I wasn't watching the news at all. After the official end of USAID and then the Big Beautiful Bill... I just needed a break.

But over the weekend, Partner mentions something about floods in Texas.

Eventually some news trickles down to me.

So. Once upon a time DOGE slashes the National Weather Service (NWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA).

The local NWS, in San Angelo was MISSING a senior hydrologist, staff forecaster and meteorologist in charge. The NWS in nearby San Antonio, also had significant vacancies, including a warning coordination meteorologist and science officer. On top of that, they are no longer able to staff the office 24/7 like they usually do.

All of those vacant positions are needed during climate emergencies. But DOGE thinks they are wasteful and fraudulent. So we don't have our experts doing their expert things, and people die.

Kids die.

∞ Trump And Elon Musk's Texas Chainsaw Massacre They just killed 27 little girls. You know it and I know it and they know it.

And...

∞ Trump and Texas point fingers as flood death toll rises

Entirely predicted, and entirely unnecessary.

So, yep. I'm back to reading the news and crying about it.

Tag: july 2025

I had bought this Basil a while ago, at Saturday Market on May24.

The plant then was maybe 4inches tall. It's in a bigger pot than the other veggie starts, so I hoped it would survive for a while at home. It's big enough now that I probably should take it to the garden.

Trouble is, slugs really like Basil. And since the plant has been sitting here on the kitchen windowsill for three weeks now... I've gotten to enjoy its presence. I don't want to send it to its death at the garden!

I arrive at the garden, and I'm looking around. Here's the survivors of the Volunteer Squashes.

And I'm starting to wonder if things might actually live. You know? Except for the Spaghetti Squash seedlings, nothing else has been dying for the last couple of days.

The bugs are still around, for sure...

But their damage seems to be lessening?

Or maybe the first sign of the Second Sowing of Wax Beans has turned on my hope again.

*sighs* Stupid hope.

The green at the bottom of this pic is the Patty Pan, the sole squash survivor in this area...

The Primary Green Zuc was to the left, and it's long gone. On the other side of that, a Yellow Zuc died. and the decorative Pumpkins also died.

I've planted some more Crookneck seeds there on Jun12, so we'll see about that.

Straight up from the Patty Pan are some happy Borages and then you can see the bigger leaves of the ProCut Red Sunflower, which is at the end of the small trellis where the Lemon Cucumbers live. In the top left corner of the pic is the Sugar Snap Peas at the front of the plot and then the stalks of the Elephant Garlics.

There are three Lemon Cucumbers that have survived at the small trellis. Two are quite damaged and are small but growing.

Plus the Lemon Cuc seedling is still alive, next to it's sibling.

The Healthy Lemon Cuc... has a flower under it's leaves!!!

Well, foo... I should probably pull that flower off. The plant is really small and I would like for it to grow some more before thinking about fruit!! But I can't bear to do it, so I've left it alone.

At the back of the plot is the Tomato patch where I've got four different types growing... the Half Dead Sungold, Brandywine, Old German and the new Green Zebra.

No pics of the Tomatoes today and I've gotten distracted by the right side neighbor's plot! None of my Borage is big enough to bloom, and the bees are happily dancing around this one just over the border.

That green in the background is their damn invasive Horseradish. *grumble*

Anyway!

The left side of the plot is the Fallow Area... but I've put down a few plants that have lived. At the front, there are two Crookneck seedlings! And that Buckwheat seedling is still trying to live as well!

Behind that is a Crookneck that I transplanted... it's actually the biggest and healthiest of all the summer squashes that are left. Which is surprising, usually the Green Zucs are the power houses.

On the right of that pic, there's another little Crookneck seedling that has survived. There must be something different about the Crookneck, that the bugs don't like. I'm glad I had extra seeds to put down, since they are the ones to live this year.

The rest of the Fallow Area has some summer cover crops: Fava and Buckwheat, but they are few and far between. There's a couple of dying squashes, nevermind. The Green Zuc is here as well, but it's small. As well the backup Sungold... also on the small side.

But that was the reason why I wanted this area to be fallow. The plants don't grow great and they are mostly stunted here. meh.

At the back of the Fallow Area, last years Leeks are blooming!

They never got big enough to bother harvesting, and now the blossoms are interesting and making a variety of pollinators happy!

In the front of the garden, the Sugar Snap Peas are doing well... Still working on that very first pea pod!

And the Beets are there on the right.

I'm heading out, and I decide to go for a walk before going home.

heh, nevermind the crappiness of this photo... instead check out the artsy background! *laughs*

The three Leaning Tree saplings.

These little damselflies are all over the place in the grass next to the creek...

They are California Dancers, and they are quite a bit to the north of their usual range! Probably climate change bringing them up here.

Sweet Peas are blooming.

A Cabbage White on some Lavender.

And a happy Honey Bee!

Tag: june 2023

Good Morning My Dear!

I get to the garden and check on the Spaghetti Squash seedlings that were getting munched by bugs yesterday. aw, dangit.

Just a stump. humph!

But look... the Little Lemon Cuc that Couldn't has a new leaf...

But I don't have a good feeling about that. I think I am not going to invest any hope.

But the new core of the Accidental Lemon Cucumber is growing, and I think I will invest hope in that!

And here's a Wax Bean that's trying to make a comeback... It got it's leaves munched off by the slugs, and now it's made some new leaves.

The new leaves are very pretty. but the sluges are still around. And this one can't have my hope either.

I thought for a minute that this little seedling was a Lemon Cucumber...

I've planted Lemon Cucumber seeds here twice over!

But no. I'm pretty sure it's a Borage. SIGHS.

For all the Lemon Cucumber seeds I've planted, only this one, the little Sibling, is healthy.

It's funny. All the gardening videos I've watched say that Cucumbers are so easy to grow! Haha! Just more proof that I am a terrible gardener! :)

I've taken the grid off the Tomatillos that I bought. I don't know. Was that a mistake? The wind is 10mph today.

On the way out, I stop to admire the Volunteer Elephant Garlics... they are blooming!

And I'm out and going for a walk!

Aww! Siblings, not long out of the nest!

Above the new Leaning Tree saplings... oh cool!

This is a Violet Green Swallow. You can't quite see the Violet part, the sun needs to hit the feathers just right.

And back at the creek...

And then going by the Garden again... hello?

No? You don't care about the photography? You've got better things to do?

*Laughs*

Tag: june 2025

Ducklings!

ha, unfortunately the camera couldn't figure out where to focus and then Mama lead the babies behind the bushes. I didn't even get the chance to count them!

Stopping by the garden, just to water. The Sungold in the Fallow Area has a first tiny tomato growing!!

It takes a good month or more from the time the first fruits come on, to ripen. Such a long time! So, go forward in time and see if I can eat the first Sungold on July15!

I threw down a bunch of different seeds to try to grow in the Fallow Area. Not much has come up, I'm surprised that none of the clover has grown. Just a handful of Favas and Buckwheats. And one of the Buckwheats is flowering! Such a pretty little plant!

The Green Zuc in the Fallow Area looks like it might live.

I am trying not to think about all the squash plants I've put out here that have bit the dust. Especially since they are so spendy this year!

Seeds are cheaper, but...

That's the Spaghetti Squash seedlings. Sighs.

So it's looking like I won't have any winter squash. That's a major bummer. And not many of the summer squashes have survived. But maybe the little patch of Volunteer Squashes will make up for that.

And I'm glad the bugs have left me one healthy Lemon Cucumber.

The other Lemon Cucumber plants are all smaller, tho growing. Hopefully they will get to grow up and make me some Cucs!

And in the meantime, there will definitely be Sugar Snap Peas!

That one is not quite big enough, yet. Maybe I'll eat it in a couple days!

Tag: june 2025

It's Independence Day here in the US, but there's nothing to celebrate.

The news has been making me cry for a week. And now Republicans have passed the big beautiful bill.

It will break the United States.

I mean, the US is already broken... women can't get complete healthcare in half the states. We are not full citizens anymore. And we are cutting off healthcare to others, now as well. And with all the anti-DEI... If you're not a white, cishet man, it seems you're not a person, here in the US...

But the bill...

I honestly didn't realize how many evil people there are in this country.

Why else would Republicans vote for this, if they aren't evil?

And the thing that terrifies me...

ICE. The concentration camps we are building.

We've been deporting people without due process. And we are already doing government sanctioned kidnapping of people who are here legally. We've deported US Citizens! In what world is that okay? And giving ICE so much more money?

We are seriously heading into ethnic cleansing territory.

With Liberty and Justice For All? ... nope, white men only.

So. Take care. Take care of your people, when you can. Take care of yourself. Take care of your mental health.

Now... scroll down and go look at some Nature pictures.

Or! Better yet... go outside and look at some actual Nature! :)

Enjoy the sun on your skin, make some vitamin D. Be sure to keep hydrated! Or enjoy the night air, and be sure to keep hydrated!

Look closely at a plant! Has a bird flown by yet?

The Cicadas have been singing in my part of the world for a few weeks. What sound of nature do you hear?

Tag: july 2025

I'm walking out to the garden to water the seeds and seedlings before going to the No Kings protest.

I think I'm prepared... In my backpack I've got some Clif bars as snacks and I've got ice water in both my water bottles and I've charged up the camera battery.

I've also cleared out everything from the camera SD memory card... I use it as a daily backup for photos, but I want as much space as possible in case I need to record a video! Now everything is backed up on an external drive.

Before I go, I double check the bus stops. I'll be getting on the EMX at the closest stop to the Comm Garden. And I wanted to see which stop I'll be using to get home.

Oh crud! The EMX route is changed to avoid the protest and the march. The buses won't go past the closest stops, which I was going to use!

Well. Good thing I happened to look it up. I'll have to get off at the hub and do a bit of walking to get out to the protest at the federal building. That'll add some time to my day out, but it's workable!

I'm walking out on the bike path and oh my gosh, it's a lovely day! Not too hot, and the wind is cooling things down. A perfect day for a protest!

One of my blue friends of the Scrub Jay family I've been meeting up with, is bouncing around happily...

Well. That would have been a nice photo with the Sweet Pea blooms. IF SOMEBODY had been looking at the CAMERA instead of goofing off!!

Bahaha!

At the garden, I do a quick watering. But I have a little time to look around. Here's somebody new!!

This is our native Convergent Lady Beetle!!

It's so great to see them. The most abundant ladybug here is the Seven Spot. Not native but they don't cause any harm. I've not seen any of the Asian ladybugs this year... they are invasive and can outcompete the native species.

The Spaghetti Squash seedlings are good. And that little unknown thing is getting some real leaves.

The poor Lemon Cucumber seedling is still stuck.

But the Lemon Cucumber sibling over here is growing up!

And never mind the poor Crookneck seedlings that are getting munched to death by the Squash Beetles and the Striped Cucumber Beetles.

Look at the happy ones, just a couple feet away!

And the Sugar Snap Pea pod is getting bigger by the day!

Okay! I'm out and heading to the Protest!!

Tag: june 2025

It's blissfully cloudy this morning!

The forecast says 71° but the clouds never lift and the actual high today is 62°!!! Normal for this time of year is 73°.

On the way to the garden... I've discovered a family of Chickadees.

The babies have just fledged and everyone is bouncing around and twittering like crazy!

I don't know how many kids there are, several on the other side of the tree! But I see one of the parents coming in to feed one of them.

I doing my Point and Click and Hope with the camera.

One of the youngsters... you can see a tiny bit of gape!

Okay. At the garden and my work today is getting this side of the front tidy!

Well. It looks marginally better.

There is some Bermuda Grass in that corner... and dang that stuff is annoying!

Not quite ripe...

This is the current state of the Tomato patch.

Clockwise from the lower left: the Half Dead Sungold, Old German, Brandywine. Top right is where the Green Zebra lives, but most of that green is a big Dandelion and there's some clover too. And then the three Strawberries: the big, the new Seascape, and the small with it's pet Nasturtium.

The ProCut Red Sunflower next to the small trellis with the Lemon Cucumbers.

You know what? I bought that Red Sunflower by accident, I thought I had grabbed a ProCut Plum. But it's so healthy and happy, I'm really glad I got it!

The Sugar Snap Peas that I put down as seeds are growing well! They just need to grow UP now!

Of the three transplants that survived, a second one is starting to make some peas!!

On the big trellis, I decided to set up some bricks to keep the hose from running over the Spaghetti Squash seedlings that are coming up!

In the middle of that pic is the ProCut Plum, and on the right is another big Dandelion. I love the Dandelions and I don't pull them up anymore. When you have a zillion Dandelions, that's an indication that there is something really wrong with your soil. But when you've got just a couple, like I do, that's a good thing. Their deep tap roots bring up good nutrients from underground. Plus, they are technically edible, tho I don't like them. :)

On my way out, I check on the single Fava that survived the winter. oh, wow... look how productive it is!!

That's great... I'll gather those once they dry out to plant this fall. That's some good DNA that I want to keep!

A squirrel bounces from one of the plots and runs ahead of me on the path.

Haha! He's just grooming, but it looks like he's saying Could you fix my arm, please?

Yeah, he's fine!

On the way home, this magnificant tree catches my eye.

I have no idea what it is!

But those colours, with the Douglas Fir in the back and the Purple Leaf Plum... just wow!

Tag: june 2025

When I arrive and walk thru the garden plot to drop my backpack at the back...

Yay! These are Spaghetti Squash seedlings, planted just a week ago, last friday!

But NO! Do not get excited! Do not get hopeful! Remember this is the Grim Garden! Plants are dying!

Dang it. I can't help it. I have hope. And look at how cute the baby squash is!

I don't know what that other seedling is, coming up behind it. I think I will leave it and see!

And look how well the Volunteer Squashes are doing!

These are the ones at the edges. The slugs and bugs completely decimated the center clump of sqaushes. But these three that were on the edges have survived!

I'm thinking they might be Crooknecks. But I don't have high confidence about that.

And I still have three and a half Lemon Cucumbers, not inlcuding the two seedlings.

I'm so pleased about that one healthy Lemon Cuc! Grow, Grow, Grow!!

And never mind the little seedling that COULDN'T.

Haha! And a worm! I replanted some more Lemon Cucumber seeds here today because I'm disappointed that only two seedlings appeared with all the seeds I threw down the first time. I must have stirred up worm's home. Sorry, Worm!

AND, I'm burying some more Crookneck seeds, as well, since the ones in the front are actually doing pretty well! I had planted three spots, and there's seedlings in two of the spots. These up front are very happy.

And this other spot was getting munched, but the one bigger one seems to want to live!

And this is the Secondary Green Zucchini, in the Fallow Area.

I guess technically this is the third Green Zuc I planted. It's also the only one that might survive.

Tomatillos that I bought are doing well.

And I should probably take that grid off before they get too tangled up in it. But I'm not sure if a regular tomato cage will be good enough to protect them from the wind. hm.

Okay. Heading out.

Tag: june 2025

Clouds this morning and the heat wave is definitely over. It's practically chilly when I head out at 57° with the wind. And the high today is a very pleasant 77° (25°C)... tho the normal for this time of year, 74° would be even nicer.

The clouds are breaking up and the sun is shining by the time I get to the garden.

At the garden, I'm replanting the Wax Beans.

But first, I've decided to sweep away all the leaves. It's leftover mulch from the winter when we are required to cover the ground. But I had also been leaving our kitchen scraps under the leaves to compost...

And I think that has turned it into a little slug factory!

So, leaves swept away, and piled up along the right side border. I do find a couple of un-composted avocado pits, and one scrap of coffee filter, but other than some unidentifiable chunks, this is turning into good dirt!

Now if we could just get it to be minus the slug party!

The second round of Wax Beans is planted, and there's not many left in the seed packet for next year. I'll have to remember to buy more.

That's the ProCut Plum Sunflower on the left side of the trellis. The bit of red violet at the top is the right side neighbors Garden Pinks. They have finally cleared out most of the grass that was getting tall in their plot, so they must be trying to get back in compliance... except they've not done anything with the stupid Horseradish. *grumbles* Which means I will have to continue to dig up roots that get too close to my plot thru another year. *grumbles more*

The Accidental Lemon Cucumber is also under the big trellis. It's still trying to live... and you know what? It may!

It's a little deformed, but that new growth is very hopeful!

Tho with the Striped Cucumber Beetles killing most everything, I really can't invest any actual hope.

At the small trellis, where the Non-Accidental Lemon Cucumbers are... This seedling is definitely stuck. I don't know what to think. It's like it doesn't have the energy to stand up?

But I've thrown down some fertilizer here, before. So it should have everything it needs? Poor thing.

But the other seedling is getting along fine, and is acting like a younger sibling to the transplant Lemon Cucumber standing over it!

On my way out, I stop to look at the beets, and notice I need to weed a bit. But I'm so thrilled to see another Ladybug larvae!!

Ha, I thought that other thing was a speck of dirt, but actually that's another bug!!

I should have stuck around to see if they are friends, or if the larvae is going to eat the little one.

Or, actually I'm glad I didn't... because that little one is so cute looking. I don't want to see her eaten!

On the way home, a Mama Mallard and her five kids!

Tag: june 2025

Heat Advisory is over but it's still to be 88° (31°C) today... but last night was much better and the house has cooled down a good bit. It's not ideal but better than yesterday.

And, of course, I'm heading to the garden to water.

With all the plants dying, I'm calling it the Grim Garden!

As I'm heading out the door, Partner says: Are you going to the Grim Garden today? *Nods*

Are you just going to get depressed? *Nods*

Maybe you shouldn't go?

Ha! But the things that are trying to live, need water to live thru the hot day! *Okay, okay.*

Well, there's one good thing at the garden... This Strawberry that I picked to eat? Had ZERO slug munchings that I had to eat around!! The first complete Strawberry! *laughs*

The other tomato plants are okay, but the Old German has some curled leaves. Did the Old German last year need lots of extra water? I don't remember.

A Crow lands in the plot on the left side, and I'm trying to get her photo... yeah, no love. But then I noticed that guy has a tomato ripening already!

Dang it. I am completely offended that his pathetic looking plants are doing better than mine! hahaha! (just kidding!)

Okay... here is the list of today's Grimness...

This is the last Wax Bean that still has leaves.

Yep, that's it. The slugs have killed them ALL.

This is the Primary Green Zucchini, that used to be under the metal grid. It is not to live since it's got it's core munched out.

There are only three Lemon Cucumber plants left. (well, three and a half, I guess with the Accidental Lemon Cuc which is technically still green with life!)

But this Lemon Cuc is taking heavy damage from the Striped Cucumber Beetles, and I fear for it's life.

There are also two Lemon Cucumber seedlings coming up... but this one seems to be stuck in this position. Why are you taking so long to grow??!

Okay. That's all the Grimness I can bear.

I'm in the Beet patch, looking at a couple seedlings that have come up. A couple have actually grown some bigger leaves, maybe to survive. So that's good, I'm really glad I threw down some extra seeds!

And then I see these lovely creatures!

Oh my gosh!! This is SO Awesome!!

That's a Seven Spot Ladybug. and that... is not their child! Ha.

It is a ladybug larvae, but the Seven Spot larvaes are a dark grey colour. Google isn't helping me at all with the species of this light tan larvae. But she's definitely some kind of ladybug!

I LOVE that the ladybugs like the Beets so much!!

And Look! Sugar Snap Peas on the way!!

I don't know who these bugs are. But they are fine, all the Snap Pea plants are healthy and growing well.

*laughs* Can you see the tiny spider just above the unknown bug?

Okay. I'm out and going for a longer walk...

When I get to the next bridge, there are Swallows chattering and swooping excitedly. Hmm. I wonder... I check the nest under the bridge.

But nope. The Barn Swallows have been returning to this nest for the last few years. But there's no new improvements here.

Lots of dragonflies enjoying the hot day! This is an Eight Spot Skimmer.

My turn around spot is at the Leaning Tree Saplings.

I really need to find a happier angle to show off these guys! It will be years or decades before they get to a majestic stage, where they look good from any angle! *laughs*

Huh. I've never noticed this woodpecker hole before. It's right on the bike path!

Very small. It must have been made by a Downy Woodpecker. I wonder if the nest was used or abandoned.

I stop to admire the minnows.

I love to watch them!

Tag: june 2025

To be even hotter today, and we'll be rocketing past the old record high of 91° in 2015.

It will be 96° (35°C) today. The house only got down to 74° over night and when I get up it feels uncomfortable and humid from the make shift swamp cooler I set up. Sighs.

We've got windows in the east and west, and when the wind is from the north, it's just not helpful. meh.

It's already 79° when I leave the house... and my blue friend is not singing, she's panting!

But the dragonflies Love the heat!

Female Eight Spot Skimmer... *laughs* I had to get artsy with the pic because she wasn't close enough to get a good portrait. Blurry... but Artsy is good!

I'm at the garden to give it a good watering. As I look at the very dead Butternut...

I realize unless the Spaghetti Squash seeds do something, I've got zero winter squashes! Major Bummer!

And on top of that... this was the one year that I decided not to have any Sweet Potatoes. They never do very well, and they taste so much like Butternut, I didn't want to bother with them! So now I have neither. sheesh.

And yeah, that's a cute little Wax Bean, trying to make a come back after the slugs ate it's first leaves.

But the slugs are eating the tiny second leaves too. So I need to focus on something more hopefull...

There's one healthy Lemon Cucumber. Will it stay healthy?

The seedling next to it... hm. Seems to be stuck.

The Lemon Cucumber on this side of the trellis is taking some Cucumber Beetle damage... but look! That might be another little Lemon Cuc seed germinating!!

And the Tomatillos are still okay.

The Crookneck seedlings are about done for.

But the Crookneck over here is still intact!

(That's a sad little Buckwheat seedling next to the Crookneck. It really wants to grow, but I keep spraying him too hard with the water. ha. You gotta be tough to live in my garden!)

Okay! Don't get stuck on the Poppies! Let's get out of here and go for a walk!

Just past the bridge, wow, there are Dragonflies and Damselflies all over the place!!

And getting it on! haha!

I think they are Tule Bluets.

And a Cardinal Meadowhawk...

But, the Tule Bluets are everywhere!

That's a good pic to tell the difference between dragonflies and damselflies...

Dragonflies are much bigger than damselflies. AND Dragonflies hold their wings out, while damselflies hold their wings back, over their body.

I was vaguely distracted by this thing floating by...

But then this thing went by as well, and I was just Aw, man. What the heck.

Humans. *shakes head*

I stop to look at the minnows before I go.

I get some good pics today! So Cute!!

On the way home... Mama...

And four kids!

They look pretty grown up, but they don't have their flight feathers yet.

And further on, I notice the Salsify has gone to seed.

You can eat the root, tho I'm not sure when you're supposed to dig it up.

I am gathering some of the seeds from the seed heads! Maybe I'll plant them in the garden next year!

Tag: june 2025

The heat advisory says 94° today and mid-90s again tomorrow and then it will get back down to 80s and upper 70s.

Normal for today is 72 and the record is 93 in 2015... Yes, we broke that record.

Well. At 75° when I leave the house, it's already well past the normal high! I try not to let it bother me, but sudden hot temps like this don't let the body acclimate and I am sweating and uncomfortable.

I'm at the garden to give it a good watering. The Tomatillos are recovering from the transplant shock!

That's good. But look at the poor Crookneck seedlings. Dangit, they didn't even have a chance.

I was excited to see another Crookneck has germinated... But then I looked closely. ARG!

Squash Beetle. And that's who's apparently munching the other Crookneck seedlings, as well.

And the Wax Beans are coming up, only to have their leaves munched by the slugs. Lots of those leafless stems.

It's too bad I don't like Sunchokes, since that plant is so determined to live!

But it's a pretty thing, and the bugs and birds will certainly appreciate it!

And the little Lettuce has lived thru another day.

Heading home, but overly sad about the garden dying, bit by bit.

But here's some Babies! to cheer me up!

Wow... There's eight babies all together! That's the biggest group this year!

Thank you, Mama!

Tag: june 2025

Heat Advisory starting today through Monday.

But the suddenness of the change... Thursday night I needed All the winter quilts, sleeping under the open window... and last night I didn't even need a sheet!

In fact, the house didn't hardly cool down at all... it's still 75° in the upstairs this morning. My House Temperature Regulation skills haven't kicked in yet!! So this round of heat will probably be miserable. Fortunately, it won't last very long.

But death and destruction continues at the garden. I think the heat has super charged the Striped Cucumber Beetles.

Those little holes in the leaves are the typical damage of the Striped Cucumber Beetles.

And here's the result of the Wilt Disease that some of them carry...

Sighs. My precious Lemon Cucumbers. Why garden at all if I don't get to eat Lemon Cucumbers? Sighs some more.

Partner had taken me to the Farmers Market this morning. I was hoping to get some more strawberry plants to add to my collection at the back of the plot. But it's too late in the season, they had sold out.

I did get another Butternut, and it looks pretty now, but I can't hold any hope for it.

The Primary Green Zucchini is still alive, surprisingly after it's wilted leaf of yesterday. But the beetles are chewing it to death and I doubt it will last.

I've taken the grid off because I want to use it to protect these guys from the wind...

Tomatillos!!

I've never had to buy Tomatillos before because they always self-seed. But I had laid the winter mulch on so thick that none have come up this year. That's a bummer, but the thick mulch also kept the grass in check as well. And that's a definate plus!

Anyway, I found these at my Farmer's stand this morning and I'm happy to have them. There were two growing in the pot, and I didn't want to separate them since they are kind of tall.

They are pretty shocked from the transplant, anyway. I meant for the grids to protect them from the wind, but they are actually holding them up. I really hope they live.

I check on the Surprising Lettuces... I'm down to one today. The little purple lettuce has disappeared.

Most of those other seedlings are Amaranth. But that one at the bottom, with the slightly bigger leaf, is a beet!

I guess even if everything else dies, I will get to eat some beetroots!

I admire Kevin's Breadseed Poppies.

I'm out. On the walk home I stop at the Flicker nest.

The babies were born in the middle one.

There's no reason to stop here anymore. The kids will not return to the nest. But it was so amazing seeing them! :)

Tag: june 2025

It's the first truly hot day of the year. It's been mid and upper 70s the past ten days or so... definitely warmer than it should be, normal is 72° (22°C).

Today will be 87° and it's already 73° when I leave the house.

And that heat wave is still in the forecast for the rest of the weekend.

I fill up my water bottle, and try not to be too bothered!

The family of Scrub Jays at the bike path curve. I wonder if they are getting used to me looking at them!

That doesn't look very comfortable, my dear...

You're just trying to stay in the shade? Oh, okay!

At the garden... Yeah, the Butternut couldn't even put up a fight.

And now the Primary Green Zucchini has a wilted leaf as well.

It's well established, so it might last longer than the poor Butternut.

And the Lemon Cucumbers have Striped Cucumber Beetles on them, too.

Yesterday, I had transplanted three more Lemon Cucumber starts. The black circles...

But here is the state of two of the new Lemon Cuc transplants...

The one on the right can't even stand up. I think it's already got the wilt disease.

The other Lemon Cuc I planted yesterday is a little more mature, but...

*groans*

And I can't help but look at the slug munched volunteer squashes... the middle of the patch is pretty much munched to death.

And they've found this bigger one on the edge of the patch.

It's not going to live. But maybe... just maybe. This one at the other edge?

The Accidental Lemon Cucumber is still hanging on... but I cannot invest any hope in it, with the wilt disease so rampant.

I check on the Surprising Lettuces...

Wait a minute! There were three yesterday! Aw, dang it!!

Any chance you can help?

Not really? sighs. okay.

So it's death and destruction at the garden. I try to remind myself that I WILL have tomatoes! I've got five plants in four varieties, and nothing ever bothers them.

But it's a long time to wait for tomatoes, and I have to face that fact that it's quite possible that none of the squashes will live.

Sighs.

Tag: june 2025

Happy to see my blue friends at the bike path curve.

Unhappy to see the Flicker nest where the babies flew away without my permission! *laughs*

There's surprisingly no one around, so I go to the back of the Community Garden to check out our bird bath art installation.

Volunteers make this all pretty and the purple vine is new!

Clematis!

Hi Cute Bug!

And then I go down the back pathway, some of my favorite garden plots are here!

You see why it's my favorite! Bug Lovers!

I'm at my plot and I check on the squash plants I put in yesterday. The secondary Green Zuc has wind damage that broke one of it's stems. SIGHS.

And the Butternut... Oh No! It's wilting to death!

And all of a sudden I realize what's been going on...

Striped Cucumber Beetles. A few of these beetles carry a disease, and the first bite into a plant transfers this bacterial wilt. Death ensues. (Death for the plant, that is. The Beetle lives on to murder some more.)

So that's what happened to my poor stupid Lemon Cucumbers that died so quickly. And the other squashes.

And... this is just... not good. I've not seen the Striped Cuc Beetles in years. But when I did see them, they were an out of control infestation. Not only killing stuff with the wilt disease, but causing so much physical damage with their hungry munchings that adult plants were killed as well.

And I don't even have any adult plants yet! There's no way baby plants are going to survive.

ARG!

On top of that, the slugs are still active and are murdering the Wax Beans as they come up.

Just. ARG!

Okay. Take a breath! Focus on the good things! The Crookneck seedlings are so cute!

I've got other seeds I could plant. I could try planting some Spaghetti Squash seeds.

And the Mystery Volunteer Squashes living outside the boundry of the slug munched seedlings are still good.

And the pet Nasturtium that the small Strawberry plant is cultivating makes me happy.

And, oh my gosh! Some Lettuces have come up from the seeds I planted!!

Wow! That's so cool!

Those other seedlings above are Amaranths. I'll need to pull those out so they don't compete.

I'm excited about the Lettuces and def feeling better as I gather my things to leave. At the back of the plot, this...

This is Sunchoke, returning from last year. (Even tho I dug it up and pulled out four buckets of roots! ha, I guess I missed some!)

It is decidedly in my plot, well over a foot from the left side border. And I will need to figure out what I'm going to do about it.

It's a big plant. Very tall. And you really shouldn't have big plants on the border, since it can block the sun for a few hours during the day.

Except. The new neighbor on the left... is not friendly. He completely ignored me when he was puttering in his plot the other day. So I'm not really motivated to try to help him in his gardening journey.

heh. Yeah. I will probably let the Sunchokes live.

Okay, on my way! As I'm heading to the gate, I stop to admire these Columbines.

And back at the creek, a couple of older ducklings!

The baby fluff on their back is so adorable.

Proud Mama!

And a little further on, aww!

Tag: june 2025

Some nice cloud cover this morning and it's a pleasant 61° when I leave the house, to be 74° today.

A bit warmer than the normal of 71°, but I will take it... there's a heat wave on the way for this weekend. bleh.

I'm carrying the last of the squash starts to the garden in my backpack. The second Green Zuchinni has gotten so big, growing in the porch room, there are many leaves poking out and bobbing over my shoulder as I walk!

I get a few comments as I pass people on the way. My favorite is a lady on a bike, with her precious dog running along beside her. It's very Oregon to see a lady on the bike path with a hitchhiking plant! Bahaha!! Yes it is!!

At the Flicker nest... nothing?

I pause here for a while, waiting for something to happen. Have the babies fledged? There's no sounds coming from the nest, and no begging babies in the nearby trees.

Arg. I think they are gone! I think they started flying without me! I totally missed it!

Now I'll never know how many babies were in there! *laughs*

Bummer.

I get to the garden, determined to only look at the good things, to cheer myself up... and Look! A couple more Crookneck seeds have germinated!

And Look! Something new and unidentified is growing in the Fallow Area...

On the right is a munched Buckwheat and a also munched Fava. I had also thrown down a really old "wildflower" seed mix here. So I'm excited to see what this will turn out to be!

I get the two plants I brought, into the ground... I put the Butternut at the end of the big trellis and the secondary Green Zuc in the Fallow Area. It's so big, it's funny to call it secondary!

I've decided to pull the branches out of the protection grid of the primary Green Zuc...

The three remaining Lemon Cucumbers (of the six I planted at the small trellis) are looking good. Two on this side...

And one over here...

And, oh my gosh! I think this is a Lemon Cucumber seed germinating!!

This has never happened before, so I am thrilled!

The tiny Beet seedlings are still there... And there's a Spotted Cucumber Beetle. hmm.

While the Striped Cucumber Beetles have murdered many veggies in the past, the Spotted ones have never caused any trouble. I think they are cute! But, seriously, Little Dude, you better not be messing with my baby beets!!

I get momentarily distracted by Kevin's Breadseed Poppies, making the Bees happy.

And then I notice the right side neighbor has some beautiful Garden Pinks.

They have not thinned out the Horseradish thats in the back corner, yet. *grumble*

I spontaneously decide to cut some of the Elephant Garlic scapes to take home!

The first harvest! Well, except for the 3 or 4 Strawberries I've eaten.

Garlic scapes are super mild. I can even eat them raw. The only trouble is, figuring out where the tough part begins.

No ripe strawberries today, tho.

Right before I leave, I check in with the one Fava that survived the winter...

Awesome! The flowers are turning into beans! I will have replacements to plant for this year's winter cover crop!

This is cool! This looks like Columbia Clubtail, but this would be well out of its range.

He's hard to identify because amateurs like me really need a side view of their body!

And then on the bike path curve, I meet up with the grey headed Scrub Jay again...

I'm pretty sure they are so grey because they are a fledgling. No gape, tho. How quickly do the kids lose their gape?

Tag: june 2025

*Blink* :)

I arrive at my garden plot and notice a couple little leaves of the invasive Comfrey. I've been trying to kill it since Autumn 2023. Die, Comfrey, Die!

I forgot to take a Before picture, but this is the work I did today... pulling out the encroaching grass in the front left side of the plot.

It's super important to keep the front of the plot tidy this year since I am breaking the No Borage rule.

Excited to see one of the Crookneck seeds germinating!!

But actually, the last Crookneck start I transplanted is looking really good... no slug damage at all!

On the other side of the plot, the Yellow Zuchinni is basically dead. The slugs have munched out it's core.

and the Spaghetti Squash on the big trellis is all but dead, between the slugs and the wind breaking the stems.

I try to focus on the good things. The Primary Green Zuc has lost a couple leaves, but seems to be establishing itself.

I think about taking off it's supports in stages.

The couple of volunteer squashes are still evading the slugs, somehow. I wish I knew what the trick is for doing that!

And the big Strawberry plant is sending out runners as well. Fabulous!

This is the small Strawberry, the new Seascape Strawberry and on the right is the Half Dead Sungold... looking short but recovering well.

All of the Tomatoes are growing and doing well. So that's nice. I guess after all the squashes die, at least I will have Beetroots and Tomatoes!

And the Accidental Lemon Cucumber keeps hanging on. I've kind of dismissed it, but it's still green so I keep watering it!

I'm heading out and stop to admire the hot house Cosmos.

Huh. That's weird. No one peering out?

There is a couple of humans nearby, chatting in their back yard. I can't see them, for the fence, and they aren't being loud or anything. Just a normal couple, enjoying the day. Maybe they are drinking tea on their back porch.

Doesn't seem like this would make the babies hide deeper in the nest. After all, they've lived next to the bike path their entire lives!

odd.

But then I get distracted!

Western Tiger Swallowtail!!

These butterflies hardly ever sit for photography! So this is exciting!

I know the butteryfly will fly away in a couple of seconds... so I have to be fast! Most of the pictures look like this...

haha!

well. Thanks Butterfly!!

Tag: june 2025

The Southern Magnolias on my street are blooming.

There's one low enough to look into!

When I get on the bike path, a pair of Green Herons fly past me. They are too fast for photography, and I am happily surprised at the Green Herons I've been seeing lately!

Flicker baby looking out of the nest.

But nothing exciting is happening so I go on to the garden.

Where the Spaghetti Squash is almost wilted to death.

I didn't water yesterday, but I don't think that's the cause of all these wilting deaths that have been happening.

But then I get distracted because I turn on the water and nothing comes out.

Kevin is conveniently working in his plot and I go ask him about it. The water is turned off?

He looked over at the taps that were leaking on Sunday, there was a big discussion about it, that I overheard but did not get involved in. I could see his wheels turning, ha. Except I thought it was resolved that it was a hose problem?

Kevin looks over at me and says, Oh, that's weird... I definitely saw other people watering today! He comes back and turns on his water which is working.

I turn on mine, nothing happens again ... and OH! Hang on!

I pick up the the new sprayer. Yep, it's been turned off! I switch it on and water comes out!

I laugh at myself and am embarassed and say Thanks for helping me to Kevin.

But I don't ever turn the sprayer off... and it's also on a different setting than I use. So that's weird... Was Partner here over the weekend? Or who is messing with the hose??? And why would someone mess with my hose??! Each plot has their own faucet, and there's hoses attached to all four in this corner. There's no reason for anyone to fiddle with the hose!

I worry about it while I water the garden.

When I'm done, the hose has twisted, and I think about straightening it out. And then I realize... that's what happened! haha!

The last time I watered, the hose had twisted up and I unkinked it by unwinding the loops. The sprayer must have hit the ground just right to flip the switch all the way off. And probably the turning thing that controls the spray pattern got moved as well, to a different setting.

So that was entirely my fault! Haha!

I eat another strawberry to console myself!

And the Beets are definitely growing and looking pretty!

That's good... even if all the squashes die miserable deaths, at least I'll have Beets!

I head out for more walking.

I go past the Leaning Tree saplings.

Oh, this side yard is amazing with the foxgloves!

And this yard has a patch of our native, Showy Milkweed!

I've never seen a Monarch Butterfly here, but there is a western population on this side of the Rocky Mountains!

Back at the creek... Oh!

dang it.

I walk around to the other side.

Wow! Thank you!

I'm back at the Flicker nest.

I notice I can see her spots thru this crack...

I wonder if the crack goes all the way down to the main part of the nest.

Leaves keep blowing in the way, and frustrating me.

So I move on and meet up with one of the pairs of Scrub Jays... One of them was on the ground, not moving, and I could not figure out what I was looking at!!

At first I assumed it was trash on the ground. I kept staring and when I got close, the Scrub Jay rousted and flew to a tree... OH! She had been sunning!

And I disturbed her. Oops! Sorry!

Tag: june 2025

But first, a Sunday Stroll.

Green Heron!!

Hi Baby!

Oh my gosh!

Papa Flicker has brought food.

Heh, I think Baby is getting poked from underneath!!

Yep...

Three babies trying to get a meal!

Aww! Her tongue!!! *giggles*

Okay, who's next?? Rearrange yourselves, Babies!

Oh my gosh! The Mama has come as well!!!

And... Of Course, the stupid climate change wind does the wrong thing with the leaves. ARG!

Papa flies away.

And Mama steps in.

Everybody is starving! *laughs*

So demanding!

oh foo.

She runs out of food, and flies away to get more.

Okay. Moving on!

Duckling! A singleton. Mama is on the next rock over.

And it's normal for babies to do weird things like that with their legs!!

Okay! I'm at the garden and oh sheesh. Look how badly the slugs are munching the Volunteer Squashes! Nothing but stumps left on most of those!

But the ones at the edge are still untouched and happy!

I just can't get over how cute the small Strawberry plant is with it's pet Nasturtium!

The replacement Spaghetti Squash is not looking good. I don't think it's going to make it. SIGHS.

But Look! There's some Beet seedlings!!!

I hope the slugs let some of them live!

Well. As usual, it's good and bad at the garden plot. I try not to be too upset about the damn Spaghetti Squash.

I gues I could try to plant some seeds, I've saved lots from years past.

On the walk home, I just glance up at the Flicker nest.

Tag: june 2025

I thought last Saturday would be the last trip to the Farmer's Market to get veggie starts.

But then half the Lemon Cucumbers died.

So here I am again. And again, Partner sleeps and I have to drive myself. That's okay.

I take the new plants to the garden. I've gotten some more summer squashes, a sunflower and three more Lemon Cucumbers. But the Lemon Cucs are so small, I really can't plant them! I'll take them home and they can grow a bit in the porch room.

The summer squashes are a Patty Pan and a Crookneck.

I randomly decide to put them in the Fallow Area, with the Yellow Zuc I planted there a few days ago AND the secondary Sungold. *laughs* So much for the fallowness!

Last weekend, I had gotten a replacement for the Ring of Fire Sunflower. I wanted a ProCut Plum, but had actually grabbed a ProCut Red. They are both pretty, but this time I made sure I got the ProCut Plum!

I planted it at the end of the big trellis. You can see the stick of the dead Ring of Fire on the right, and the green at the top of the photo is the Accidental Lemon Cucumber, still hanging on to life!

When I did research, I am sad to learn that the ProCut sunflowers are pollen-less. That's a major bummer for the Bees.

Well. Live and Learn! I won't buy ProCuts again! I wish the Ring of Fire had lived. sighs.

The three surviving Lemon Cucumbers at the small trellis are good, as is the ProCut Red here.

The Volunteer Squashes are getting munched to death by the slugs. But there are a couple, outside of the main clump, that are escaping the notice of the slugs!!

On my way out, I pause to assess the Beets at the front of the plot.

All six that I transplanted are happily growing! I hope some of the seeds come up and get to grow, as well, but I don't see any yet.

I think about walking out to the Flicker nest... But I've done good work here, and dealing with extra humans has tired me out. So I go straight home.

Tag: may 2025

*laughs* I've got the exposure set wrong.

I don't stay and I go on to the garden.

I eat the bigger one! I do eat AROUND the slug munchings, tho! haha! It's a little tart, not quite at full ripeness. But really good!

And the cute little Nasturtium with the small Strawberry plant.

I'm glad the Strawberry plant is sending out runners... I want plants all over!

And the Strawberry I bought -- the Seascape -- is doing things too.

The Accidental Lemon Cucumber... still technically alive.

Today, I've brought a Patty Pan and a second Yellow Zuc.

My Summer Squash empire grows!

Well. You know. If they live.

Because the Beans are getting ravaged...

As soon as they pop up, the slugs eat their leaves! Arg. Will I have to re-plant?

Well, whatever! In the Fallow Area, some of the Favas and Buckwheats are growing. Just here and there, not the full coverage that I was hoping for. But, then again, it's designated Fallow because the plants weren't growing right here!

Out! And back at the Flicker nest, where I've got the exposure setting corrected, now!

Just looking out at the world!

Excuse me? Could you tell me how many siblings you have?

Oh. You're just a baby, and don't know how to count yet?

*laughs*

I walk around to see about the other angle.

The nest is further away, and I have to look past more leaves from here. When the wind cooperates, it's okay.

Tag: may 2025

It's misting off and on when I head out today, and with the breeze it's chilly!

I arrive at the Flicker nest.

The baby at the doorway spots me right away!

Baby is just looking around, and I can't figure out which pose is the cutest!

Okay. Moving on!

I get to the garden and there are a couple of Official looking people here. Ugh... they are doing Compliance Checks!

Kevin is talking with the Garden Director in the plot next to mine. He's pointing out the huge patch of Horseradish that I've been battling for years, trying to keep it out of my plot.

Horseradish is an invasive that's on the illegal list for the Community Garden.

Wow, it's so healthy! I can't hear the reply. Maybe we could tell them that it needs to be thinned a little.

They are studiously avoiding looking at me, even tho I could have told them all about the damn Horseradish... and how long it's been there. And I just get angry about the thinning part.

Nobody has to follow the stupid Community Garden rules if the director likes your plot, or thinks you are a real gardener. And they don't like me.

And I'm raging about the unfairness.

And there's nothing I can do about it. If I point anything out, I will just be labeled as trouble and they'll come down harder on me.

So I take a breath and focus on the garden.

I'm delighted to see a Nasturtium coming up next to the small Strawberry!

Kevin had some Nasturtiums back here last year and they overflowed into my plot. I had gathered some of the seeds, too... I wonder what I did with those?

Anyway, I'm glad to see one come back in my plot! I hope it will be happy there, living so close to the strawberry!

And here is the Half Dead Sungold!

You can hardly tell it was half dead, anymore! Except that it's much shorter than the other tomato plants.

I pinched off those couple branches of flowers... I want it to keep growing leaves and roots, it's too early to think about fruiting!

The Accidental Lemon Cucumber is not so good.

Poor thing. But it's still green, so I won't give up!

The Spaghetti Squash I planted yesterday has a broken stem, but it should be okay.

And the three Lemon Cucumbers in the small trellis are still alive.

The Green Zuc under the supporting grid is happy.

But the Yellow Zuc in the Fallow Area is looking pretty rough. Sun damage on one side and slugs on the other.

And a cute little Wax Bean germinating!

So it's good things, and not so good things at the garden, right now. That's okay. Stuff will grow and get sorted out once the weather starts warming up! There's to be a couple days in the 80s this weekend before it settles down to some nice 70s.

Before I go, I admire Kevin's Poppies!

I walk a little ways before heading back.

Bushtits are usually too bouncy for me, but I got a couple in frame this time!

Oh!! I Love Green Herons!

They are shy, so I don't see them very often.

But it's always exciting to see one!

Scrub Jay on a Pyracantha bush. In the winter this will be loads of orange-red berries!

And just passing by the Flicker nest.

And this is a pretty thing. Some kind of Mallow.

Tag: may 2025

I'm taking some plants to put in the garden, and pause to take a picture of my shadow, again, with the plants sticking out the top of the backpack! *laughs* It's silly, and I amuse myself!

Last night was the first warmer night of this year. Maybe it's finally turning to summer.

I walk right on past the Flicker nest. I've given up since I've not seen any action there for a while.

And there should be action... The babies had been born, the parents should be bringing them food like crazy. And the babies should be yelling about every little sound that could be a parent in the vicinity!

But it's been a week of Too Quiet at the nest.

And today, I've walked by the nest without even looking... and I'm surprised at myself for having given up on the Flicker nest! I walk back and look up.

OH MY GOSH!

A BABY!! Resting her chin on the edge and is that not the cutest thing EVER!!!!

And OH MY GOSH! A parent has arrived!!

And OH MY GOSH! It's the Mama!!! I've not seen the Mama here at all, since DAY ONE!

*laughs* wow. This changes everything. My brain had set up a story, and it was just wrong! And I'm so thrilled to bits that we have both parents and we have babies.

Babies! Yes! More than one!

Bahaha... Baby Number Two is trying to get her face out as well!

The wind is blowing the leaves around and sometimes my view is completely blocked. Stupid wind!!

She's noticed me!

OH! Baby Number Three!!

And there's probably more kids down there. AllAboutBirds says Flickers lay 5 to 8 eggs! But how to tell them apart when the others poke their heads up?? *laughs*

Mama flies away to get more food.

How Awesome! And to think... I walked by the nest today! *laughs* Glad I came back!!

Okay. On to the garden!

I've planted the Aubergine at the edge of the tomato area in the back.

And I put the Spaghetti Squash at the end of the big trellis where the other one has died.

The wind is 12mph today and the other small grid I have is not going to work here. So I've put a tomato cage around the squash and hope for the best.

The Zuc under the grid is doing well!

And Look! A Wax Bean is germinating!! Woohoo!

And at the small trellis there are still three Lemon Cucumbers alive of the six I planted here. And the ProCut Red Sunflower seems to be happy as well.

But shoot, the Accidental Lemon Cuc is getting munched.

The little patch of volunteer squashes. They have gotten some true leaves, but I still can't tell what kind of squash they are!

If they start vining they will be a winter squash, either Butternut or Spaghetti Squash. If they grow from a point they will be one of the summer sqaushes.

Before I go, I stop to admire Kevin's Breadseed Poppies.

They are so lovely, but I'm fighting the wind still.

On the way home, I glance up but don't intend to stay.

It makes the parents nervous to have a human staring at the entrance to their nest. And I don't want to call any other attention to them.

Anyway. The wind is frustrating me again!

ha.

Tag: may 2025

I've hit a couple really good collections of photos! Enjoy!

∞ Pictures from the raucous downtown protest in Novato California

∞ No Kings Yas Queens: The best & gayest signs from the No Kings protests The people's anger has clearly spawned some creativity.

Tag: june 2025

Oh Wow! This rose is amazing! Stripy!

With the stupid wind, it's so hard to find the little birds in the trees.

Oh! A Barn Swallow. One of the first ones I've seen this year.

I've been checking both set of nests under the bridges... and neither of those families have returned.

It seems suspicious that both families have disappeared. Did everyone die during the migration??

sighs.

I've arrived at Stewart Ponds... and the ponds are now definitely in the prairie stage of the Wet Prairie ecosystem! I LOVE the colours of the grasslands!!

Not just greens, there's reds and purples!

There's still some Camas Lilies blooming, but most of the purple, now is Lupine.

The white is a kind of Forget Me Not.

I wade into the grass, wanting to get pics of these...

These are Mules Ears, a native wildflower in the Sunflower family.

And wow, these flowers are full of bugs!!

As I wade out of the grasslands, I quickly check myself for ticks!

Haha! It was just so buggy there! I've never had a tick on me as an adult, and I don't even know if we have ticks here.

I suppose we do have ticks, but there aren't any big animals who live here for the ticks to live off of. I've never seen deers here, and even the occasional dog would probably stick to the edges of the prairie. And plus, these are ponds during the winter... I doubt that is ideal habitat for ticks!

I get to the trail, there are swallows swooping over the grass. And then I get to the little forest and there are birds singing like mad!

I pause a few times, but I don't see any birds even tho I can hear where they are.

I get to the back of the park, oh cool!

This is a Red Tail Hawk!! It's been ages since I've seen a Red Tail! Most of the hawks around here are Red Shoulders. She turns and I can see her red tail!

Haha, too bad there was no cooperation from the camera!

Thank You! See ya around!

At the back of the park there's a thicket over the creek, and there's some kind of fruit tree blooming!

Ha! These flowers also have bugs!

So interesting!

Tag: may 2025

I purposfully avoided all the news and videos about that Traitor's military parade in Washington DC. But apparently, it was pretty lame.

And this totally cracks me up.

∞ Donnie's DooDah Parade, & now we know what military thinks of Secretary of Jagermeister

A little bit of malicious compliance from the soldiers with sloppy marching. Along with some trolling in the music choices?!! *giggles* Awesome!

Tag: june 2025

I was able to keep the window over my bed, open all night! That's the second night in a row and I love it! It's chilly enough that I need all the winter quilts and it's so nice to have the fresh air, and be nice and warm under the covers!

Clouds this morning and it's 57° as I leave the house. High today is 69°, but to be 80° tomorrow, bleh!

Too quiet at the Flicker nest. sighs.

Aww, cute!

I get to the garden... *Wails*

The precious Lemon Cucumbers! This one has been munched by the slugs, AND it's snapped off at the base! ARG! Was it the wind that did that???

And here's another one that has wilted to death.

I don't know what is causing the wilting! That's the second one that has wilted to death. And I am just so sad, and mad... and discouraged.

But I've got stuff to do. I've brought the two biggest squashes from the crazy jungle that is the porch room. There's a Green Zucchini and a Yellow Zucchini.

I'm putting the Yellow Zuc in the Fallow Area. Ha... I just realized there are so many squashes in the jungle that I'm going to have to spread them out. Hopefully the compost dirt I spread here will help them grow.

The Green Zuc is so big, I'm concerned about wind damage. Especially with that Lemon Cuc snapped off. So here's what I do:

Haha! Complete support!

That should keep it alive from the power of the wind. And, really, this one is big enough that it should stay alive from the power of the slugs! So I'll just have to be careful, and not leave the grids on for too long.

*Laughs* Small... Medium... and Large Trellises!

The Leeks at the back of the Fallow Area are flowering. Well, nevermind. I planted them last year and they just didn't get big enough to bother picking. And the flowers will make a wide variety of pollinators very happy!

And the Sugar Snap Peas I planted as seeds are coming up and doing well!! All the leaves are a little slug munched, but they are growing faster than the slugs can eat!

I am so sad about the Lemon Cucumbers... it's just getting so late in the season, I'm not sure I'll be able to buy more.

And I LIVE for Lemon Cucumbers! Like... just... why bother gardening at all, if I can't have Lemon Cucumbers!!

Sighs. Well. They aren't all dead. And I should focus on the good things. The Sugar Snap Peas are happy, and I will enjoy eating them when they arrive.

The little one is still sitting on the same rock!

But where's Mama?

Baby peeps a couple times and Mama replies from down stream!

And still nothing here. Sighs!

Tag: may 2025

I had been walking with the march, and occasionally stepping aside on the sidewalk to watch people go by. But it's time for me to take a break!

I find a nice shady tree and put my backpack on the ground to pull out one of my water bottles. There's still ice, and it's shockingly cold!

I've loaded the backpack with lots of snacks... Clif Bars and fig breakfast bars. I don't know why I bothered, I'm not going to eat any of that! *laughs*

The march has come around the corner from Mill St and is going down Broadway.

Haha... An Amazon truck got caught in the march. The driver is at the back, cheering us on and waving her little flag!

As I went by, the driver went up to the front of the truck and honked the horn! Everyone cheered!!

There were a couple places where the march had to pause at red lights for cross traffic to go by. There were volunteers here, making sure marchers stopped for the lights and that everyone was safe and organized! And the drivers honked and waved joyfully as they drove by!

So many brilliant signs! :)

I am starting to lose steam here and I decide to turn around and head for the bus station to get home. I have a ways to walk, tho and I just back track along the marchers.

There were a few dogs!

Haha! Ending Fascism is on the Gay Agenda Brilliant!!

So many people, I wasn't sure if I would ever hit the end of the marchers! But here I am at the back, a truck bringing up the rear.

So much fun!

And how many people??? I had no way of estimating, there were people everywhere!! I'm thinking well over 5,000 and wonder if there was actually 10,000.

And yep, a few others were approximating 10,000 as well!

∞ No Kings protest draws 10,000 demonstrators to downtown Eugene

Another thought I had as I was walking home...

There were no counter protesters! Zero!

And I'm glad! Those lame-o Magas can stay home while the rest of us fix democracy!!

Tag: june 2025

I'm heading to the bus stop, and there's an amazing butterfly fluttering in this hell strip!

Oh my gosh! I've been seeing these butterflies for a couple weeks now, but they never sit for me.

Lorquin Admiral!!

Well now! I'm taking that as a sign of good luck! I get to the EMX stop and after I buy the ticket, I've got just two minutes to wait.

Because of the protest, the buses are on a different route to avoid traffic. We go thru a couple quiet neighborhoods, and the streets aren't wide enough! The bus takes up most of the two lanes! Yikes!!

I bet the drivers hate this! But there's nothiing for it, the car drivers just have to wait!

And the different route has confused my sense of direction! When we get to the station, I just start walking. I have to walk all the way around the station in order to get my bearings! haha!

I find the street I want, but I'm still unsure about direction. There's several other people walking this way, tho. And then I find a lady with a small American Flag! Okay! I follow her.

When we go past the streets that Saturday Market is on, I've got the map straight in my head again. As we go by the parking garage that's free for the weekend, I hear a lady tell one of the drivers trying to get in that he shouldn't bother, it's full. Ha! That's crazy!

It's 11:40 -- the protest started at 11 -- and I'm a block away from the federal courthouse... but there's too many people! As I draw closer, I realize I am not even going to be able to get close!

I hem and haw, walking back and forth at the edge of the crowd.

There's a group of cops here. I'm amused to see they are being entertained by a little old lady!

But I get my courage up and wade into the crowd!!

So many people! So Many Signs!!

The above is a child holding the Democracy sign... I'm blurring out kids faces. The rest of us do not have an expectation of privacy! Which is fine by me. There were many, MANY people recording on their phone! and a few people like me with cameras.

The protest at the courthouse was from 11 to noon and then the march would go from noon to 2pm and would be lead by the drummers... the Samba Ja percussion ensemble!

So I was making my way towards them, right at noon and got to see the march get moving.

Stay tuned for Part 2! (I just want to get this uploaded!!)

Tag: june 2025

∞ LAPD Officers Shoot Journalists, Trample Protesters The violence is coming from inside the house!

Down in LA, the police have intentionally targeted reporters.

Sighs.

My town hasn't gotten to this point. Or so I assume.

But I still have ... some concerns about my own safety.

Carrying the camera around, I have been mistaken for the media or a newspaper photographer. Multiple times.

And I'm definitely going to be carrying the camera around at tomorrow's protest.

I will be very disappointed if somebody shoots me.

Tag: june 2025

It's quiet at the Flicker nest... and I'm worrying about it again.

True leaves getting bigger on the Volunteer Squashes!

Never mind that Lemon Cucumber that died (out of frame), the rest are doing okay!

There are some pretty double petal Breadseed Poppies in Kevin's plot.

Crab Spider!!

Tag: may 2025

ICE is working it's evil in Eugene.

∞ Questions around Eugene ICE enforcement stoke local concern

∞ Immigrants being arrested at routine ICE appointments in Eugene, attorneys say

Treating people like this -- just skipping the due process -- is straight up racism and completely despicable.

I'll see you at the protest!

Tag: june 2025

Partner is sleeping this morniing, so I have to drive myself to Saturday Market. That's a bit of a bummer... I won't get to walk at all.

At the Farmer's Market I handed over 30$ and got 7 plants.

I got another Strawberry plant to expand the patch behind the Tomatoes at the back of the plot.

The Half Dead Sungold is actually doing well, but I got a second Sungold today, anyway. There isn't really room for it in the Tomato area tho, so I've put it at the back of the Fallow Area, next to last years Leeks.

I was leaving this area fallow because everything that grows here is stunted. I've got some summer cover crops coming up, Fava and Buckwheat, but it's not been warm enough to bring them up and there isn't full coverage.

And it shouldn't be a big deal if the Sungold here is stunted, since it's a second one!

I got a replacement Sunflower... I thought I had grabbed a ProCut Plum but when I transplanted it, I realized the tag said ProCut Red. Well, foo.

I put it at the end of the small trellis, with the Lemon Cucumbers...

And I saw one had died.

weird. It's got one slug munched leaf, but it looks like it wilted to death. That's not how they die from slugs. But they had all survived the transplant shock...

hm. I wonder what's up. The other Lemon Cucs are fine.

Well. I'm done here. I grab the rest of the veggie starts I bought, and drive home.

Tag: may 2025

I've been seeing a pair? Or maybe it's two pairs, of Scrub Jays at the beginning of my walks.

They don't always pause for photography, but I hope they are getting used to me looking at them.

Because look!

This one's grey head is really distinctive! She's easily identifiable from any other Scrub Jay! I hope they all stick around!

Quiet at the Flicker nest.

Okay! I have brought the other three Lemon Cucumber starts to the garden and got them transplanted into the other side of the small trellis. And the first three are looking good!

I planted more Lemon Cuc seeds on the other side of the trellis as well.

And I planted some Crookneck seeds at the front of the plot.

I don't know about all these seeds. But maybe the Volunteer Squash patch has given me some hope about seeds. ha.

As I left the plot, I noticed that all the Lettuces I had transplanted were gone. Munched to nothing by the slugs. Even the one that was standing up. Sighs.

I'm out. As I walk around the garden, ha, here's another Scrub Jay.

This one has a more ordinary blue head.

oh, ugh! These kids are just curious, but jeez, this is terrible!

I'm sorry humans ruin everything. :(

Tag: may 2025

There's a parent coming in, just as I get to the Flicker nest!

It's the male, again, and he's taking out baby poo sacks!

I wait a few moments, but nothing else happens and the babies are quite.

Walking past the Community Garden... Are you eating someone's strawberry?! haha!

Today, I keep walking past the garden.

Another male Flicker! He drummed on that, just briefly!

A Point and Click and Hope, towards a Bewick Wren...

Oh, hey! It worked!

Our three new Leaning Tree saplings. It'll be years before they get to a majestic - or more photogenic - size! haha!

How about this angle?

Nah. Maybe I should stick with closeups!

ha. I watched her struggling with this long twig with leaves at the end. She really, really wants it for her nest!

Or maybe this way?

She's able to fly with it to a nearby tree. Her nest is a bit further on tho.

I go past the tree with the Honey Bee nest!

I love the colour of these Breadseed Poppies!

Birds Eye Gilia.

Wood Pewee!

On the way back, I decide to stop at the garden after all.

At least that squirrel wasn't eating any of my strawberries...

Ha, not that I would have objected, if I had any ripe ones. Squirrels gotta eat!

Aw, dangit. That's the end of the Spaghetti Squash.

But just a couple feet away, the slugs haven't bothered the Accidental Lemon Cucumber!

And the Lemon Cucs I planted yesterday are all good.

Oh. Are we going into eclipse plumage? Seems pretty early for that.

The battery on the camera is flashing red, so I don't linger here.

But over here... Newborns!!

Tag: may 2025

I'm going to the garden, but I pause at the Flicker nest, and I'm so happy to see Papa there again!

Yesterday my brain was catastrophizing because it seemed overly quiet at the nest. But I'm glad to see something is happening here, after all!

Okay! The Garden! I've brought the first of the Lemon Cucumber starts! And I've brought some Lemon Cucumber seeds as well!

The prices of the veggie starts have gone up again this year... and to save a bit of money, I'm going to try to get some seeds going.

I've never had success with seeds. But never mind that!

I love Lemon Cucumbers with a passion, and every year I try to grow more than I can eat. That's never happened, altho a couple years I have had to Share my Lemon Cucs! *laughs*

Anyway. I ususally aim to have 10 Lemon Cucumber plants. So far, this year, I've bought 7... and assuming the seven live, I will fill in the rest with seeds.

Maybe.

If they grow.

So, the three I've brought today are planted under the small trellis. And I've put seeds all around! I will plant the other three, tomorrow, on the other side of the trellis.

We've got rain in the forecast tonight, so that will make these guys happy. And then the temps should be warming up as well... to be 70° on friday and even warmer over the weekend!

Here's the new sprayer.

I really like it! But all that plastic is not going to last out here for years like the old metal sprayer we had before. I will have to remember to bring it home for the winter.

Precious little Seven Spot!

The Spaghetti Squash is getting munched to death...

But on the other side of the big trellis the accidental Lemon Cucumber is just fine!

The patch of volunteer squashes really fascinates me. They are currently holding their own against the slugs! I see a couple true leaves being made!

The big strawberry plant...

Is doing it's thing!!

Okay. Done here and heading out.

I get back to the Flicker nest... Oh My GOSH! There's a parent here, on the outside!!

*laughs* Okay, calm down! Hit the zoom...

and sheesh, take a breath and steady yourself!!

But the parent has gone inside the nest by the time I get my act together. *snort*

But I'm standing here, looking up to see what happens next...

And Oh! Wow! I can HEAR babies!!!

Hear them! We have Babies!!!

I listen carefully. They are not Peeping like normal bird babies.

It's like a soft Whirrrr sound.
Right? Hard to describe!

Papa!

*laughs* Yeah, he spots me right away.

No worries! I'm harmless! :)

I've found a video of Flicker babies begging...

∞ Baby Flickers at Wildlife Resource Center

Those are the eastern race... Yellow Shaft Flickers, with black moustaches. Our western race is Red Shaft, with red moustaches. But I'd assume the babies of both make basically the same sound.

I am just thrilled to bits! I'm a little concerned that I've still only seen the papa. But he's obviously doing his job, getting the little ones fed. So, hopefully it will be okay.

Off he goes!

And one more baby before I get home... a single teenager duckling.

Is she by herself? Nope! I hear her siblings Peeping, peeping further upstream. She's heading towards them!

Tag: may 2025

Partner is driving us to the Community Garden today because he got us a new hose!

I've been dealing with the two leaks in the old hose for most of a week, and sheesh, it's irritating.

The new sprayer is really nice... different settings and you can adjust the flow from full to off! So that will be helpful, I think.

Partner hauls the old hose to the car to throw away and I get to work! I am planting seeds today!

The Wax Beans look like pills.

I also planted Beet seeds and a Lettuce mix of seeds, all around the starts...

The Beets are doing great. The one Lettuce I thought would live... is looking a little rough.

I've never had any success planting seeds at the garden, except for Peas, Beans and Favas. Lettuces, especially, just don't even come up. Probably the slugs get them on day one! I don't remember how beet seeds have done in the past.

I water in the new seeds with the new hose and sprayer... and hope for the best!

There are some more seedlings popping up in the Fallow Area: Favas and Buckwheats.

And the Volunteer Squash patch seems to be staying ahead of the slugs.

The new Spaghetti Squash, on the other hand... not looking like it's going to live.

The wind-blown Ring of Fire Sunflower is down to one leaf. If the slugs would just leave it alone, it could probably recover by making new branches. But is that actually going to happen?

The green thing in the background is the Lemon Cucumber I accidentally planted. It's actually mostly undisturbed by the slugs. So that's hopeful.

There are two Sugar Snap Peas left of the six I transplanted, but they don't look so good.

But Look! A beautiful line of Snap Pea seedlings!!

So, that's awesome!

And, with that happy thought, I'm heading out.

You know... a Columbine in my plot survived the winter. I wonder when it is going to bloom.

Since I got driven to the garden, I've got plenty of time for a walk before going home! I stop to watch the Minnows.

This duckling is at that awkward teenager stage... Adult feathers coming in, but still has some baby fluff!

Song Sparrow says Madge, Madge, Madge. Put on your tea kettle -ettle -ettle.

His tiny tongue!!

Oh, sir. You have a bit of a thing on your beak?

It doesn't matter? Oh. Okay.

All is quiet at the Flicker nest. Too Quiet???

I finally look up the incubation time for Northern Flickers.

Um. 11 to 13 days.

oh crap. Eleven to thirteen days has come and gone TWICE over since the parents finished this nest!

Shoot. But I have seen Papa here a couple times.

hmm. Not sure what to think, but my brain automatically goes to Doom.

Tag: may 2025

It's drizzling off and on this morning as I leave the house. Which is crazy for May... the rainy season goes from October to April. April! The rain is supposed to END in April! *laughs*

Oh, hey. A whole family of Turkey Vultures!

One of the Vultures lands in a tree on the other side of the creek. A crow was mobbing them, and she lands in the tree as well. But there's so many sticks!

Haha! I didn't realize I had been spotted!

I love Turkey Vultures! They are the coolest!!

I'm dropping off compost at the garden, and then I look around a little.

Crum. The slugs have found the Spaghetti Squash.

Are slugs eating the cute little Buckwheat seedlings, too. gah.

Well. The Volunteer Squashes are enjoying the damp day.

and the one Lettuce is still alive too.

And the cute black and white blooms on the one Fava plant!

I am studying my plot neighbor on the right. Last year, they were new, and I called them the Pot People... they had dozens and dozens of potted plants all over their plot!

And look at them now... they've not showed up once this year and the plot is a grassy disaster!

And then the sky opens up and it starts pouring! ha. I guess I will worry about their plot - and the next Community Garden Compliance Check at the end of May - another time!

But as I head out, I have to stop to admire these hot house Cosmos.

Cosmos don't bloom until mid summer and later. So these have been forced in a greenhouse. They are pretty and I'm surprised they are standing up to the cooler temperatures of the real world!

Okay. I am walking towards the downtown neighborhoods!

I've come to look at this ridiculous skeleton again!

Oh, haha!

I suppose those wires mean that the skeleton is lit up at night! ha. too funny!

I don't know what these purple flowers are, in front of a sea of California Poppies.

I just adore this little patch of wildflowers in this hell strip!! Above is Coreopsis, below is Birds Eye Gilias...

Baby Blue Eyes and Fivespots...

Okay! Heading back home... some native Mallows.

hmm. There's a homeless person sleeping right where I need to stand to look thru the tree leaves to see the Flicker nest. I glance up as I walk by... AHH! Papa is there again!!

I walk a few more steps... it's a harder angle, but I can see him!!

I am a little bit... concerned. Except for the very first day, when the parents completed the nest (Apr27), I've only seen the male.

Where is Mama? Is she okay? Or is it just coincidence that I've only seen Papa??

Tag: may 2025

Next weekend is the big No Kings Protest on Flag Day!!

I have already signed up at the website...

∞ NoKings.org

And I am happy to see a few videos, encouraging more people to join us!

∞ Parkrose Permaculture: 3 Reasons You Need to Join the Biggest Protest in US History and Help Spoil Tr*mp's BDay on 6/14

Will you be there?

Tag: june 2025

Well, this is a cute little thing. And they've helpfully left the ID tag with it! Tuberous Begonia.

Duckling!

Quiet at the Flicker nest...

*laughs* I was trying to get a photo of all three Flicker holes in this dead tree truck! But the wind kept blowing leaves and roses, and blocking the view of the other two holes.

The hole that's showing is the active nest. And aren't the climbing roses pretty?!

I'm at the garden, and no other humans! Yay, I have a walk about! I've not walked by the plots on the west side in a while.

Comfrey is another plant the Powers That Be have decided is illegal in the Community Garden...

It's such a pretty plant, and it evolved with the European Honey Bees... so those flowers are a perfect fit for the bee's bodies!

Unlike Borage, tho, it truely and actually is an annoying invasive. I let one get big in my garden plot... I loved it, but it was taking up room. (The footprint was probably over six feet square! a very big plant!) and I've been trying to kill it since Autumn 2023, and it still sends up leaves!

What The Fur??!

Whose fur is this?

...

Hm. Those colours remind me of the Alpacas who live in my parent's neighborhood.

But seriously, this is... really weird! And not vegan, using somebody's fur like this. bleh. I suppose it keeps the slugs from eating the strawberry fruits? but, just... bleh.

This plot has new decorations.

I like the Meerkat. I do not like the Angel... Weeping Angels are scary!

Okay! I'm at my plot, and oh foo... the top of the Sunflower has died. Well, maybe it can make new branches at the leaves.

But the Spaghetti Squash I planted yesterday is happy.

And the Lemon Cucumber I accidentally planted on Friday is good as well. Maybe it was okay to put it out, after all!

I've brought my hand tools today. And, as I mentioned... this is that Comfrey that I've been trying to kill since 2023!

Oh, good... some Fava is coming up in the Fallow Area!

And the cute little Green Zebra that I just planted is doing well.

While I've been looking around, this lovely Starling has been singing for me from Kevin's plot.

Hello! Will you let me walk around to get a better view? Oh, Thank You!

And as I left, I realized this is a parent!! Both parents were feeding a squawking brown fledgling. No pics, I only saw the family for a moment before they all flew away.

Outside the Community Garden, I'm thinking this is another Black Locust, like the tree near my home.

I decide to check it out.

The wind makes catching the flowers a challenge. But it's definitely a Black Locust.

It's a pretty thing... but HOLY!

Good god, those thorns are huge! And on the trucks of the trees! The tree in my neighborhood doesn't have thorns! Wow. Thank goodness! Just imagine. Yikes.

One more duckling on the way home.

About a million years ago, I temp'ed for an art company that was going out of business. And on the way out, I nabbed a box of markers that they had set out for people to take (any not taken were heading for the landfill).

My Tiny Cleans have finally reached that box in the porch room today.

These are just cheap markers, and I wasn't going to worry if I had to throw out the whole box.

But! I opened a pack, and only a couple markers were dry! Ironically it's the green and the purple markers that are dry, out of the eight colours... my favorites.

But still. I'll be happy to use some of the other colours for notes or whatever!

Also in the pic above... the Monstera! and books on the shelf. Towels on the drying rack! and the Dumb Cane in the lower left corner.

(I actually call the Dumb Cane by it's more beautiful name, Dieffenbachia. But I have to look up the stupid spelling every time, and that's so much work!) *laughs*

Tag: may 2025

Partner drove us to Saturday Market to buy more veggie starts. That's always nice because he can drop me off at the Garden and I get get a little bit planted and still have a little bit of a walk to get home!

I found this year's experimental tomato flavor... Green Zebra!

Ha! Isn't that fun! The Internets say it's a small salad tomato with a zing / spicy flavor.

So that sounds like a good compliment to the super sweet Sungolds. I can't wait!

I also planted the first Spaghetti Squash.

The plant on the left there is the Lemon Cucumber I planted yesterday. And middle is the poor stupid wind blown Sunflower. I don't think it's going to live, but it's trying.

The average wind speed in Eugene is 2.5 mph.

Historically, that is. The last couple of years we've been getting ever more wind. And especially this year.

I hate it. Very often the wind is blowing 8 to 14 mph when I go out walking, with bigger gusts. It's impossible to find birds in the trees, so the photography has suffered.

And now the garden suffers as well. sighs.

There's more Buckwheats coming up in the Fallow Area!

And Yay! The first Sugar Snap Pea is germinating!!

But the Lettuces aren't recovering. And they're starting to get munched.

Sighs. This one might live!

And the tomato cage on the right is holding up a couple Sugar Snap Pea transplants who are trying to live past the slugs.

And all the Beets are good as well... even the two smallest ones are perking up now!

This is the patch of Volunteer Squash... Will any survive the slugs?

I hope a couple live, it would be nice to see what they are!

There's a slight chance they could be Green or Yellow Zucs, but I'm thinking they are Spaghetti Squash or Butternut.

Kevin's plot has Breadseed Poppies!

And the plot next to him has these pretty things.

Some kind of Geranium.

And on the way home, it's quiet at the Flicker nest again.

Tag: may 2025

I've brought a couple more veggie starts to plant at the garden... but first, some weeding. It would be nice if I kept on top of the grass, so the powers that be don't ding me on the Compliance Checks... We've got the first one coming up at the last week of May.

I intend to keep my Borage, which is now an illegal plant at the Comm Garden. *rolls eyes* So I need to be toeing the line with all the other rules!

It's still too wet, and I was mostly just breaking off the grass at the surface instead of pulling out the roots.

I had grabbed the biggest veggie start from the porch room, thinking it was a squash. But when I planted it and looked at the tag, ha, it was one of the Lemon Cucumbers!

Hmm. Cucumbers love heat almost as much as tomatoes. We've still got some chilly nights, but maybe it will be okay?

I also brought the Old German...

and the Tomato Patch at the back of the plot is starting to shape up!

The slugs are doing a job on this little patch of volunteer Squashes. But they are so cute, I've decided to try to keep them...

I'm watering them a little and I put a tomato cage over them to keep from accidentally stepping on them since they are close to the middle pathway.

And speaking of watering...

Haha, the hose now has two leaks! And the first leak has gotten bigger and is spraying all over the place!

I've still got good water pressure coming out of the end, tho. So I keep watering and try to aim the two leaks at the Fallow Area. It's pretty awkward, tho!

The Small Strawberry has New Growth! There's a new leaf growing there on the right!

I had put out fertilizer on Sunday! And it's started a new leaf in just five days! Awesome!

And the Big Strawberry has loads of fruits coming on.

I think I need more Strawberries!

And there's some Buckwheat seedlings in the Fallow Area! Yay!

Okay. I'm done here.

Out of the Garden, I decide to walk up to the next bridge to check on the Barn Swallow nest there.

Last year, the Barn Swallows started re-using their nests under the bridges around May10.

But I see no sign of activity, yet. At either of the bridges. So that's a bummer. Is it still too chilly for them?

Coming back past the Flicker nest, tho... Oh My GOSH!

Yay! I'm so excited to see one of the parents here!

This is the Papa Flicker. He's spotted me! *laughs*

So cute!

Oh, hahaha! Is that a Squash Beetle?

The bug is re-evaluating his life choices and makes a run for it.

But Flickers would rather eat ants, so Papa lets the beetle live another day!

This is the view, without any zoom, from the bike path...

That climbing rose is really going to town with all it's blooms! (You can just barely see the Flicker nest hole in that middle tree trunk.)

Tag: may 2025

Damnit! The stupid wind!! This was the Ring of Fire Sunflower that I bought, and oh, dangit, I am SO disappointed!

sighs. I try to cheer myself up by looking at the plants that are going to live. Like the Big Strawberry plant is pretty happy, little fruits in the making!

And the Half-Dead Sungold still looks pathetic on first glance... but you can see it's recovering and making new branches!

And the Brandywine is just fine!

Okay. I have brought the Lettuces to plant today. I put them in behind the Beets in the front garden square... But, ugh, they look really really pathetic.

I'm sure they will perk up. And I'm sure they will be slug food shortly after that.

Sighs.

I don't know why I even bother with lettuce. Some years a couple live tho, so let's keep our fingers crossed!

And there are just two Sugar Snap Peas left with leaves. SIGHS! But that's what I expected.

And that's why I planted seeds here. It'll be a little drier once they start popping up and hopefully they'll be able to grow faster than the slugs can eat them!

And then I looked over and saw the single Fava that survived is flowering!

That's great! Hopefully I'll get some beans so I can re-plant in the Autumn.

I use Fava as a winter cover crop. You can eat the beans, but I've heard they taste like Lima Beans... yuck! *Laughs*

I'm heading out, but stop to admire the Columbines in the plot at the end of my row!

Oh god.

∞ The Reason Murderbot's Tone Feels Off Martha Wells' book series uses wry humor to tell a story about artificial intelligence, humanity, and free will. The Apple TV+ adaptation tries to do the same - with mixed results.
(Don't bother clicking... Wired has a paywall.)

I am a HUGE HUGE fan of Martha Wells Murderbot Diaries series. I've read the 7 book series countless times. Literally countless!

I was kind of anticipating the show... with excitement ... and dread! *laughs*

And now that it's out... um. I am not sure if I actually want to watch it.

∞ Apple TV: Murderbot

Tag: may 2025

Just another stupid example that when this regime does anti-DEI stuff it's obviously just white male supremacy.

∞ Domestic Violence Services Have Been Absolutely Decimated By Trump Nonsense Guess preventing violence against women is DEI!
It's not remotely surprising that they want to pretend domestic violence is not a systemic issue, but rather an issue of individual criminality, as it seems they want to pretend there is no such thing as a systemic issue across the board.

Remember when that fucking traitor and RAPIST trump said he was going to protect women, whether they like it or not? Yeah, so gross.

The regime hates women and it's just a matter of time before we lose all our rights. America will NEVER recover from this disaster.

We are well on our way to being a third world country.

... Ugh. I am just so angry. At everything this regime is doing. And I'm so disappoing that Checks and Balances are not happening, and the regime is literally getting away with murder, once removed.

How many people have already died from the lack of USAID? Tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands.

And how many people will die from this?

Tag: june 2025

From the front corner of the Rhododendron Garden, there's a steep trail that goes up to the forest trails. It's so steep, I call it the exercise trail! I huff and puff going up!

And I was very amused that this crow is walking up the trail in front of me! You can fly up the trail, you know! *laughs*

Last year, volunteers cleared the invasives from a good section of the forest. English Ivy and Himalayan Blackberry and English Holly. And I assume all these flags are where they've planted new, native plants!

I forgot how many happy Song Sparrows live here!

Thimbleberries on the way!

I should have put my hand down to indicate how big this Banana Slug is! She-he is a good six inches (15cm)!

(Slugs are hermaphrodites, thus the she-he pronoun! They are both!) We mostly only have these brownish Banana Slugs. Very occasionally I'll see one decorated with pretty, dark brown patterning. But I've never seen a yellow one here, like they have up in Portland.

Oh my gosh!

Two birds are having an argument! One flies away with a squawk! And when I try to see where the other one has gone...

They are sitting in a nest!!!

Wow! The nest is only 10feet from the path, maybe. But it's hidden well. I would not have noticed it except that the parents were being loud right when I walked by!

Ha. I wonder if one parent was out too long, and when they came back the other was all... I'm tired of sitting here! I was worried about you! Don't do that to me!

There's all kinds of birds here... singing up a storm. But I barely catch glimpses.

There's a Cherry tree amongst the White Oaks on the knoll.

Coming back down. I find the Robin nest again, but this time I can see I'm making her nervous. So I don't stay.

Good Luck, my dear! I hope everything goes well, and you find many bugs to feed your babies!

oh! Ha! This one was coming up the trail. She calmly stepped off when she saw me.

um. Excuse me? ... Hello? ... Could you just give me a few seconds of your time?

Oh! Hey! Thank You so much! *laughs*

Oh, Wow! This is somebody new!

A Black Head Grosbeak.

And I've been saying it wrong! It's pronounced grows beek.

And... what in the world?

Did... YOU roll up this leaf? Why? What is going on??!

Okay. The Internets to the rescue! A website I found was paywalled but the snippet said When feeding on lepidoptera larvae rolled in leaves of plum tree (Prunus virens), plucks leaf and deftly removes larva, then subdues it by ...

Okay! So there's a bug in there! I love learning these things!

well, shoot. I didn't get pics of him getting the bug.

And no non-blurry photos, either.

That's okay. It's been an awesome day!

Tag: may 2025

The Rhododendron Garden is a lovely destination for Mother's Day, so it's been on my mind. I decided to visit today!

The blossoms have fallen off the tree!

This is a Clematis vine, draped over an Oak tree... but you kinda just have to be there to see how majestic... and huge! the whole thing is!

There aren't any flowers down low, so this is a photo from a distance!

Tag: may 2025

After all the crazy rain we got yesterday -- over ½ an inch!! In May!! Today is looking like a nice day! The clouds are moving around a good bit, it's to be a bit cooler than the normal of 68° and the wind on the ground isn't too terrible at 4mph.

Oh! Duckling!

It's not just the one. I can hear other babies peeping from the bushes behind them. Hurry up and get out of the nest, Babies! :)

Walking right by the Community Garden today. But this one greets me as I go by!

Aw! An older duckling!

So thrilled that this one has lived past baby-hood and probably survived H5N1!

*Laughs* Everybody is so friendly and cute today!

The Leaning Tree Saplings.

This grass is pretty. I wonder if it's an escaped ornamental.

Ha! Well, that's weird!

Oh my, the colours on these Columbines!

The pink Irises are so amazing!

The older duckling is still hanging out in the same place... but now sitting with Mama!

Oh My Gosh! A parent Flicker flew out just as I arrived!! Confirmation that this is still an active nest!! Yay!

Sheesh, that was a lot of photos today! But the cuteness just kept coming! *laughs*

Tag: may 2025

A bit after midnight I woke up to water battering at the window. It's raining and the gutter must have a leafy clog... instead of going down the pipe, the water is overflowing and hitting the window on the way down.

It's loud, tho intermittant and it keeps me awake for a good while.

I love the rain... but the only thing I'm thinking today is that the garden is NEVER going to dry out! ha!

The clouds break up a few hours after dawn. But the next rain clouds roll on in and it is pouring again as I head out the door!

oh foo! There was a whole pile of ducklings, keeping warm on the bank. And when they saw I was looking at them, they just unbundled themselves and popped down into the water where I couldn't see them.

I didn't get a count, but this is definitely the largest group of babies I've seen this spring... five? maybe six?

All the very small families of 1 to 3 ducklings is probably a response to H5N1 Avian Flu which has killed many, many babies in the last few years. I think it was 2023 that was the worst, where almost all the babies died. It was a little better last year.

It's still raining hard when I get to the park... but isn't it lovely!

There's still ponds on the south side!

Or maybe the main ponds are still there, too, just disguised with the taller grass.

I am happy to walk thru the little bit of forest. But I don't see any birds today.

Heading home thru the city. I suppose these will be the next trees that they chop down. sighs. Climate change is killing our Douglas Firs.

Tag: may 2025

Very dreary today and the chances of rain tonight have been bumped up to 100%. Crazy. Apparently the weather didn't get the memo that the rainy season is over in April! *laughs*

There's lots of wind today too. The weather page says 8mph but it seems faster than that.

The wind this year has been so much more annoying than it has been in the past. Am I getting used to it?

I don't know, but it really puts a crimp in the photography... I can't find birds sitting in the trees when the whole stupid tree is waving around randomly in the wind. bah.

There's humans walking by the Flicker nest. I try to kill some time, looking at the Poison Hemlock thats coming up.

The leaves are pretty, but this is the stuff that killed Socrates! It is very poisonous.

The humans aren't getting out of the way, and there's nothing happening at the Flicker nest anyway. So I go on to the garden.

I'm putting down some fertilizer today and I'm not waiting for the rain tonight, but watering it in right now!

But oh shoot! The hose has sprung a leek!

Well that's annoying. But this is the hose I bought at the very beginninig of the gardening adventure! I spent a lot of money to get this heavy duty thing and it's pretty unbelievable that it's lasted this long. Especially since it sits out here even thru the winter!

I will have to look it up and see if I can buy the same hose again!

All the plants today are fine, and even the Sugar Snap Peas are strangely un-munched! Are the slugs giving me a break??!

Plus I found this Fava bean germinating in the Fallow Area! Yay!

Happy Sunflower!

Okay, I'm out. The plot on the end of the row is shining with orange. Calendulas, and I think the white flowers are spent Wallflowers?

And some California Poppies.

And heaading home, the quiet Flicker nest.

Ha... Yesterday when I was running errands, I apparently got fairly close to this mess.

∞ Eugene hotel standoff ends in arrest of burglary suspects

Some theives had stolen some electronics and stuff, which had trackers on them! The police closed down the road and there was a bit of a armed standoff with one of the bad guys. But it ended peacefully after they bashed in the door and flew in a drone. No one was hurt!

I got within less than a block, and never even noticed! Which is fine with me!

Tag: may 2025

I've got the car today, and I'm on my own with the all the places I need to go... So I'm rearranging the usual Saturday order and driving to the Community Garden first. The seeds I planted need to be watered.

Some of the Snap Peas I put in yesterday have perked up. And some have wilted to death and one was munched.

And the two smallest Beets haven't situated themselves, but they are still alive.

Hello Bug!

This is a Spotted Cucumber Beetle. I've never had any trouble with them and they are super cute! Their cousins, the Striped Cucumber Beetles, on the other hand, have killed some plants... but I've not seen any in several years.

This is the Small Strawberry plant... while it does have some strawberries coming on, it's just not growing. The dirt here is kind of dry and hard, so I watered the heck out of it!

Okay, I'm done here. But I glance around and it looks like the other people who were here have left! Having the Garden to myself on a Saturday is not an opportunity to be wasted, and I go wandering!!

Somebody's Chives are looking all pretty.

I've tried several times to get Chives growing in my garden plot, to no avail.

Oh, wow! These Irises are gorgeous!

Against the sky, they are just stunning!

Okay! Next errand is Saturday Market.

I park in one of the parking gargages, on the orange level today and it's such a lovely view.

That's St Mary's and I think that's the one that has bells that chime out the hours. You can hear them for miles.

Mountain View Farm is my favorite farmer, where I buy all my veggie starts.

Today I am beyond thrilled to find an Old German tomato... that was my experimental tomato last year and it was SO GOOD! I didn't see it last time, and this time, there's just two left!

I spend my twenty bucks and more and then it's off to the next errand.

A treat from Sweet Life!

oh yeah!

This is their vegan Chocolate Strawberry Cake and it is Yummy!

Tag: may 2025

Hello, my dear!

Good stuff? :)

I'm walking past the wet prairie... no longer ponds any more and drying out and getting on with the prairie stage. Camas Lilies are still blooming as well as the Western Buttercups.

And there are crickets singing!

I love to hear them. I worry so much about our precious bugs. But here at least there's a few happy bugs left in the world!

Haha! There's been a slug or snail wandering around the Flicker nest!!

Okay! I'm at the garden and I've brought some of the veggie starts I bought back in April to finally plant.

Last year the front garden square had tomatoes on the left and the Lemon Cucumbers on the right. And this year it will be Sugar Snap Peas on the left and Beets (and maybe Lettuce?) on the right.

The Sugar Snap Peas have unfortunately gotten tall in the weeks they've sat in the porch room. They are so delicate I'm surprised they made the trip in my backpack without snapping off and I have trouble untangling them. Maybe I should have just dumped the whole pot of them in one hole.

All around, I plant seeds! The slugs will probably munch the veggie starts to death, but it'll be drier once the seeds get sprouted and fewer slugs around. Hopefully some will live, but at the moment these are looking pretty pathetic!

The Beets, on the other hand are looking great.

This was also a tray of six veggie starts. A couple of the six were terribly small and might not live thru the transplanting. That's a bummer, but I'm wondering if I can plant some beet seeds as well.

I always forget how much I LOVE fresh beets and in the past I plant them as an after thought, or not at all. Last year, I only had a couple volunteers! But right now I remember eating them, and yum, so good!

So, yeah. I'm going to look for some beet seeds!

Oh look! Someone has already discovered the poor pathetic peas!

My cute little friend!

And on the way home, Ducklings!

They paddle away with their mama before I can get decent pics. Oh well, I'll catch up with them next time.

Tag: may 2025

Uh oh! There's a fire!

I can hear sirens of emergency vehicles coming from several directions but it seems like it takes them so long to get there! But I see a firetruck go past at the next street... and really it's just been a few minutes.

I hope everyone is safe.

Another quiet day at the Flicker nest.

And we had another colder night... but not down to freezing again, thank goodness. It was 39° last night, chilly but the Brandywine is still fine...

And the Half Dead Sungold is probably wondering why life is so freaking difficult here. But it'll be fine, I'm sure.

And the Sunflower is fine as well!

Okay. Today I'm going to spread out the compost dirt in the front garden square.

I had to move the small trellis a little, it was sitting right on the Sunchoke roots.

I thought I wanted to keep the Sunchoke... it's a pretty plant and keeps loads of birds and bugs happy throughout it's life. But when I looked at the roots, oh ugh! They were mostly slug eaten! And when I dug down a litte to see if any of it was still alive... bleh!

Major Slug Factory!

I took what was left of the roots AND the slugs to the compost heap, where they can happily live out the rest of their days. And maybe it's just as well that the Sunchoke was mostly dead, anyway. It's a huge plant, not just tall but wide as well. And I want the Lemon Cucumbers growing here on the small trellis!

Well. Compost is spread out and that looks pretty good!

The big bit of green is the volunteer Elephant Garlics. Most of the smaller green bits are Dandelions, which I never dig up anymore. They are good for the soil and usually have some bugs on them too. Gotta keep the bugs happy!

And then the two plants at the bottom are a volunteer clover that started growing last year, and the single cover crop Fava that survived the winter. I have high hopes for it to bloom and make more beans for me!

Good work done today, and I'm liking how the garden is shaping up!

On the way home, I look at the climbing roses instead of just the boring, quiet Flicker nest! *laughs*

And there's no more smoke coming from that spot to the south.

Tag: may 2025

*laughs*

That's my shadow! I'm taking the Sunflower and Brandywine to the garden today... and the Sunflower is too tall to fit in the backpack! So I've left it unzipped with the top of the plant looking over my shoulder as I walk!

And the Oak catkins are starting to fall.

As I'm passing a tree on the corner...

It suddenly strikes me that these flowers look exactly like the Wisteria flowers I photoed yesterday!

Except they are white instead of the Wisterias purples... and this is a tree instead of the vine of the Wisteria.

I look it up when I get home. Black Locust!

And yep, it's related to Wisteria. And in fact has the same rather invasive style of life! ha! This Black Locust is under power lines and they just cut it down to the ground every couple years. And it just keeps coming back!

I'm glad I learned something today!!

Okay, let's get this show on the road!

This is the back right corner of the plot. Last year it was the Squash Square, and this year it's going to be the Tomato area.

I moved the trellises and scooped leaves out of the way and then spread the compost dirt... I put it out pretty thin, but it went farther than I thought!!

I planted the Brandywine a good ways away from the poor almost-killed Sungold. And made sure the strawberries got a good amount of compost dirt too.

The Brandywine looks happy.

And the Sungold looks pathetic from it's adventures with near freezing temperatures... but it's def going to live!

And the big Strawberry plant is looking awesome. I'm watering it along with the seeds I threw down in the new Fallow Area. The dirt is really hard here.

I've moved the big trellis into the place where I want it... it's a few feet closer to the front of the plot from where I had it last year. Just want to give the Tomatoes behind it some extra room so i can walk around everything.

And I put the Ring of Fire Sunflower just under the trellis!

And then I placed the smaller green trellis for the Lemon Cucs.

And now that I'm looking at it... it seems a bit crowded! I might have to put some zucs in the Fallow Area after all.

And speaking of Zucs... Yeah, this one is dead.

Oh well. It served it's purpose, I guess.

I hope the new leaves coming in don't get totally in the way of my view of the Flicker nest!

And I still haven't looked up the incubation time!

As I'm looking up, I realize this climbing rose vine is almost exactly in front of the Flickers' tree.

I could tell any passers-by that I'm taking pics of the roses, instead of mentioning the Flickers!

Then again, it's not like I can stand here for any length of time... Birds get nervous when you're staring at the place where their babies are!

Tag: may 2025

I look up at the Flicker nest... all quiet.

... And since I'm thinking about nests, I also look up at the Barn Swallows nests.

It's empty... Last year the parents returned on May10 and built up that beautiful top half of the nest. I'm looking forward to seeing them again!

I spend a few minutes with the new Leaning Tree Saplings.

The west tree isn't as healthy as the other two, it's got some dead branches.

I hope it lives!

And I wonder if they knew they were planting the saplings in the exact configuration as the original Leaning Tree... One trunk to the west and the other two trunks pointing north and south.

They must have known. Why else have three trees here.

So that's nice... someone who cared about the Leaning Tree got these little ones in it's memory!

Ducklings!

Just the two. And here's proud Mama, watching out for them.

I go by the wisteria, on the way home. It's got some blooms above the fence now.

Tag: may 2025

∞ Oregon governor declines to extradite woman accused of embezzling from Eugene Weekly

∞ Extradition Denied Gov. Tina Kotek's office turned down Lane County's request for extradition funding in the EW embezzlement case, freeing the alleged embezzler from jail despite five felony charges

*Screaming*

I have had it with our worthless governor...

I voted for her, and at the time I was excited to see what all she was going to do. I really thought she would be a boon to Oregon.

But since she's been in office, she's done NOTHING.

I am outraged at Traitor Trump's bullshit everyday, but Governor Kotek has done nothing to stand up to the fascism.

And last week, she did do something...

∞ Oregon governor testifies for controversial bill focusing on foster kids The legislation would allow the state to send children in foster care out of state again, a practice Oregon stopped because of abuse
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek threw her weight behind a controversial bill that would allow the state to send children in foster care to facilities in other states and change the definitions around restraints and seclusions.

So this is super disturbing. This is just throwing these poor kids away. And I hate that Gov Kotek is trying to push it thru.

So this thing with denying justice for the Eugene Weekly is the last straw for me.

I am absolutely disgusted at our Governor!

Translation: Gov Kotek,
I am so disappointed and angry that you refused to extradite the person who embezzled from the Eugene Weekly! You don't want to serve justice? On top of that you are not standing up to Trump's fascist regime! I regret voting for you - you are a worthless governor!
DO BETTER!!
Sincerely, rift

I have gotten out of the habit of writing these spontaneous postcards... strongly worded or otherwise. It feels good to get back to it!

Tag: may 2025

Tag: may 2025

Tag: may 2025

Tag: may 2025

Tag: may 2025

This resonated with me.

∞ Short: Parkrose Permaculture... How do I tell certain people My House Is Safe?

Tag: may 2025

Tag: may 2025

January 2025

February 2025

March 2025

April 2025

January 2024 (partial)

February 2024

March 2024

April 2024

May 2024

June 2024

July 2024

August 2024

September 2024

October 2024

November 2024

December 2024

February 2023 (partial)

March 2023

April 2023

May 2023 (partial)

June 2023 (partial)

July 2023

August 2023

September 2023

October 2023

November 2023

December 2023

So I've looked at a map, and I hope I get around the new Downtown Riverfront Park without getting lost this time. It's closed because they are using it for the World Athletics Championships, which started yesterday and runs until the 25th.

This amazing mural just outside the Rose Garden was finished just in time for the Championships.

And, of course, you can't go by the Rose Garden without obsessively taking photos of the roses.

And then we gotta check the Osprey nest on the other side of the river. There's one child there today, and she takes off ... only to make a loop and come back to the nest.

XXX... Goal: Finish this post!

Tag: xxx 2022

I'm archiving the 2022 posts...

∞ January 2022

∞ February 2022

∞ March 2022
Story of nesting Anna Hummingbird begins here!

∞ April 2022
... And the nesting Hummer story continues here, until the babies fly away in mid-April!

∞ May 2022

∞ June 2022

∞ July 2022

(completed 28 May 2023...)

January thru July 2021 Archive

August 2021 Archive

September 2021 Archive

October 2021 Archive

(No entries for November 2021)

December 2021 Archive

Goal: revisit August 2021... Road Trip to Utah!

And then keep filling in posts from there thru the end of 2021.

Tag: 2021

(completed 27 Dec 2020 thru 5 Jan 2021...)

2020 Archive... January thru July

(posted 21 Apr 2023...)

2020 Archive... Aug thru Dec

GOAL...

Revisit the Aug thru Dec archive page and add photos and clear out the xxx!

Tag: 2020

(Posted 22 Dec 2020...)

The new archive is HTML5, and completely validated!

2019 journal entries

Tag: 2019

(Posted 18 Dec 2020...)

I have managed to move all of the 2018 journal entries into an archive page. I did not write very much in 2018, so I decided not to divide them up into months, like I usually do.

The new archive is HTML5, and completely validated!

2018 journal entries

Tag: 2018

(Posted 19 Dec 2020...)

I have managed to move all of the 2017 journal entries into an archive page. And again, I didn't write very much, so the posts for the entire year are on one page.

The new archive is HTML5, and completely validated!

2017 journal entries

Tag: 2017

Sat, 08 Jul 2023
Partner's Mom passed away
early this morning.