As Our Life Goes On

Each year there are geraniums growing in the flower garden and under the adjacent hemlock tree. When they finish blooming they throw out seeds that come up in different places the next year. They are really quite pretty with intense colors and frilly leaves. Plants that take little or no care are welcome here. 

So what do you want to do with the old faucet that has been leaning against a tree behind the shed? That was the question asked by Russ a few days ago. It took more work than one would think to get the rusty relic secured in the garden. We had purchased the cast iron and copper faucet at a flea market many years ago. It is a type that would have been used as an outdoor installation in parks and cemeteries.  He found a length of stainless  pipe to pound into the ground along with  a metal cap device with which to cover the pipe while it was being pounded into the soft soil with a heavy sledge hammer. The top picture shows careful leveling being done. The faucet base was then slipped into the  pipe  and pushed slightly into the ground.  Note the use of ear protection to help save  hearing. We then placed the birdbath below the non-working faucet so it could be cleaned and filled. There must be some other things laying around the yard that can be resurrected. 

Eastern gray tree frogs have geographical markings. Each one is probably quite unique. This frog was resting on the back steps of the breezeway. The frogs make loud trilling chirping sounds throughout the neighborhood. Shyness does not seem to be a problem for them. This one sat and posed for pictures. At about 2 inches long this frog would be considered a large frog. April and May are the prime breeding seasons for the frogs and they lay up to 2000 eggs at a time. The wetlands behind our house are a great place for them to live. 

The extra harsh cold Winter caused some plants in our garden and yard to die. A large old rue plant and a couple of perennials that were were planted late in the Fall were victims of the weather. I am more sad about the loss of a 12 foot high Concolor fir tree in the front yard. The heat and dry weather last Fall did not allow these flowers in the garden to thrive. I really thought that the plant shown above died soon after it was planted. It was purchased at a flea market as a flower plant that was freshly dug from the flea market seller's garden. The leaves are reddish-green and the flowers are the five little flowers that extend in a spray from the top. There are tiny little yellow centers in each of those 5 flowers. This is a very showy plant for the garden because of the leaf color. The flowers almost look like leaves.  

Cleanup under our pine trees has continued. Branches and leaves are easy to rake up. Skulls and animal remains call for a shovel.  This skull with an attached fragment of leathery dried out hide reminds me of the fact that wild animals can die from exposure to very cold temperatures. The constant snow cover that can reduce their chances of finding food adds to the difficulty of living in the wild. Certainly other animals were able to live because of the death of this one. 

This little old shed does not have a  permanent foundation. In fact all of the smaller sheds on our property are on skids and temporary foundations so that they can be easily relocated. This old building has developed a forward tilt over the last number of years. It is supported only by old stones, flat cement pieces and bricks. The tilt has became very obvious over the last two years. The excellent weather on Mother's Day seemed to be a good day for resetting the supports. Car jacks held the building in the air while Russ used different foundations materials, tools and a level to get the shed into alignment. 

This is a good time of year to walk the perimeter of the yard. There are a several shrubs in the woods behind the house that send the sweetest odors into the air. After these pretty pink blooms go away the Russian Olive plants will send their fragrance into the same area. I wonder if this can be detected on the bike trail below this spot. 

The long cold Winter has not affected the May apple plants. A few droplets of water from the early morning rain still clings to these leaves. There seems to be a very large number of the umbrella like plants growing on the back of the property up over the bike trail, Some of the plants that I transplanted to other areas are also doing well.  The robins are very busy building nests. The wet weather has made it easy for them to find worms. A tiny wren has cleaned out the birdhouse just outside of the kitchen window. His own touches have been made to the interior. He sings his trilling song all day trying to attract a mate. A pair of Canada geese stroll about the yard with their necks held high.  The sound of geese honking in the wetlands just behind our property proclaims it is Spring. Spring peepers and other frogs add to the chorus. I love the sounds of the season. 

Last Fall I planted a bag of assorted daffodil bulbs. It is difficult to say what may grow from these inexpensive bags of bulbs which are sold at discounted prices. I think this daffodil is very pretty though. Some surprises are good ones.