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

Springtime Nature Arrives in Colors

 

Spring has finally arrived. We still are in need of rain but a few small dribbles have greened things up quite a bit. The warming temperatures have brought a return of our feathered friends. I am including video and photos of those we have caught at the feeder or in the woods.

Some of these are real characters. The male turkey in his mating full feathered display was hilarious to watch as he strutted in front of two females . They must not have been impressed because they continued eating the seed on the ground by the feeder. As he attempted to catch their eyes they just simply walked away, evidently not he was not impressive enough!

The swam photos are of mute swans. I had never heard them before. A loud crack of their wings as they take flight and then just a gentle swoosh, swoosh as they fly over. Most impressive.

The indigo bunting stops each year, as do the tanagers. Always a bright spot in the day. The tanagers are nesting in the woods behind us and he seems to love to play in our pond's waterfall. He hovers in catching bugs, drinks and plays.

Orioles and rose breasted grosbeaks are also around but a bit harder to catch. Hummingbirds zip in, out, and about to the feeders. We are feeding them all but must move our feeders in at night to protect them from the sugar thief. As yet to be caught!

Very Little Rain, but a Bautiful Rainbow

Took a short ride to Lake Michigan yesterday. Driving to the channel and stopping at the beach. There was a very light rain, not enough to wet a whistle, but rain still. It has been really dry here. Last year we had water everywhere. This year it has been a cold slow spring. The advantage is that the flowers that do appear last a lot longer than usual. But, yesterday, as were leaving the beach we noticed a very beautiful surprise.

To the south was a fantastic rainbow, large and colorful. To get a better view of it we drove to Snug Harbor Park (a boat ramp, fishing and picnic area with access to Muskegon Lake and the dunes) to find the view was perfect and the colors were fantastic. This area is great place to catch a view of swans and cranes, as the marshy area by the Devil's Kitchen offers them safety and security. (temperature changes create a smoky fog here many times throughout the year thus the name)

Rainbow over Snug Harbor

If you look closely ther is a faint double rainbow to the right of the bright one

Swans at the end of the rainbow.  I count about 30-40 here lately.

Wonder if he caught a Rainbow Trout?

Spring Comes Slowly to the Woods

 It seems like the calendar brings us spring on March 2. This is to let us  know it's spring, to get our hopes up thinking of warmer days, the burst of greens and the bright colors of those early flowers. 

The micro climate in North Muskegon in the shadows of the wooded dunes off Lake Michigan make it a slow arrival here. We experience snow, sleet, and hail. Waking to ice on the bird bath and sunny blue skies is a common event.

Slowly it does arrive with the early flowers and the slow leafing of the trees. Here are a few photos from the gardens.

Daffodils in bloom on the berm.

Forsythia blooms it's sunshine in the north yard.

Star of Holland like the clear crisp blue sky.

Helebore a springtime favorite.

another view of the Helebores.