In the dirt...

In the last 24 hours I planted a bunch of shrubs and trees.

In the front yard, an elderberry and a bush cherry.

In the side yard, 5 more bush cherries, and 3 hazelnuts.

In the back yard, 6 black raspberries.

Plus 2 more elderberry, an edible crabapple, a northern pecan, and 2 pawpaw. If I’m still around in maybe 20 years I’ll make you a pecan pie.

And I almost forgot, 11 wild strawberry plants.

Everything got a little dose of mycorrhizal pixie dust, because I was advised to fungi things. (Everyone should read this book.)

This was a fun day, partly because of the soil and the trees, and partly because I didn’t obsess about news.

Now on to planning the bird and caterpillar friendly flower beds.

Oh, and wish us happy 9th.

The Optimist...

The Optimist...

Now that spring is here, I've been thinking about lawns. Last year I hired Zach, and while he did a fine job, I wanted to buy a lawn mower this summer. After talking it over with a couple of friends who have one, I decided my postage-stamp sized lawn would be well served with a hand-powered reel mower. In my research on the web I found that there is still one company in the US that makes them, and that they are still made downstate in Shelbyville. Moreover, my local hardware store is a dealer. This was just too good to be true: Help local businesses, reduce oil consumption and green house gas emissions, and get exercise all in one fell swoop. So last week when the sun was out, I placed my order.

Last evening I got a call from the hardware store that my new mower was in, so this morning I drove down to John Hall's in a snow storm and picked it up. I figure that is the ultimate in optimism - to buy a new lawn mower in a snow storm.

Well I have to tell you that it paid off. By noon the sun was out and it has been a gorgeous afternoon with blue skies and slowly warming temperatures.

There was too much snow on the ground yet, and it still seemed to cold to work outside, so I drove over to Mishawaka to replenish my wine glass set. I couldn't find an identical match, but the ones I got are pretty close. Since then, its been a quiet afternoon. I made some muffins and supper is in the oven. I'm looking forward to a quiet evening at home - maybe trying out the new glasses.

Oh... More news on the woodpecker front! An alert reader from the neighborhood retirement community sent me this note:

You were talking about woodpeckers the other day. I have had a red breasted woodpecker visit the feeder off and on this winter and he has been here the last three mornings feeding in the tree and at the feeder. Also have a red breasted nuthatch, a white breasted nuthatch and a chickadee who are regular visitors as well as a half dozen cardinals and dozens of finches and sparrows.

This inspired me to buy an 8' tall shepherd's crook when I was at the hardware store this morning. When the ground thaws out enough I'll get some feeders of my own out there.