Wild Peaches

Our compost pile has had a small fruit tree growing out the back of it for several years now. Jamie has insisted that it not be cut down. I reluctantly agreed...we keep a pretty casual yard and compost heap, and random trees sprouting here and there are a constant challenge. But this year the tree bloomed...nice big pink blossoms, right about the time the domestic cherry trees were blooming. But something about the leaves, that eventually developed the long, curved, slightly V -shaped look that I associate with peach leaves...and sure enough...tiny fuzz-covered fruit started to develop. I'm not sure if we must thin them out, or let it happen naturally, or hope that some peach disease doesnt take them all off ! this picture was taken yesterday, the 15th of May.

Lettuce Still Confined to Tofu Tubs !

These guys are so ready to go in the ground, but I've been busy (and neglectful)and they are quietly ( how else ?? ) waiting to be planted in the earth and spread their roots. Meanwhile, the slugs have discovered their confinement and sent word out to all of slugdom that there are sweet tender leaves, neatly contained...just waiting to be mowed down. Please hang in there guys...just a few more days, I promise !

Return of the Swallows

Last year we put up a bluebird box, hoping to attract some Bluebirds to our yard. We were quite surprised to see Tree Swallows show up, seemingly out of nowhere, set up house keeping, raise a twittering brood of six, gather with other Tree Swallows in the area and then disappear...all in a matter of just a few weeks. It was this date, April 30th, that they arrived last year. This year, they arrived on April 12th, (my birthday ! )and immediately started arguing with the House Sparrows as to who was going to use the box. We set up another box, about 100 feet away from the first, and watched the Swallows and Sparrows duke it out, while a pair of Chickadees decided that Box#2 was perfect for them and worked for several days building a nest. Then the Tree Swallows gave up on Box # 1, evicted the Chickadees and moved in. I'm clearing out House Sparrow nests from Box # 1 every few days now. The Chickadees moved on to less contentious grounds. Welcome back Swallows ! This picture was taken yesterday, through the misty rain.

Slow-Cooked Kitten Goodness

OK, not very sanitary, but I couldnt help it ! Tomsky is not supposed to be on the counter at all, let alone in a pot, but my back was to the counter and he jumped up and into the pot, and hunkered down so as to hide....such a cat-like thing to do :>...I just had to laugh !
Most of the seed catalogs are in and I've made many lists of what I'd like to grow, but the reality of the cold, hard January ground right outside the window and the awful state I left all the garden spots in the Fall, gives me pause as to just what I can realistically expect out of myself. Lettuce, peppers, beets and tomatoes are definites...potatoes, chard and zukes I want to grow, but the bugs so love the potatoes and squash leaves that it's hard to keep ahead of them.
I've followed Eat The View's efforts to replace at lest some of the White House's lawn with an organic garden ...what a great idea ! In fact, we are going to grow some food in our front yard this year, too...peppers and tomatoes would do well out there. All this lawn drives me crazy...grow it just to mow it...how dumb is that ?

Here's the first new addition to our family in almost 10 years. He's the sweetest kitten ever. But hell on the houseplants. Most of the plants are crammed into a spare bedroom, yearning towards the weak winter light filtering in through the North facing window. The Banana Grove, however, spends its winters basking in the glow of Southern exposure of our master bedroom. The only drawback for the Grove, this winter anyway, is the tiger twining through its trunks and casually drawing a claw through a shading leaf, or, more worse: getting used as a juicy scratching post...ouch !

Tiny guy's Flight Schedule

Here she is, just seconds before take off...which I also missed !

Tiny Guy Emerges on Sept. 18th

Here he ( she actually ! ) is seconds before and after popping back into the world. I kept on eye on the chrysalis for 5 glorious hours....5 hours of watching the world of birds, bugs, trees and 'weeds' right outside my back door. And while stretching my legs for a minute, Tiny Guy presses the 'eject' button !

And a very sad event : Our son-in-law's Father passed away this same day, after a long fight with cancer. I only met him once, but was impressed with his love for his family and I know he must have been a great father, judging what a wonderful man his son is. The following is an excerpt from a book put together by the Monarch Teacher's Network ..... "According to Aztec belief, birds and butterflies escorted the souls of those who died heroic deaths ( in battle, through sacrifice, or in childbirth ). The butterfly ( papalotl ) delivered these souls to a special heaven in flower gardens that provided nectar to sustain the butterflies. Like the butterfly, the souls also sipped the sweet nectar of flowers."
And also this :
"In the State of Michoacan, Mexico, most people believe that the souls of dead family members and friends come to visit their families once a year in early November during the "Days Of the Dead". It is also believed that the spirits of loved ones are permitted to return to Earth In the form of Monarch butterflies, since it is at this time that Monarchs come from the North to spend the winter in Michoacan. The families make alters with fragrant flowers and many foods for the spirits to enjoy. To be sad or to cry would disrespect the dead, so music plays and the Days of the Dead become a happy celebration of reunion."

Nice.

After this year's premature loses of life in our family, it has been such a comfort witnessing the incredible metamorphosis life cycle of the Monarchs...watching the caterpillars change to butterflies, and the butterflies bravely rise up and take on a life's journey of thousands of miles....aloft on airy wings of determination. And perhaps within them, a few human souls that have fought illness or never even made it into this world, as well.