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 garden
Surprises
It's always great to notice
little unexpected wonders in the garden. Sometimes it's a
renegade tomato plant in the compost or a pencil sized garden snake
or morel mushroom under the hedge. Each surprise, we see as a
wonder of the garden and celebrate it's creation. (Well, okay!
We don't celebrate the garden snakes.) |
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Fall 2005
We never know what is going to grow in the
compost bins.
Pictured here is a single blossom from a discarded moss rose
plant.
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click picture to
enlarge |
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Fall 2005
During a visit to
Arbor Day
Farm Tree Adventure in Nebraska City, we came across an
example of a segment of hollowed tree trunk that has scrolled
inward.
This is caused by a
crack in the tree ring along the barrier zone of the bark allowing
the trunk to decay and hollow. As the two sides of the cavity grow
together, they curl inside the tree; slowly weakening it.
Read more about it
here. |
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Summer 2005
This
wild sunflower grew between the
compost bins. It became so tall
the the top kept trimmed by the power lines above as with swayed
in the wind. Finally, after a rain and wind storm the plant
toppled over. |
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Summer 2005
We are always amazed when things have the tenacity to thrive
in unexpected places -- like this little volunteer
Zucchini plant that popped up in the cracks of the patio.
Unfortunately, a strong wind snapped the stem, putting a quick end
to than. |
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Summer 2005
The old silver maple tree has played host to all sorts of
live: mushrooms, (see below), grackles, raccoons, squares.
Taking an idea form Glacier Gardens Rainforest
Adventures in Alaska, we planted a few petunias in the
crook of the tree and let the blossoms stream down.
Another Example |
Click photo to Enlarge!
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Fall 2004
The 80+ year old silver maple tree in our back yard is on it's
last limb. About 20 years ago its 4 main branches were
"topped off" in an attempt to extend it's life. However,
it's slowly rotting away and getting to the point, were someday
we will need to have it removed. As we witness the life of
our great elder tree come to a close, we love to see how new
life pops up within the arms of the old.
After a fall rain in late September,
a mushroom popped up in the crook of our maple tree. What a
great surprise!!! --NK |
Mushroom
in the Silver Maple Tree
Thursday, September 23, 2004
[Click photos to enlarge] |
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Summer 2005
After the first time the
wild sunflower was cut back by the lawn mower, it grew again with
even more vigor. So, we just let it grow and mowed around it.
Late July it reached about 18-feet tall and put on a galaxy of
blossoms. It made for a car stopping spectacle on the west side of
the fence. |
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Spring 2004
This year, while pruning the little crabapple tree by the
garage, the robins were really upset with me. As I pruned
away the branches, I realized that the robins were guarding their nest of
eggs. Each week, I return to the tree with my stepladder and
camera, (enduring a good scolding by the parent robins) to
document the new little family. -- NK
[Click photos to enlarge] |
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Robin Eggs
in crabapple tree nest
Saturday, May 1, 2004
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Robin Hatchlings
Tuesday, May 11, 2004 |
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Robin Chicks
Wednesday, May 19, 2004 |
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Two in the Nest
(the other one jumped as the
photo was being taken.)
Saturday, May 22, 2004 |
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Photos taken May 1, 2004
[Click photos to enlarge] |
June
Our Summer Cat
We're not really sure were June
comes from -- or even if she is ours!!! But we take delight each
spring when she comes to our back deck to say hello.
The June of 2002 was the first time this gray and yellow
tortoise shell cat started to visit us. She would come
around about once a day. After we named her
"June", we teased that she probable appears at our neighbors yards
as well, and they might have already named her -- maybe something
like "July" or "August".
That first summer June was obviously pregnant, but we had no idea
what happened to the kittens. Each summer day she reappears for a little
scratch on the back and a bowl of food. --- It's nice having a
friend like that. We have no expectations on each other, but we
delight in every opportunity to visit. |
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