed him when I filled the burn bin with garden trash, then, each time I went around to that side of the house, the bird was still there.  I pondered this fact...since shoveling does not take a lot of brain power.  Late in the afternoon, the bird was still on the arbor.  Hmmm...that bird is not waiting for the feeder to be filled (it already was), he was "on watch".  Could it be that his ladylove was already nesting?  It is far too early for little birds but with the weather as crazy as it is, anything is possible.  

  Just before heading back inside for the day, I eased my way to the arbor.  The bird scooted a bit further under the vines but stayed put.  Aha!  I know the telltale signs of a dutiful father and husband! Mr. Cardinal, you are the best!  Although I could not find Mrs. Cardinal, I feel she is quite near the arbor if not on it.  I did not want to appear to be too nosy so I let our beautiful friends enjoy the afternoon.  I did, however, notice the bald eagle fly over with several large sticks in his talons.  Spring is in the air...obviously!

Pink Accessories For Lady Spring!

  As rain pelts the rooftop of the Little Bayou House, one has to wonder if spring is already here.  The temperature sits right at 70 degrees and does not seem to want to make any slid downward tonight.  Perhaps later in the week, a cooler night or two may make an appearance but, for now, the weather is screaming "Spring!"  Not only are the temperatures higher than usual for February, our fruit trees have also decided that winter is over.  In fact, Old Man Winter never made it this far south and now Lady Spring is popping in for a visit.  Let's hope she brings a sweater or two just in case Old Man Winter is not through with us yet!

  This afternoon, a stroll about the gardens left me in awe that so many blossoms were on the fruit trees.  One in particular bothers me, however, as I was in hopes that the tree would have a nice crop this year.  In the east garden, a small peach tree is dotted with the dark, rich pink blossoms.  This tree produces the sweetest peaches that I have ever eaten.  Years ago, my uncle brought me a bag of peaches from Georgia and on a whim, I poked a seed in a flower pot.  (Now, I wish I had done the same with the whole dozen of seeds.)  The seed sprouted the next spring and grew quickly into a lovely tree.  After planting the sapling in the ground, it promptly made dozens of peaches that spring.  Last year, the tree was loaded but the squirrels and raccoons ate most of them so Son has promised to devise some system to keep the critters from raiding the tree if it makes this spring.  Now, I am not so sure that is going to happen.  If we get our late freeze that Mom used to call the "Easter Freeze", the tiny peaches will be ruined before they fully develop.  Mom always use to warn Pop about planting his crops too early because of this very reason.  He still planted and we wound up covering about sixty acres of small plants before nightfall.  At least, I am only worried about this one peach tree!  Yes, the rest of the fruit trees are blooming, as well, and, yes, they will freeze, too, but the pantry shelves have no peach jam.  I was in hopes that this tree would give me enough to remedy that situation!

  Even with the worries of losing the fruit, it was a pleasant surprise to see so many blooms on my walk today.  Usually, February is our grey month.  Grey skies, grey clouds, grey gardens...nothing has color but pink was the color today!  Lovely pink peach blossoms ruled the day!  The lovely Lady Spring chose to accessorize with pink blossoms!

Warning! Critter Alert!

  My yard work is in full swing!  Well, maybe I overdid it a bit today since that goofy knee is being rude again but a lot was accomplished!  Perhaps, tomorrow I shall rest.  Probably not but, at best, I will have to hobble about the place.  Today, however, things went smoothly.  The idea was to rake where I cut yesterday and to burn the leaves in the enclosed burn bin.  That never happened.  I raked.  I hauled.  Then, Son hauled...and hauled.  He did not complain since we had good reason for not using the burn bin.  It would have been cruel.

  The early morning raking uncovered a sweet baby turtle.  This was the tiniest thing ever and oh, so cute!  That cuteness overload got me to thinking.  If there was one baby turtle hiding in the leaves, how many more were there and just unseen?  Oh, no!!  A burn ban was self posted and the burn bin sat cold.  Nary a wisp of smoke arose above the Little Bayou House.  Instead, forty some odd times, the wheelbarrow was loaded and hauled to the back of the property.  If a baby turtle or any other critter was inadvertently raked and scooped, it was moved to safety.  There the little critters had a fighting chance to survive and not suffer an agonizing death by fire.

  So, head's up, folks!  While springtime gets us all antsy about making the yard look nice, please be on critter alert!  Be nice to those little tykes hiding in the leaves.  The leaves and yard debris provides a nice safe place for the babies to grow.  They blend well and can hide from predators like coons, cats, snakes, crows and even squirrels!  

  The little turtle that was uncovered was put back in the same area where I uncovered it right after the photograph was taken.  A large mound of leaves was scattered back out over the turtle to provide the coverage it sought in the first place.  I figure that I can always go back and clean that spot after the little tyke grows a bit and goes on its merry way.  Hopefully, the turtle will survive and learn that this crazy old lady meant it no harm.  Perhaps, it will decide the yard is a pretty nice place to live. 

Mother Nature and Lady Spring Were On The Job!

  The first day of spring came to the Bayou with all of its glory blazing.  It was a gorgeous day with sunshine, a slight breeze and all of the other trappings.  Birds were singing, bees were buzzing and flowers were blooming....everywhere!  Yep.  The hillside is in full bloom and the yard smells divine!  After a long few months of nothing but rain and fog, spring is welcome.

  After helping Son install a new ceiling in the hallway, I headed out to the gardens.  If spring is here, it is high time to get those seeds in the ground.  Of course, the potatoes are already 15 inches tall and the greenhouse is full of seedling tomatoes and bell peppers but I have a hankering for fresh squash and green beans.  Having little packets of seeds is not satisfying that whim at all so it was my aim to get the garden in shape.  About two hours later, a break was needed so gardening evolved into a hike.  Oh, what a glorious time, that was!!!

  Citrus trees, peach trees, plum trees were showing their best attire, wisteria draped heavy sprays of blossoms across the arbor and tiny wildflowers dotted the hillside.  It was almost as if overnight, Mother Nature decorated the Bayou! She called Lady Spring to drop in for a visit!  As I wandered about the place, I was simply dazzled by the sight.  Spring is definitely here.

Its Here!

  Even though we are experiencing a slight bit of cool weather, I think spring is in full swing here on the Bayou.  That is one thing about living in the Deep South, our seasons seem to have a mind of their own.  We endure our couple of weeks of winter chill, then hop right back into summer.  Mother Nature is fickle enough to drop a few surprises along the way but, for the most part, warm is the word. 

  With that lovely warmth comes a burst of color.  The azaleas and spirea are in full bloom!  With the wisteria and citrus blooms dousing the yard with their heavenly aromas, the color splash blends right into the mix.  Early this morning, I could not help but take a leisurely stroll about the yard instead of the rapid pace hike that usually occurs.  This stroll allowed me to soak up every bit of Lady Spring's glorious contribution to the yard.  She must have worked overtime!  Lord have mercy!  The place is splendid!  

  After dillydallying around in the gardens for a good half hour, my play time had come to an end.  It was time to get back to the grind of staining those flooring boards.  What I imagined would take a couple of days at most has turned into a two week ordeal and I am only half way finished.  Each plank takes six coats of stain and clear finish so my painting hand is getting a workout!  I think tomorrow will find me toting the planks out into the garden so at least I can enjoy the beauty while I work.  Happy (Early) Springtime from the Deep South!

Fickle Mother Nature!

  Our spurt of springlike weather has taken a turn toward winter again.  Not that it can compare to the weather of our neighbors to the north but this is a tad worrisome.  A freeze just might damage the citrus blossoms enough to make them not set the fruit.  Not to mention the peach trees, pear trees and plum trees that are in full bloom.  A late freeze is rough on the gardens.  At least, I am late in getting the tomatoes and such set in the garden boxes.  There are no worries there.  

  However, while meandering in the gardens this morning before the rain chased me inside, I came across one sleepy, little fellow who had better take heed of the warnings.  It is going to be a tad chilly for the little toad to be out and about tonight!  This morning, the little one had ventured out from its cozy bed beneath the herb boxes.  It was enjoying a bit of fresh air and the fleeting sunshine.  Within the hour, though, clouds darkened and the rains came.  

  With the coming chill, I thought about that little toad and all of my critter friends that normally hide away during the cold.  With our thermometers jumping from heat waves to cold spells, you have to wonder just how confusing it must be.  Along with the emerging toads, lots of the birds have already had a first nest of eggs hatching.  Those little ones with no feathers better hide under Mama for warmth for the next few nights and I better get on the ball and haul the plants back into the greenhouse!  Mother Nature always has a few surprises up her sleeve.