For the third time in a week, I found this distinctively colored scat left prominently in the new year...the first time on a small cement slab, and the second and third times on the asphalt where we just took down the last of the old carport.
After looking in Animal Tracks of Northern California, I think I have identified this scat as possum poop. I think he has been feasting along with an assortment of birds on the last of the bumper crop of apples.
I am not at all sure why the poop is left in such exposed places. The dogs really avoid it, and I collected it when I am doing Poop Patrol.
The gardens are all pretty dormant, and most of my work right now consists of small pruning jobs, poop patrol, and keeping the bird feeders filled so the finches, towhees, scrub jays, acorn woodpeckers and flickers will continue to amuse and amaze me.
It is great to be able to look out the kitchen window and only see the yard and wildlife. Yesterday from a distance, the deer looked back until Koko spotted them.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Brrrr, almost winter
Brrrr, very cold today and the rain storm that was supposed to come seems to have passed us by, though there are thick clouds in all directions, nothing more than a few spits of rain today.
It was quite a shock to come back from a short trip to Panama and find the devastation that accompanies a very hard freeze. Apparently we had three days where the temps were never out of the 30s day time and into the mid teens at night.
My friend and animal tender tried to cover plants and animals, but even if I would have been home, I don't think I could have prevented the damage to some of the plants. My striped bamboo which I knew was problematic took a really hard hit, as did my kumquat. I even had put Cloud Cover on the Kumquat, so it is surviving, but sure not thriving.
Interestingly, a small planter of succulents in the greenhouse totally bit the dust, but everything else in there is fine. Oh the perils of gardening. All the leaves are down now, and my lettuces and chard survived, so maybe if we get a warmer spell and some sun, things won't look quite so bleak.
It was quite a shock to come back from a short trip to Panama and find the devastation that accompanies a very hard freeze. Apparently we had three days where the temps were never out of the 30s day time and into the mid teens at night.
My friend and animal tender tried to cover plants and animals, but even if I would have been home, I don't think I could have prevented the damage to some of the plants. My striped bamboo which I knew was problematic took a really hard hit, as did my kumquat. I even had put Cloud Cover on the Kumquat, so it is surviving, but sure not thriving.
Interestingly, a small planter of succulents in the greenhouse totally bit the dust, but everything else in there is fine. Oh the perils of gardening. All the leaves are down now, and my lettuces and chard survived, so maybe if we get a warmer spell and some sun, things won't look quite so bleak.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Fig Harvest continues
When Quiz approached, Koko kept pulling on the fig, and began to growl most menacingly! Weirdo!
Koko Harvesting Figs
Koko is the strangest dog. She has learned to recognize hanging fruit. She started with grapes within reach and was very agile in standing on her hind legs and nipping down the ripening grapes. She progressed to breaking off branches and taking the grapes away to eat at her leisure.
When I was pulling out the tomatoes, she turned her attention to those small globes...mostly she spat them out.
I didn't even think of the figs as I had offered her leftovers after I had my yard snack, almost daily this summer. When the dwarf Black Jack fig was hit by frost, a huge number of low hanging fruit was revealed. And that is when Koko moved into action. First she would sniff for the ripest fruit, then put the fruit in her mouth and pull it from the tree. I never actually saw her eat one, but she defended her find from all comers, especially Quiz who was curious about the ruckus.
When I was pulling out the tomatoes, she turned her attention to those small globes...mostly she spat them out.
I didn't even think of the figs as I had offered her leftovers after I had my yard snack, almost daily this summer. When the dwarf Black Jack fig was hit by frost, a huge number of low hanging fruit was revealed. And that is when Koko moved into action. First she would sniff for the ripest fruit, then put the fruit in her mouth and pull it from the tree. I never actually saw her eat one, but she defended her find from all comers, especially Quiz who was curious about the ruckus.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Frozen Bird Bath
This morning we had thick frost on my neighbors roof and the very top of my studio roof, but I didn't think there was any frost lower down...until I walked the yards and found that the metal bird baths had frozen! I was certainly surprised to find that and no damage to my more tender plants. I expected to see a black tomato bush and had even harvested the last of the green tomatoes yesterday, but the bush/vine is still fine today. But we are so close to that first killer frost.
I am going to spray my kumquat with Cloud Cover this afternoon...I think it is in a pretty protected space, but it is my only citrus that is outside so I want to make doubly sure it is safe.
I am going to spray my kumquat with Cloud Cover this afternoon...I think it is in a pretty protected space, but it is my only citrus that is outside so I want to make doubly sure it is safe.
Crepe Myrtle in Autumn
In Lake County we don't often get such vivid fall colors but this year with the delay in the first major freeze, we are getting more showy colors on trees other than the Black Oaks. The Blue oaks are turning more golden this year before the leaves fall, the valley oaks are beautiful as well, but nothing can compare to this crepe myrtle in the new yard. I am so glad it is in the giant bush form. The only competition it has is the wild grapevine near by which is also quite beautiful.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Dinner Plate Dahlia
The first killing frost is just around the corner and in the meantime, the giant dahlias are just gorgeous. They are full of ants but I still am cutting them and bringing them in or putting them out on the deck. They are just wonderful to see at this time of year.
While I was in the garden a short while ago, on a very very windy afternoon, I saw down in a protected space and watched the bushtits and hummingbirds visit the Pineapple sage, the Hollyhocks and the Joseph's Coat rose...beautiful in spite of the icy wind.
I was going to plant my lettuces and swiss chard this afternoon when the winds die down, but just noticed that one of my oldest cats has an abcess in her mouth. Instead of working in the yard, I will be taking Samson to the Vet and probably having her put to sleep. She doesn't weigh more than a feather and I don't think she would withstand any invasive procedures. She is about 16 years old if not older.
While I was in the garden a short while ago, on a very very windy afternoon, I saw down in a protected space and watched the bushtits and hummingbirds visit the Pineapple sage, the Hollyhocks and the Joseph's Coat rose...beautiful in spite of the icy wind.
I was going to plant my lettuces and swiss chard this afternoon when the winds die down, but just noticed that one of my oldest cats has an abcess in her mouth. Instead of working in the yard, I will be taking Samson to the Vet and probably having her put to sleep. She doesn't weigh more than a feather and I don't think she would withstand any invasive procedures. She is about 16 years old if not older.
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