The Season of Mud and Molt

 

Letting Suzy, Sandy and Mikaela free roam in the house is a big chore. Actually, the free roaming is fine. It is the getting ready to let them free roam that is the work. They all attack cats. Suzy and Sandy to play with them but they are so big, the can hurt a cat really easy. Mikaela attacks to kill. Anything furry and small is for hunting. This is the season, though, that they are free roaming a lot. They need regular brushing, cleaning and nail trimming. Normally, the molt hair is impossible to keep up with no matter how hard we try. About a week into the thaw, we usually throw our hands up and get ready for a few weeks of mud and molt. This year, our winter season has been extremely mild. There is not much molt for us to deal with. None of the dogs developed their full winter coat. Not even Summer. The mud, on the other hand, has arrived with its' usual reliability. Our yard is the only one with snow left and there is not much of it. It is a bit unique in our yard because we have so many trees. It means the snow lasts a few extra days here. With most of it melted, the girls lower pen is a swamp. Time to close that pen until the spring run off is finished and the ground is able to dry. As much work as the next few weeks will be in terms of the dogs, it does mean that the garden will be blooming soon. That is always a plus.

Last Days of Winter

We had a blizzard here the day before yesterday. Well, at least they did up the hill. It was bad over where Miles works and he thought he might not get home if the roads were drifted but it turned out to be OK. Down in the valley, we had enough snow for Jake to leave his paw prints all over the BBQ as he went in and out the bathroom window and there was some wind. It was still really nice out though and I was out sweeping the decks in just a bunny hug. It certainly wasn't a blizzard inside the yard. It was a beautiful late winter day. We have been really lucky with winter this year. We have not had a chance to miss our ATV and shovel blade and I hope a chance doesn't come along now. I am thinking we are done with winter and spring is just around the next corner. I could be wrong but I really don't think so. I'll post photos if Jack Frost stops by.

Shade Bridge Garden

This was my shade bridge garden. Aptly named because it was shady with a bridge separating it from the front lawn. The largest tree that provided the shade had three main trunks and last year, one broke off at ground level so we had to cut it up. The rest of the tree seemed stable but we did wonder if it was going to get weak from the loss. Then earlier this year, half of the tree beside it came down in a thunder storm. Last week, the rest of the largest tree came down and yesterday, the rest of the second tree came down as well. So, shade bridge garden no more and we will have to see what the sun brings here. I am thinking there are at least one or two plants that will have to move but spring will tell. Gordon brought a chain-saw home for the weekend and tomorrow we will be cutting, stacking and burning to create our new sun bridge garden.

Hot Afternoons

Hot afternoons are hard on plants and all things furry. The dogs are living in front of the fans!

Quick Note....

The Phlox is 'David' and is blooming now. The lily from Linda are all planted and mapped. Orange are in the nursery. Prairie Coneflower seeds are harvested and half are delivered, just have to mail to Linda. Watered today because I stopped believing the forecast since this is the fourth day of forecasted thundershowers and not a drop of rain. Decided the sprinkler would be more reliable in the heat we have been having in the afternoons. Everything is wilting out there and the river is overflowing so we can probably swing a little guilt free irrigation.

Field Fish

This is our back field right now. The bushline on the left follows the river and is just on the other side of the river from where I am standing to take this photograph. The tank on stilts in the back centre is on the same side of the river as I am standing so the river winds back from the bushline. Typically, you cannot see the river from where I am standing because the bank is deep along here and you would have to be at the edge, looking down, to see the water. Recently, I mentioned that the flood waters have brought water wildlife into the yard. I never expected that it would fill our back field with fish!

They gather in groups of more than 4 and then create quite a spectacle with their splashes. They are beautiful and not shy about getting up close and personal either.

We spent the afternoon wading in the water and taking photographs and video. It is incredible and I have never seen anything like it. They are very distracting because even when you decide to stop watching them, everywhere you go in the yard you hear their splashes calling you to come watch some more. Seems were are destined for all kinds of new memories before we leave.

Weird Weather Year

Well, now that the gardening season is over, I can officially say... what a weird weather year! In fact, we have mushrooms, large mushrooms, in our front lawn. I can never remember a time when we had mushrooms in our lawn in Saskatchewan. Same with so many slugs in the garden. Normally, we are far too dry to grow mushrooms anywhere but under trees and slugs, if a problem at all, are usually a small problem. Not this year. Slugs and mushrooms but no need to worry about watering. I think I'd rather go back to watering more often next year and have no mushrooms with few slugs. If I am given a choice, that is my vote.