A selcouth

Today is sunny, breezy, and cool.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.  A flock of blackbirds is flying around and singing.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 3/29/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 3/29/26 -- I trimmed brush around the Japanese maple tree.

EDIT 3/29/26 -- I trimmed brush between the parking lot and wild cherry grove, trying to reestablish a mow path there.

EDIT 3/29/26 -- I trimmed more brush along the mow path.

EDIT 3/29/26 -- I trimmed more brush along the mow path.

I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, plus a fox squirrel.

EDIT 3/29/26 -- I filled a trolley with sticks and dumped it in the firepit.

I saw a pair of red admiral butterflies courting.  It's way early for them to appear.

I am done for the night.
 

Today is cloudy, cold, and damp. It stormed last night, so we finally got a good soaking rain.

I fed the birds. I've seen a male cardinal.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 3/27/26 -- I cleared dead stems from the telephone pole garden.

EDIT 3/27/26 -- I cleared dead stems from the septic garden.

I've seen a flock of sparrows.

EDIT 3/27/26 -- I cut four poles to make a tomato cage. This is the general concept.

I've seen a flock of house finches.

EDIT 3/27/26 -- I placed the poles around a large pot by the new picnic table garden, then started lashing them together. It needs more work and support, but at least it's started.

EDIT 3/27/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 3/27/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 3/27/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

I am done for the night.

Today we visited the Charleston Food Forest. These pictures show the left side. (See the right side and the Coles County Community Garden.)

( Walk with me ... )

Today is cloudy and mild.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

I saw the first butterfly today, a tiny periwinkle one that might be an eastern tailed blue. It was visiting the grape hyacinths blooming by the log garden.

EDIT 3/25/26 -- We visited the Charleston Food Forest and Coles County Community Garden.

On the way into town, we saw a herd of deer and a tortoiseshell fox. Very clearly a fox, with a white tail-tip, but with streaks and patches of black and cinnamon; not the usual rust-red of a red fox nor the salt-and-pepper of a gray fox. Fascinating. Excellent camouflage.

EDIT 3/25/26 -- I planted two clumps of crosne knotroots, one by the maple tree and one in a pot on the new picnic garden.

EDIT 3/25/26 -- I planted five clumps of Egyptian walking onions including below the barrel garden, mulberry tree in the house yard, and several saplings in the savanna.

EDIT 3/25/26 -- I planted groundnuts in a trough pot and a large pot by the new picnic table garden, and under the apricot tree.

EDIT 3/25/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

It's been drizzling on and off today.

I am done for the night.

Today is partly sunny and cool.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 3/24/26 -- I took some pictures around the yard. Spring flowers have been hammered by hard freezes, but some are still blooming.

I've seen some mourning doves.

EDIT 3/24/26 -- I transplanted wild chives from the east edge to the septic garden, and from the south lot to the east end of the savanna. There are still some more clumps I want to move.

Honeybees are out in force and currently focused on the little trough water garden.

I've seen a large mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.

EDIT 3/24/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 3/24/26 -- I transplanted wild chives to the forest garden and contorta willow bed. I think some Egyptian walking onions may have survived by the contorta willow in addition to the septic garden.

EDIT 3/24/26 -- I transplanted wild chives to the maple tree and the wildflower garden.

I dragged two large limbs to the wildflower garden, since part of its log border is rotting down.

I found a fallen white pine twig and broke off several pieces to see if I can root them.

EDIT 3/24/26 -- I sowed Partial Shade Wildflower Mix in the forest garden and the tulip bed.

EDIT 3/24/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 3/24/26 -- I sowed 'Choko Baby' pak choi in a trough of the new picnic table garden, and Partial Shade Wildflower Mix in the daffodil bed.

I've seen a male cardinal.

I am done for the night.

Today is sunny and hot.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a small mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 3/21/26 -- I put topsoil in the four large pots that sit on the ground along the north side of the picnic table.  

I also put the indoor flats of tree sprouts and squash sprouts outside to get some sun and air.

It is so hot outside as to limit my activity.  In mid-March.  This annoys me.