A Hot One
Morning bike ride around Whitewater. Then up to Oconomowoc for a little picnic.
Swinging & Water Fights
Abby, Katy, Will (and Rev) came down for a visit, some bike-riding, park time, backyard swinging and some hose fun. Not a cloud in the sky, no wind, and a high about 80. Had to ride towels on the slides because they were too hot.
On our morning walk, Pax and I passed by this little roadside retention pond, as we often do, and found it to be a more than usually hopping place. Bullfrogs, all around the pond, twanging and thrumming, redwing blackbirds chuckling, and turtles plopping off mats of vegetation. Quite an amazing lot of vitality in a nondescript little place.
And, here is a close-up of my favorite little tree in Starin Park, a young American beech. This is the tree I was trying to identify last fall. I remember the great beeches around Saugatuck and Camp Gray, which were so impressive when I was a kid, and I want one in my yard someday.
Dirty Dog
Summery day—not a cloud in the sky. Actually pleasant, in the shade.
On our afternoon bike ride, Pax got wind of a gopher and decided to dig him out. Since he had been left at home for a long stretch in the middle of the day I decided to let him have some fun and stood by while he dug. Ten minutes later and three feet down into praire sod, he was still was shy of his quarry. I began to feel the need to move on; Pax was sure more depth was the answer; but eventually we did proceed. To the marsh, where Pax felt the need for a dip in the algae. Once back home, he got hosed.
Whitewater Garden...
...finally planted, here on the 28th of May, 2014. Four varieties of winter squash, five rows of two varieties of beets, three varieties of tomatoes and the same of peppers, and some basil (tomatoes and peppers and basil started from seed by Abby). The soil here is incredibly rich (and has been amended over the past 4 or 5 years), and the climate is warm. So, it all depends on the moisture, and the garden is pretty much left up to its own devices in that regard; sink or swim, so to speak. It will be interesting to compare Whitewater garden to Kagawond garden. All Kagawong has going for it is day length and some human attention. It is to to note, however, that the largest cabbages grown are grown in Alsaka, where day lenth is even greater that that in Kagawong.
Very Green
More rain today frustrating the earth-moving project at Riverknoll, where we spent much of the day trying to help out. Frustrating, yes, but causing grass to grow with wild abandon. This is growing weather. The garden (as seen in the background in the photo above) has been turned and tilled, but so far not planted, which makes growing problematic. A late start, yes, but maybe tomorrow. It will be simple: beets, winter squash, just a few tomatoes and peppers, and some basil. Self tending.
I Feel The Earth Move...
We helped out with the giant terraforming project at Riverknoll, partly by doing stuff with Katy and Will so mom and dad could work, and partly by sweating alongside them in the sweltering sun. Eventually a thunderstorm turned all to mud and Mimi and Bubba and the two kids left the slipping and wallowing to Abby and Tony. It's an Incredible project, and I'm sure Ab will be posting some photos soon.
Wrapping things up today was a little candle ceremony, quite similar to the one held yesterday. The kids seem to like these things and are unfazed by large numbers.
Grandkids
Visits today to Riverknoll and Victoria Lane. Very warm and very sunny, almost too much so for someone not properly acclimated. No photo today.
Change of Venue
Back in Whitewater, where we missed the tulips, but arrived in time to see the redbud, the columbines, and the bleeding hearts. The grass is thick and lush, with no dandelions. What's up with that? Could our new mower be doing something of which we are unaware? And, Sue has a nest full of baby robins on her bedroom windowsill, so now, is it window open or window closed?
The fresh air here is different from what we have been breathing recently, thicker and greener.
With two drivers, the long drive, chopped up with naps and reading periods, was not so bad.
Much Like Summer
Sunny and warm. A few tomato seedlings got planted (started from seed here on Manitoulin), more painting got done, and we cleared out the lower level in preparation for flooring installation, which is supposed to happen next week, while we are away.
Lots of warblers around (though I can't tell a warbler from a wrangler), the merlins are here, but mostly over by Tyson's, the flycatchers are back (mweep!), the woodlpecker still hammers occasionally (but in desultory fashion), and we have seen a few robins?
Still, no midges, no blackflies, no mosquitoes. If as Eliot says, April is the cruelest month, May here on the Island is rather compassionate (although we have been hoping to hear tree frogs).
On the road tomorrow.
Potted
We helped Ken, the owner and propietor of Cedarwood Lodge in Providence Bay (and MASC member) pot up 175 bare-root trees in preparation for eventual sale at farmer's markets, etc., as as MASC fundraiser.
Red oak, white oak, black walnut, mountain ash, silver maple, and red pine. (We refused to help with the black locust because we know it can be invasive.) Hard work, but fun, with plenty of interesting conversation. Ken has been pretty much everywhere, and lived pretty much everywhere else, but decided Providence Bay was his ultimate destination. Quite providential—sort of like us, only we were serendipitous.