Thought for food

The Better Half has, quite understandably, tired of the bare dirt and mess created by moles and voles under the bird seed feeder. This morning we were pleased to assist with the initial implementation of a solution. There are now two hydrangea bushes, one at either end of the downstairs patio including the spot under the feeder. Yours truly was responsible for digging the holes for planting. Yesterday, he also carefully unpacked each of the plants from the ends of a Rube Goldberg class shipping container. Come October, he is given to understand, some unspecified quantity of peonies will arrive and also require planting. He is hopeful the new plantings will not attract fresh hordes of pocket gophers to accompany the moles and voles. [Note to self: study up on mole trapping this winter.]

sand burs, Summer hazard

Photo by J. Harrington

Current temps are in the mid-80s, headed toward the low 90s. No additional, meaningful, outside work will be undertaken today, barring unforeseen emergencies. There are parts of the property that need to be run over [overrun?] with a mower although, despite our best efforts to mow much of the recent eruption of sand burs with the bagging mower, Harry the Beagle promptly proceeded to get several stuck in his right front paw. Since I had neglected to bring a pair of pliers on our walk, I pinched the burs in the folds of my jeans’ leg and removed them from Harry’s paw. Said burs were removed from the jeans’ leg when we returned to the house and a pair of pliers was handy. The combination of poison ivy, sand burs, pocket gophers and moles is what stands between our little property and a veritable heaven on earth. I doubt I shall see that heaven in this lifetime.

This morning, well after sun rise, a whitetail doe walked through the back yard like she owned the place. She was promptly accompanied by two nicely grown fawns, at least one of whom has a zoomie complex. The Better Half accused the trio of being the perpetrators consuming her newly planted hostas. Since two new plants have been reduced to stems, the presumption that deer don’t eat hostas has been deemed questionable. The repellant in perforated plastic bags hasn’t been effective, so we are now adding used coffee grounds as repellants. Stay tuned.

Eating Words

By Katherine Hauth

When you know

that vore means eat,

you will know

that insectivores feed

            on grasshoppers, moths, and butterflies,

            mosquitoes, bees, and plain-old flies.

When you know

that carni means meat,

you will know

that carnivores eat

            snakes and lizards, deer and lamb,

            carrion, birds, fish, and ham.

When you know

that herb means plant,

you will know

that herbivores CAN'T

            eat anything that moves on a foot,

            just foods that spring up from a root.

When you know

that omni means all,

you will know

that omnivores call

Everything

            they can suck or chew—

            sometimes even me or you—

food.

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