December 1- Santa Claus 1982

 

 

Well it is the first of December and the Winter Holiday Season has begun. I am posting a drawing of one of my earliest cards from 1982, Santa has changed over the years as have my card designs. I am going to try to present you with a wintertime memory or a flashback to my earlier cards until I have completed the 2021 card.

 

1982 Card - black and white

 

This card shows a Santa that is a bit more plump and dwarfish than later cards. It does contain the star which seems to be an ongoing symbol in my card designs.   

Pond Life

We love our little garden pond. It has offered us a calm place to sit and watch the wildlife. Birds bathe in the shallows of the waterfall. Frogs seem to find it an ideal place to sit, croak and gather their dinner. Chipmunks and  squirrels drink from it. A snake takes to it occasionally, we aren't sure what it does but slither along. (maybe frog hunting)

We have a small cafe table and two chairs so we can just mediate and with the current heat we feel a bit cooler in the shade of the trees and the coolness of the water. I have also introduced some goldfish into the pond this summer. I was just cruising Meijer and thought I would look at the fish. This is something I did often with my young family members. As I was checking them out I saw that feeder fish were sold for 25 cents a piece. I didn't realize that people bought these to feed to their carnivorous larger fish. Well I decided to purchase four of these little fish. Thinking this was a cheap way to experiment as my previous luck with goldfish has not been stellar. thus saving them from being a delectable dinner treat.

Well these little fins have adapted well. They are growing nicely from their 1 inch beginning to their current 4-5 inch status. Still growing daily. I have been learning a lot aboout keeping pond fish. Feeding habits, water condition needs and wintering them over come fall. 

It will be an experiment this wintering project. My frogs seem do well so I believe I may be fortunate with these four finned friends. I know you can't have fish fetch, play with a ball, or hold them to pet; but, watching them is such a calm and peaceful activity.

I have created this video for your viewing of the four golden finned buddies!

Summer Highlights from Early August

 Well, after the dry cold spring and the attack of the Gypsy Moth caterpillars, we are slowly returning to normal. The birds that were plentiful before the caterpillars arrival, then gone during the devouring of the leaves, have returned

The trees have tried to survive by sending forth a second round of leaves, smaller but well appreciated by us and the birds.

The frogs have enjoyed the pond and we have added four goldfish to it. We love watching them throughout the day. However, their excitement and frenzy at the six pm feeding time is most entertaining.

Pat has had to bring her hummingbird feeder in each evening, much i am sure to the chagrin of the greedy raccoon that would drink it empty and cart it off otherwise.

We had the deck repainted and the addition of new stairs down to the walkway and yard installed. We have the fire pit ready to go for evening fires. Our two oldest granddaughters will be heading off to college in a few days: we are planning an outdoor cookout before they leave. 

I am including a few photos of our garden plants, those uneaten by the deer, and a video of the pond. 

Still plenty of days left to enjoy the outdoors before cold weather arrives.

Our deck redone

Tortoise and Hare potted garden by bthe pond

Our begonia theat we wintered over in the garage

Frogs lazily waiting for the passing bug or two

Water Lily

Visitors are Returning

The caterpillars have gone and now we are invaded with the hatching moths. Though the moths are a nuisance and prevent truly enjoying the outdoors; they have not stopped us from doing so.

The best part of the cessation of the caterpillars is that the wildlife we have not seen is returning.

The bird feeder which hasn't been filled in three weeks is now in need of filling.on a regular basis again. The suet feeders have seen the return of the woodpeckers and nuthatches, We have spotted cardinals, orioles, gold finches, rose finches and even an indigo bunting at the feeder,

The gray squirrels and chipmunks are out and about. I am including a video of the doe and her two fawns. They are but a part of the deer that use our woods a place to be. They also do enjoy nibbling my garden plants, a habit I am slowly learning to accept. I just feel sorry for the poor hosta plants as every time they leaf back, they get munched upon once again. Such is gardening with wildlife. please watch in full screen mode to see both fawns.

                                          Watch in full screen mode to see both fawns

Pandemic is Easy Compared to Catepillar Plague

The months of being sheltered in place to stave off the pandemic, staying active when activity was difficult, shopping on line, ordering food delivery, buying groceries on off peak hours, Skyping, Zooming, Face timing, watching countless streaming programs; all seemed so much easier than dealing with recent plague of catepillars.

These critters seemed to appear like a bad horror movie. Defoliating our trees, dropping their frass ( a polite word for catepillar shit) everywhere, and scaring away the wildlife we love to watch and record. Finally after all the destruction the catepillars are slowly disappearing. We manged today to finally return to the joy of sitting outside and soaking in the wonders of nature. 

We started the morning with the arrival of deer. One young buck, a doe and her two fawns running and prancing in our back forest. Since the sun is now pouring in to these otherwise dark woods we could see the young fawns chasing and playing with out a care. A scene from Bambi enters your mind.

The birds were the next to appear coming to the feeder. Species we haven't seen since the worm plague started to arrive. Slowly our old friends were returning to the feeder. Even saw a bluebird again. The sounds of bird songs filled our ears. 

Our greatest pleasure was the return of Mr. P, our resident Pileated Woodpecker. we rejoiced in his return having believed we might never see him again. Once he appeared the other woodpeckers made their return also. Seemed like a second spring in July. 

Feels like we not only have survived the pandemic but also the plague. We now await to see which trees will survive and which will not return.

Oh and there were 18 frogs in the pond. Wonders never cease!

 

These are the trees in front yard. No, not fall but defoliated by catepillars.

Side yard trees. The maples seem to be okay but as you can see they are covered with catepillars.

Close encounter of the CATEPILLAR kind.  Maple trunk. Disgusting!

Oak trees stripped of their spring leave. Reading about this event says that they might recover.

Better photo of the oak tree, I do hope it regains it's leaves.

 

White pine bottom branches have been defoliated the top still looks secure.

 

Conifers may not recover.

We now have more sunlight but at what cost we don't yet know.

As you can see this has been a very trying event. The leaf litter and catepillar frass covering the ground was another problem. The cement walk and gravel drive are stained in brown. I have been power washing the cement surfaces on a daily basis and gradually they may return to semi normal color.

On the brighter side the deck is almost completed. Some garden flowers are blooming. The deer got a good healthy portion of our flowering plants but there are a few survivors. 

One of the two lonely lilies left from a large patch . Evidently the buds are tasty morsels to deer.

A blossom from our blue hydrangea. We have it fenced in behind a net to save it from the deer.

Finally after three years our oak leaf hydrangea has one of it's first three blossoms blooming.

 

A real ladybug a gardeners favorite little bug.

The deck progresses

More Early June Garden

I am back with more photos from my early June garden. Hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy just working in, viewing and soaking up the nature that abounds here.

I planted many foxgloves through out the garden and the forest edges. My goal is for them to self seed and spread. I have some from last year that have seeded themselves and I will be attempting to relocate some of them. This is tricky because of their tap root. Often these types of rooted plants don't like to be moved. Will see what happens in late summer/ early fall.

I caged my trillium to prevent the deer from eating it. I had a group of about five that they managed to feast on. I doubt I will see them again. But one can always wish and hope.

Trillium

Japanese Forest Grass and late blooming daffodils

Columbine- the main stem was eaten earlier by the deer. The result was a shorter plant with more flowers.

Deep blue Iris

Dianthus

Allium and Fern Leaf Bleeding Heart

Brunnera "Silver Heart"

Foxglove (digitalis) with the Iris

Another view of the foxgloves

Our begonia Benitochiba we wintered over inside. The other pots are impatiens and

The foxgloves were planted last fall. Being a biennial we hope that they seed themselves for next year.

Planted over 30 of these lovelies throughout the garden and edges. Hoping they will self seed.

and spread

Iris up close and personal.

Love these Japanese Painted ferns

Foxgloves

Wiegelia

Astrolabe and Allium

Growing in the Shade and Under the Trees

 I was used to gardening with lots of sun and a few partially shaded areas. Then we moved to the woods od West Michigan. Surrounded by oaks, maples, various pines and small under story trees. Getting sunlight in many places only from ten in the morning tp three in the afternoon meant I had to adapt to new gardening techniques and plants. 

Thankfully the gardener before me had the foresight to plant many plants that would like the shady moist woodland. Using her plant choices and researching new plants has resulted in a more colorful garden palette. 

Also, I have learned to select plants that are claimed to be deer resistant, which means that they won't eat them  not true if they are really hungry). I have learned to use cayenne pepper, garlic oil, castor oil and many other products that result in smells or tastes critters don't enjoy. No guarantee here either, but worth the effort.

Here are few photos of late May and early June blooms and plants of interest. Hope yo enjoy a short walk through the garden.

Starting at the front entrance walk, a section of the garden that gets some sun, we can see the wonderful colors of rhododendron.

Front entrance and walkway.

 

 

Rhododendrons were exceptional this year.

 

 

 

The red rhododendron is so vibrant.

The multi flowered blossoms are so delightful.

The Acer and rhododendron surround the water splash pond,

 

As we move around the garden we come upon some unusual plants natural to our woods. Though not necessarily beautiful they are intriguing

 

 

Not sure what this is but it appears in various parts of the woods and garden areas.

 

 

 

This strange little item is Squawroot it is a plant with no chlorophyll