Busy days on the Hill....

July 2, 2025 

'Tis a busy time up here on the hill. The garden is starting to really take off with the heat and humidity of late. Every day, the garden walk-about shows more growth than the previous one. Some broccoli heads have been harvested and processed, with more to come. A second planting of beans has gone in, as well as more rutabaga, and we'll soon be harvesting peas. We've also been working on getting last winter's tree harvest split and piled in the woodshed to cure. 

Hubby built an hardware cloth covered protection box for the turtle nest, and nailed it down in place with long spikes.

It will be a slight obstruction in the driveway for a while, and in August we'll start checking it regularly for hatchlings. 

The Barn Swallows completed their nest, were there last Friday evening, then never re-appeared. We've waited and watched, but there is no sign of them. I am very, very disappointed and can't help wondering what happened to them. It seems strange to abandon the nest after spending all the time and energy to build it.  

Last week's Trail Camera chips yielded this picture of a Whip-poor-will sitting up on the oak tree branch. He's showing his marvelous camo feathers.

On another trail camera, a couple of doe and fawn captures.

How fast the little ones grow! (clicking on the pics make them bigger)

In the woods, Partridgeberry is blooming,

They have pretty little fragrant, furry blossoms. 

Later in the year, one bright red berry grows where the twin blooms were. 

Another, almost in bloom woodland plant, is this Shinleaf, a variety of Pyrola.

It's little, waxy, bell-like blooms are also aromatic.
 

Both plant's leaves remain green under the snow throughout the winter.

Along the highway, I spotted orange....

The Wood lilies are blooming!

Some things are harder to spot, like this American Toad, blending in so well with the leaf litter.

As far as the garden goes, that will be another post!