Birdies and Ents and Daffs

A few years ago, my sister, saw a teacup bird feeder and her “I can make that” kicked in.  She made one for herself, hung outside her studio window and proceeded to comment on all the birds that visited it.  And, so, I hinted (makemeone, makemeone) and she gave me one for my birthday.

I hung it under the eaves, just outside my kitchen window, filled it with birdseed and awaited the birds.  Then, several days later, as I walked through the kitchen, I registered movement through the window.  Looked and much to my surprise, I saw . . . . . . .

A BIG FAT SQUIRREL SITTING IN THE TEACUP EATING THE BIRD SEED!

Arrrgghhh!

To be honest, I made several very unkind remarks about the squirrel and just what it could do with itself.  I’m thinking the damn thing heard me through the window because it went flying off, knocking the teacup feeder off its hook. 

And, it broke.  Boohoo!  It was the saucer that broke so I took the feeder along with a new saucer to my sister – “Fix this please”.  That done, I returned home and roamed my yard, front and back, to try to find a place for it.  Where-o-where is there a safe, moderately squirrel proof place.  And, I settled on one of the supports for my gazebo.  No trees nearby.  Squirrel will have to balance beam walk across to it.  Ha! Safe place.  Until I looked out and saw this . . . . . .

Really?

Hanging by its toes, head in the cup.

And, so again I roamed the yards looking for a safe place.  So, finally, I just hung it, empty, on one of the branches of the Ent that lives on my front porch.

 Tendertrunk

Ent – you know - a race of beings in Middle-earth who closely resemble trees (Did You Know? their name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word for giant) and are ancient shepherds of the forest. 

And, it hung there for some time until, I happened to notice a small bird land on the rim of the cup and look in.  So, I decided to try to find a safe place again.  Now, it hangs under the eaves in the front yard, close to the porch and surrounded by windchimes (which bother the birds not one bit).  (So far, so good – no squirrels)

And, I have birds!  I’d try for a picture of the birds feeding but with my solar screens, all the pictures look like this . . .

But, I have a pair of cardinals that visit regularly, a red-headed woodpecker, and several Carolina chickadees.  How cool is this!

Ok, here’s another – Did You Know?.  The flower of the month for March is Daffodil. 

Some interesting Daffodil facts:

o   The Daffodil's ancestors come from places like Spain and Portugal and the Middle East. The earliest record mentioned about Daffodils was around two or three hundred years B.C.

o   Grown extensively by the ancient Greeks and the Romans, Daffodils became a forgotten flower until about 1600 when a group of Englishmen took the Daffodil out of the weeds and put it into the garden.

o   Daffodils were brought to Britain by the Romans who thought that the sap from Daffodils had healing powers. Actually the sap contains crystals that can irritate the skin.

o   During the days of the American expansion west, Daffodils were well established as a "must have" in the garden.

They are a member of the Narcissus family.  They like lots of water.  They bloom in the spring.  They will multiply.  And, they should be planted in the fall.

Pretty – yes.  Personally though, I’m not a big fan of bulbs.  They’re a lot of work and don’t always produce consistently here in our Texas climate.  Many require more cold hours than we generally have.  Plus, I still remember, Once Upon a Time . . .

My aunt had given me a big box of various bulbs with instructions to do a “woodland” planting.  That is, put them all in a bag, shake them up, and roll them out into the flower bed, planting them where they land.  OK.  This I did.  At the time, my oldest daughter was about 2; her sister a year younger.  The youngest one slept peacefully on a blanket.  The oldest on the blanket with a variety of toys.  So, bulbs all in the bag, shaken, spilled out into a 10-foot bed and I started to plant.  Dig a hole, pop in the bulb, cover with dirt and repeat many, many times.  And, some time later - finished.  Yea!  Now, at some point in this process, I knew the oldest had walked over where I was working.  I know because she was chatting with me and her sister.  Looked back to see a planted flowerbed and saw that my daughter had come along behind me and pulled each bulb out of its hole and tossed it into the grass.  On the good side, she helped me gather them all up and back into the bag.  I think I gave all the bulbs away.

That was my last mass bulb planting!

6 Mar 2019

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Happy Mardi Gras Day!

WooWoo!

Ok, that said, IT IS COLD HERE!  VERY COLD, AS IN NOT YET ABOVE FREEZING COLD!  This is south central Texas.  South.  Like close to the Gulf of Mexico south.  And, this is March.  The meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of March and today is the 5^th.  Wrong, wrong, wrong.

I blame it on the fact that it’s Mardi Gras Day.  All the times I’ve been to Mardi Gras, it has been cold. 

And, although it’s supposed to warm up to almost 50°, it’s going to be below freezing again tonight.  However, there is a good thing in the midst of all this cold - it has cleared up a bit and, omigod, there is a burning ball of light in the sky!  Tomorrow, we should see the sun between the clouds – two days in a row - wow.  Annnnnnd, Wednesday it’s supposed to rain – again.  Looking at the long-range weather we’re supposed to have rain, clouds, rain, thunderstorms, clouds, rain, thunderstorms.  Sigh

We had such a warm February, toward the end of the month, I moved several plants outside.  I did it KNOWING in my heart of hearts, in all likelihood, we’d have another bout of chilly (chilly, not north pole cold) weather.  So, when the powers-that-be said 30-ish weather was coming, I moved a bunch of the plants back into cover.  I left some out thinking – “on the south side, close to the house, on the porch, all will be okey dokey.  Then, the 30-ish changed to 20-ish.  Everything got moved back in.

I’ve been quiet the past several days.  Stuff going on.  My two San Antonio grandchildren were here for a day.  Yea!  We got to watch a couple more episodes of The Haunting of Hill House.  I don’t watch it unless my grandson is here.  And, while it is nothing like the book (by Shirley Jackson) it is “based” on, it is alarming, scary, creepy, blood curdling, chilling, and so forth. 

How about something not related to 1 cold, 2 rain, 3 scary. 

OK, tomorrow is the birthday of Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid).  It was first synthesized and manufactured in 1899 by Felix Hoffman who worked for the German company, Bayer (you’re not surprised, are you?).  And, Did You Know? prior to that people used the herb Willow (its bark in a tea) for fever, pain and inflammation.  Willows all have abundant watery bark sap, which is heavily charged with salicylic acid, slender branches, and large roots.  The leaves are typically elongated.  And they bloom.

Catkins!  Cute or what!

Want to make your own Willow bark tea?  Bring 8 oz. water to a boil.  Add 1 to 2 tsp. dried willow bark and continue to simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.  Remove the water and bark from heat and continue to steep for an additional 30 minutes.  Strain the bark from the water. Drink three to four cups of this tea per day for pain relief.

Today is, yes, Mardi Gras, International Pancake Day (oh goodie – I like pancakes), Poutine Day (a dish consisting of French fries and cheese curds topped with a brown gravy tho there seems to be some difference in opinion as to when Poutine day really is – maybe not until April), Saint Piran Day (born in 4^th century Ireland, worked/died in Cornwall, patron saint of Tin-miners, Cornwall, Tin-smiths, and Miners – in general, I guess). 

And, it’s Unique Name Day (This is the day to salute friends, acquaintances and loved ones who have a unique name. If you or anyone you know has a unique name, discuss it today! Celebrate it!)  My 2^nd great grandfather’s name was Frances Marion (try googling that and you come up with a zillion women).  I expect his name wasn’t unusual in 1825 but it’s certainly less popular now.  I always liked the names of those that live upon Pern (the third planet in orbit around the star Rukbat).  Lessa, F’lar, Piemur, Menolly, Mnementh, Ramoth (well, those last two are dragons but I like the dragon names too).  (The Pern Series of books by Anne McCaffrey)

Well, it’s finally gotten above freezing – a toasty 36°.  I’m going to have a cup of hot tea and not go outside.

5 Mar 2019

Rain rain go away, come again

in July!

Ok, I have to say – I’m really tired of the rain now.  Yesterday was, yet again, overcast and threatening rain.  By mid-afternoon the thunder started off in the distance. 

And in no time, it was right on top of us with lots of lightening and big booming, cracks of thunder – loud enough to shake the windows.  It had been raining for a while but when the big thunder and lightning arrived, so did the serious rain.  Not the soothing, soak in, restful rain.  Nope – a downpour of water.  The horror movie kind of rain.  The kind that makes you check the ceilings to make sure it hadn’t broken holes in the roof.  At one point during the rain, I heard sirens and, I watched as (I expect) every vehicle in our fire department raced off down the street. 

The heavy rain lasted quite a while and when it let up (note – not stopped, just wasn’t raining as hard), there was a lake across the street.  My backyard was several inches deep in water.  And, then the strangest thing happened – the outside turned a dirty mustard yellow.  Stayed that way for quite a while.  It was rather unnerving.  I started to wonder if we were going to see monsters or space ships flying in the skies.  I walked out a couple of times just to make sure.  Nope ….. according to NOAA.gov

Most thunderstorms occur in the late afternoon. By this time of day, the sun is beginning to set. The orange hue is caused by the same process that causes the vivid colors at sunsets. Shorter wavelengths of light (blue) are scattered quickly, leaving only the yellow-orange-red end of the spectrum.

Well, ok but there still might be monsters.

First thing this morning I checked the rain gauge.  Mine will measure a max of 5 inches – full to the top.  My sister estimates it was well over 7 inches of rain yesterday afternoon.  That’s as much as Phoenix, AZ gets in a year!  And the weather channel is predicting a 50-60% chance of thunder storms through the weekend and then it’s just going to be overcast.  Sigh.

I walked outside this morning – everything is wet, really, really wet but no standing water anywhere.  The lake across the street has drained off to the river.  All my plants look fine and, joy of joys – all the weeds jumped up at least 3 inches since I mowed on Monday.  Double Sigh.

27 Feb 2019

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Note:  I actually wrote this yesterday but before I could post it, the threatening thunderstorm hit full force with loud booms, close by zots of lightening and flickering lights.  I turned off the computer.

Hal -le-lu-jah!

Over the past three days, I got the back and front yard under control!  Well, sort of under control.  Ok, as much under control as is possible for a warm late February. 

So, I

Mowed front and back

Cut back of all everything that either died back or had just gotten huge.

Dug up weeds in the yard.

Dug up weeds in the flower beds.

Moved half a dozen plants out of the shed and into the light.

Dug up and moved several plants that were in the really wrong place.

And, made at least 500 trips over to the yard trash pile.

Yea Me!

I know, in this case a picture is not worth
1000 words.  But it does look soooo much better than before.

Now, if the weeds would just not grow for a couple of weeks, all will be good with the world.  Of course, considering we are expecting mild temperatures and lots of rain, I’m thinking that might not happen.

I checked the weather off and on for the last couple of days.  Is it mostly safe to take plants out of the greenhouse??????  Many have been sitting in the very back where they get little light, not enough water, and were looking naked, shriveled, and generally sad.  They need to be out in what daylight we have (which is not much, mostly we have dark clouds).  Yes!, going to be in the 60-40’s.  So, I moved some of the plants outside. 

I just looked at the weather again.  Next week it’s supposed to be down in the 30’s for FOUR NIGHTS!  Arrrggghhh!  Guess I’ll be moving them back in over the weekend.

I mentioned that I dug up and moved plants.  Yep.  Three years ago, I planted a tiny little lemongrass seedling.  Less than 6 inches tall.  Soooo cute.  And, by the end of that summer it was as tall as I am.

And, did I plant it someplace where it could just be big?  Oh hell no.  I planted it along the side of my herb bed where it over shadowed everything!  Arrgh!  Yes, I do I know better; I caution others to make sure there is enough grow space without crowding out other plants.  So, at the end of this past summer, I cut it back to the ground.  And, yesterday I dug it up and put it in a big pot.

Hopefully – it will be better.  Though, I read recently that if you put it in a container, keep an eye on it because the roots can get big enough to burst it (oh goodie).  

Lemongrass.  If you like using the herb lemongrass, you may find that it’s not usually available in your local grocery store.  If you’re not familiar with it, the herb lemongrass is a perennial grass that grows in tropical climates.  Yes, that means, north of Austin, it will likely freeze and die unless in a protected container of some sort.  The stalks grow in clusters and can reach anywhere between six to ten feet in height and probably about the same in width!  (A stalk of lemongrass consists of a base, a few tough green husks, and a white core, which is what is used in cooking).  And, it is easy to grow.  Keep in mind 6-10 feet tall and just about as wide when planting it.  If you choose to put it in some sort of container, get a big one!  Remember – bursting the container. 

Lemongrass likes a well-drained soil in a sunny spot (yes, even our sun).  It’s not particularly drought tolerant though and will do best with regular watering.  Yes, cold sensitive.  Annual, biennial, perennial?  You know, I think it depends on where you live.  Mostly it’s described as an annual except for zones 9-10 where it’s considered perennial.  And, then I’ve read one article that describes it as a biennial.  Take your choice.  Does it bloom?  Well, mine never has and according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, no, not usually. 

It is widely used as a culinary herb and medicinal herb. It has a subtle citrus flavor and can be dried or used fresh. It is commonly used in teas, soups, with poultry, fish, beef, and seafood.  It is high in vitamin A and C, folate, folic acid, magnesium, zinc, copper, iron, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and manganese.  It has been used to help with digestion, relax muscles, relieve headaches, and help with joint pain relief. 

Lemongrass oil is used as a pesticide and a preservative.  The oil has can be used to repel some insects, like mosquitoes (which is, as far as I am concerned, a good reason to plant it even if you never plan to use it as a medicinal/culinary herb).  Additionally, it is said to repel serpents, and is burned, bathed in, or carried on the person for honesty, growth, strength, psychic powers, and purification.  HEY! you never know what works!

OK what else is happening in my yard?  Not much yet.

 The Cape Honeysuckle is blooming.

As well as the Snowdrops

Last year’s Pinks (Dianthus) have come back.

  

And the Borage is already up and blooming.

These, but I can never remember what they are called.

and

The ground orchids.

Whoa - more blooming than I thought!

26 Feb 2019

February

It rained yesterday – again.  Not a lot of rain, mostly drippy drizzle but enough to leave everything outside wet. 

Today, according to various weather predictions, by middle afternoon, it is going to clear up and warm up a bit.  Thought not enough, I expect, that I’d feel comfortable mowing the grass with the ELECTRIC mower.  And, then it’s going to cloud up and cool down again plus (oh joy!) it’s supposed to rain Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Ugh.  I’m going to have a jungle.

Well, it could be worse – could be pouring down snow (VA) or 15° and cloudy (MT) or 23° with threatening snow (NM) – all places where I have family.  I guess, 46°, breezy and cloudy doesn’t sound too bad but it is tiresome, nonetheless.

However – I think I do know why the weather is so wet and chilly here.  The Houston Fat Stock (sorry, Live Stock) Show and Rodeo will start next week.  That means the trail riders are all heading into the city for Go Texan Day on Feb 22 and then to take part in the Rodeo Parade the next morning.  And the weather is always wet and cold. 

This year there are an expected 3000 riders coming in from as far as San Antonio (239 miles) to as close as Brookshire (72 miles), and Montgomery, Rosenberg, Cat Spring, Brazoria plus 7 more towns including one group from Louisiana.  The purpose is to reenact the Old West cattle drives (sans cattle, of course).

 Personal note – These people may have lost their minds.

Alright – what else is going on this month . . . .

When I saw this one - Beat The Heat Month –  really? why it’s cold!  Actually, it has nothing to do with the weather.  Beat the Heat is a coordinated effort by PetSmart Charities, humane societies, clinics, and shelters to provide low-cost spay and neuter services for dog and cat owners.  This is a good thing.  We all need to make the effort to control the numbers of unwanted puppies and kittens, many of which wind up abandoned and feral on the streets. 

Pull Your Sofa Off The Wall Month  And, again ???????  It seems that at least once a year we should pull the sofa, couch, davenport, divan or love seat away from the wall to 1. See what’s behind/under it; and 2. Determine if there is another place for it – rearrange furniture, shake things up a bit.  Most of us are trapped indoors anyway and who knows, maybe you’ll wind up with a new room. 

 hmmmmmmm

And, last but certainly not least, it is Spunky Old Broads Month.  Spunky old broads are positive, fun, energetic mature women over the age of 50 who refuse to sit back quietly and get old.  RIGHT ON LADIES!

20 Feb 2019

Rain and Forests and Seeds and . . .

Well, DAMN, DAMN, DAMN . . . . . another morning of wet everything.  Yard work plans to be shelved yet again.

Do you suppose “Rain Forest” is a season?  I’m beginning to think yes.  Pretty soon everything in my yard is going to reach monster heights.  I’m going to need a machete to walk outside.  Now, normally I’m not one to complain about rain (primarily because by August I’ll be whining about the lack of) and, I’m not complaining about the rain now.  However, the overcast, humidity, fog, and drizzle are getting to be really tiresome.

And, according to The Weather Channel, it’s not going to get much better.  Ugh.

Well, since I’m thinking summer will start by the Ides of March, I guess I’ll enjoy (?) the cool overcast days while I can.

I got all my seeds planted several weeks ago.  One of the new ones I planted is Roselle Red Hibiscus

The Roselle Hibiscus (also called Florida cranberry, red sorrel, or Jamaica sorrel), while native to West Africa, grows well here and points south.  It produces attractive flowers and foliage and can grow to as much as 7 feet in a single season. 

My primary reason for wanting to grow this particular hibiscus is for the flower which is used to make jams, sauces and teas (the hibiscus tea everyone likes).  The leaves can be cooked like spinach or added raw to salads (fyi: the description of the flavor for the leaves is “a nice zing” which I translate to tart). 

Roselle grows best in well-drained soil and bright sunlight.  It doesn’t like drought conditions and appreciates regular watering.  It does not do well in shade at all and is very likely to freeze and die when temperatures fall below 40 °.  So, be sure and save seeds for next year.  Start pruning early as that will increase branching and the development of more flowering shoots.  Roselle will start flowering in October – the flower itself is small and not overly showy.  Oh, and you can grow it in a container but it will still need bright sun and lots of watering (as it is likely to dry out very quickly). 

The part of the plant most popular is found at the bottom of each flower – the calyx.  Once picked the calyces will stay fresh for about a week so plan to use them quickly.  Again, according to experts, one bush can yield as much as 12 pounds of fruit so you may not need to plant more than one or two bushes unless you just like the way they look.  And, for those that like to grow such things, Roselle is an heirloom plant.  (Heirloom plants are older cultivars of a particular fruit or vegetable that are grown in very small numbers today. Heirlooms do not play a large role in modern agriculture because they don’t always ripen consistently and often end up growing in peculiar shapes or appearances.)

 Another bunch of seedlings that will need sun soon are Catalpa Trees.  Also known as Cigar Tree, Catawba Tree and Fishing Worm Tree, it is a native ornamental tree that produces dense clusters of white flowers and long seed pods.  They typically grow to about 50 feet in height.  Because of the large, broad, heart-shaped leaves, they also make great shade trees.

Come springtime, beautiful and fragrant clusters of white, trumpet- or bell-shaped flowers cover the tree.  The fruits, which resemble green beans, hang down from the branches.

Want to grow one?  Seeds should be fresh when harvested.  The long seed pods will turn brown in mid-fall and you can harvest the seeds then.  I put mine in the fridg for 2-3 months, then plant in small peat pots and they pop right up.  Now, experts say you can plant them as 3-4 inch seedlings.  I grew one from seed a few years ago.  I planned to wait until it was closer to 15-20 inches tall before planting but, one spring I sunk the pot into the middle of a flower bed to help protect the roots from our very dry, very hot summer.  By the middle of fall, it had broken the pot and grounded itself.  Not my first choice of places but sometimes you take what you get.

These trees are very accommodating.  They will grow in most any type of soil, once established are drought tolerant, are deciduous, and can live up to 150 years.  It is also the sole source food for the catalpa sphinx moth caterpillar.  If the caterpillars are numerous, they can eat the tree bare of leaves, though the tree should produce new leaves quickly.

 Because the caterpillars are an excellent live bait for fishing, some dedicated anglers plant catalpa mini-orchards for their own private source of "catawba-worms", particularly in the southern states. 

In addition to being a great shade tree, in the way-back days, teas and poultices made from the bark and leaves were often used as laxatives, mild sedatives, as a treatment for skin wounds and abrasions, for infections, snake bites, and even malaria.

Right now I have about 20+ seedlings coming up so I may have baby trees for anyone who wants one by early summer!

17 Feb 2019

A Tale to Tell

So, my early morning plan for today was – yes – more yard work; more weeding, more weed digging, perhaps a little mowing.  However when I went out those plans had to be shelved.  Ugh, rain – rained last night and now outside was drizzly and drippy and wet and overcast and chilly and breezy and humid.  Ick.  OK, no yard work. 

A good day for storytelling . . . . . . .

The Ghost at Fielkinge

Swedish folktale

During the first half of the eighteenth century, several large estates in Schonen were the property of the family of Barnekow, or rather, of its most distinguished representative at that time, Margaret Barnekow, daughter of the famous captain and governor-general Count Rutger of Aschenberg, and the wife of Colonel Kjell Kristofer Barnekow. A widow at twenty-nine, she herself took over the management of her large properties, and gave therein evidence of invincible courage, an inexhaustible capacity for work, and a tireless solicitude for all her many dependents and servitors.

While traveling about her estates, Madame Margaret one evening came to the tavern in Fjelkinge, and was quartered for the night in a room that had the name of being haunted. Some years before a traveler had lain in the same room and presumably had been murdered: at any rate the man himself and all his belongings had disappeared without leaving a trace, and the mystery had never been explained. Since that time the room had been haunted, and those who knew about it preferred to travel a post-station further in the dark, rather than pass the night in the room in question. But Margaret Barnekow did not do so. She had already shown greater courage in greater contingencies, and chose this particular room to sleep in without any fear.

She let the lamp burn and fell asleep, after she had said her evening prayer. On the stroke of twelve she awoke, just as some planks were raised in the floor; and up rose a bleeding phantom whose head, split wide open, hung down on his shoulder.

"Noble lady," whispered the specter, "prepare a grave in consecrated earth for a murdered man, and deliver his murderer to the judgment which is his due!"

God-fearing and unafraid, Madame Margaret beckoned the phantom nearer, and he told her he had already addressed the same prayer to various other people; but that none had had the courage to grant it. Then Madame Margaret drew a gold ring from her finger, laid it on the gaping wound, and tied up the head of the murdered man with her kerchief. With a glance of unspeakable gratitude he told her the murderer's name, and disappeared beneath the floor without a sound.

The following morning Madame Margaret sent for the sheriff of the district to come to the tavern with some of his people, informed him of what had happened to her during the night, and ordered those present to tear up the floor. And there they found, buried in the earth, the remains of a body and, in a wound in its head, the Countess's ring, and tied about its head, her kerchief. One of the bystanders grew pale at the sight, and fell senseless to the ground. When he came to his senses, he confessed that he had murdered the traveler and robbed him of his belongings. He was condemned to death for his crime, and the body of the murdered man was buried in the village church-yard.

The ring, of peculiar shape, and its setting bearing a large gray stone, is still preserved in the Barnekow family, and magic virtues in cases of sickness, fire and other misfortunes are ascribed to it. And when one of the Barnekows dies, it is said that a red spot, like a drop of blood, appears on the stone.

Fearless Girls, Wise Women & Beloved Sisters

Heroines in Folktales from Around the World

collected by Kathleen Ragan

“Dismayed by the predominance of male protagonists and heroes in her daughters’ books, Kathleen Ragan set out to collect the stories of our forgotten heroines:  courageous mothers, clever young girls, and warrior women who save villages from monsters, rule wisely over kingdoms, outwit judges, kings, and tigers.” 

16 Feb 2019