Orchid shoot is shooting

I haven’t really paid much attention to my moth orchid lately. It rewards that sort of inattention, you see, with lovely flower shoots. It seems like just a few days ago that it was barely more than a bud. Look at it go!

Fall sprouts

Okay, it’s after Thanksgiving, so the weather is officially allowed to snow. And even now, just when most of the garden is falling asleep, some seeds are still sprouting. Like this a columbine unfurling its first leaves. Good way to get a jump on the competition. You think?

Squirrels never rest

This is what happens when I slack off on the bird feeders. Squirrels hop on.

Sparrows

Often there are so many birds — sparrows, mostly — in the bushes that the rustling of their flitting about sounds like a much larger animal rattling about in there. It can sound downright alarming if you don’t see them. Then I look up through the branches of my little viburnum, and there they are […]

Pea is for Progress

Oh my! The foolish, brave little pea is making a peapod. Aww. So sweet.

The cleanup continues

Raking and sweeping and bagging. Raking and sweeping and bagging. There was a bit of frost on the hill this morning. It’s a warning. Time is running out to get the fall cleanup done. And it’s a warning to turn off the outside tap and open the hose. But it’s an opportunity, also, to sink […]

Orb Weaver

I can’t say I think they’re as cute as bees or ladybugs, but I approve of spiders. I approve of the beautiful marbling on this Cross Orb Weaver I found on a recent sunny day. I approve of her broad, round web. And I approve of her hard work, still catching fat juicy flies. Yum?

One bed squared away

Now I’m falling behind on getteng the yard cleaned up. I’ve got exactly one patch weeded, and covered with compost. You can’t see them, but the upper right corner also has 20 slivers of garlic planted from the cores of a couple heads of garlic. That one leek is the last of a batch I […]

Earthworm’s pantry

I like seeing the earthworms in the ground; it tells me that the soil is good and nutritious for nightcrawlers. It’s getting cold and wet (very wet, today) but lots of leaves are covering the ground. the organisms that break down the leaves are good eats if you’re a worm. So it’s stocking up for […]

Lingering summer

Looks like I ‘m a bit distracted by the few warm days we’re getting this week, a bit of summer lingering past its due date. While I’m out raking leaves, the alpine strawberries are fruiting again. Very tart fruits, but fruits nonetheless.