What were you doing this morning at 7:30?

 

Jon was up on the roof looking for the spot that a flying squirrel was getting into the overhead.  He saw it this morning, and went on a search and destroy mission.  Didn't want to destroy the squirrel, just wanted to block the entry point.  So he went up there armed with steel wool, and caulk.  

 

We've heard that lots of folks have dealt with flying squirrels, but amazingly we have not, until now.  I'll let you know if his fix works.

 

You have to admire him for doing it though.  I do.

 

HAPPY HOME MAINTENANCE!!!

 

I just got this catalog, and thought it kinda late in the season to be buying seeds.  I wondered WHY they sent me a catalog in May.

 

Well, the inside of the front cover answered my question.  May is when you start sowing seeds for your fall and winter garden.  Seeds need about 6 weeks to get big enough to put into the garden, then another 100-200 days or so to produce their produce.  So if you don't start early enough, it gets too cold, and lots of plants freeze.  

 

I am ready to start seeds for my fall and winter garden.  I love the cool season crops:  Beets, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kale, Leeks, Spinach, and Swiss Chard.  

 

So exciting!!!  I can stretch this out past November 15 (our frost date.)

 

HAPPY MAY INDEED!!!

 

 

 

Look who's blooming on our front railing.  Clematis that we planted the first year we lived here.  

 

Clematis like their feet in the shade and their heads in the sun.  So we planted it under the deck, and guide it up the post to the railing.  See the red string?  The leaves twirl around the string and the whole thing climbs up.  It's up to about 7 feet now.

 

We love it.  Unfortunately, the deer do too, and last year we didn't get much.  So we set up wire barriers, so they can't reach it.  

 

And this year she is gorgeous!!!

 

HAPPY MAY!!!

 

Look who we saw in the park this week.  It's JACK!!!  Jack-in-the-Pulpit.  

 

We know where the colony is, so we always look for them.

 

HAPPY MAY!!!

 

When I went out to cut some sage for our turkey dinner, this is what I saw.  Remember I told you that there was a praying mantis egg case in the sage?  Well, apparently it hatched out today, because there are lots of baby praying mantids.

 

LOVE IT!!!  Thought you would too. 

 

HAPPY MAY!!!

 

My beautiful arugula is going to seed.  I guess it's the first sowing of seeds.  I've got two crops going at once.  

 

It is so thick I can hardly pick it without pulling out whole plants.  

 

We couldn't eat this much arugula in a year!! Love it!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Look how beautiful the Sage is right now.  This bloom period lasts almost a month.  

 

You know that the leaves are edible, and used a lot in cooking.  Well, the flowers are edible too, and are delicious sprinkled on top of all kinds of salads.  We put some on potato salad, and they were beautiful and tasty.

 

Ya gotta love Sage.  We do!!!

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

This birdhouse is at least 8 feet off the ground, but Gizmo heard some activity in there.  So he climbed the tree, looked inside, then came down.  Momma bird was squawking at him the entire time.  What a racket.  

 

What a character!!!

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

The Mountain Laurel is starting to bloom.  This one is on the Creekside Trail, but they are all over the place.  

 

Next time you drive to Blairsville, take Mocassin Church Road, and you will see hundreds of them in glorious bloom.

 

HAPPY MAY!!!

 

Look up!!!  The Black Locust trees are blooming.  You can smell them before you see them.  Of course I can spot them at 50 yards going 45 miles an hour.  It's just my thing.  ;)

 

There are lots of them in the neighborhood.  Most people see them as weed trees, but I love them, especially this month.

 

HAPPY MAY!!!