It was just a matter of time...

 May 24, 2026

...until these guys spotted the pond and green grass,

so now the Geese Wars are on. Usually we only have to open the back door to start them on their merry way, but I walked toward this pair, and they continued to graze some more before they waddled away complaining, and finally took to the air. 

It's Time .... to start planting! Today I planted out my well hardened off little celery plants and put a few marigolds among them, then covered the bed with hardware cloth propped up on bricks. For whatever reason, the local fox family have to investigate by digging, anywhere I have disturbed the soil, so until plants grow and fill in a bit, the hardware cloth stays on. 

The pea patch is up, onion sets, seed onions and garlic are looking good, and yesterday we got the anti-cabbage moth, anti-deer, anti-any other critter netting stretched over the brassica patch. 

Some potatoes have been planted, carrot and beet seeds are in the ground, and there are young lettuces almost big enough to start harvesting a few leaves. 

In the kitchen, processing lovely, young, fresh rhubarb for the freezer, for winter pies and puddings.

When Mother Nature gives you so many dandelions, it's time to try your hand at making dandelion wine....

Picking all these blooms is a brutal exercise for one's back. Yep, those are tweezers for picking out any green bits I missed.

Time will tell how well I succeeded.

In the bird department, some pictures taken through the window. Credit goes to our son for the shots. Somehow he was able to focus between the bird anti-collision dots on the windows, and avoid any blurring.

An iridescent Grackle on the seed tray,

two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at the nectar feeder,

a female American Goldfinch in the crab-apple tree,

and a male Purple finch, ditto. 

This spring we have been daily serenaded by a Gray Catbird, who seems to like sitting up on the highest twig of the crab-apple tree. He has quite the song repertoire.  

Out and about, Marsh Marigolds are blooming in the ditches,

 and Lady Slipper Orchids are budded up.