SA Times – Page 37 – rakeeter.com

the Alibates

Most of the week was devoted to mowing the south end. Kari was having a bible study at her house and wanted her place mowed. No problem. I was going to mow it anyway. It only takes around three hours to mow the south end but it takes at least that long to trim it. That may not sound like a lot of time, but that’s a net figure. Add in time spent spraying weeds and a morning spent working at Wildcat Bluff and it seemed a lot like work. Wednesday I was rained out so those net hours were compressed into four days. However, even if I do say so myself, by the time I was finished the south end looked like J.A. his own self was back in action. The north end will get a similar treatment in the coming week. Continue reading “the Alibates” →

Rain forest

by rakeeter

Friday morning I braved the mist to mount an assault on weeds threatening to take over. We got over an inch of rain Tuesday and the ground was in prime condition for pulling weeds. It is also in prime condition for growing weeds. And grass. About lunch time the clouds thickened and lightening caused me to skedadle for the house. Over lunch we got another half inch. Then Saturday morning about 5 o’clock a squall dumped another inch on us. Such is life here in the SA rain forest. Continue reading “Rain forest” →

Grady flowers

by rakeeter

tomatoes — Tomatoes planted on caliche mounds

Our first Grady flower blossom of the season appeared Sunday, May 3. It was on a volunteer I let grow in the xeriscape. There are several other volunteers that sprouted in acceptable places around the front yard, even a couple in one of the flower beds. Some six or eight years ago Grady Howard gathered seeds from a wildflower he saw on a golf course somewhere in the Panhandle, sprouted them in his greenhouse, and gave some of the seedlings to Joyce. We’ve been enjoying them ever since. Joyce first planted the sprouts given her in front of the kitchen window. The next winter was a wet one and they came back in profusion. We began to refer to them as Grady weeds. Since then we’ve learned how to control them and have changed that to Grady flowers. They are perennials, put on a nice daisy or galardia-like yellow flower and aren’t too bad about reseeding themselves so if one sprouts in a good spot it is welcome, but if not, well, those are easily eliminated. It is sort of handy to have some nice flowers on the cheap. Continue reading “Grady flowers” →

Dueling hummers

by rakeeter

There are two hummingbirds of the black chin variety, I believe, that are taking advantage of the hospitality at 1911. One may be Pondacherry who was with us from about this time last year through September. We were a little more on top of things this year and have had the feeder out since the first of the month. There are also a couple of things blooming in the xeriscape that they should find attractive. We welcome them and hope they stick around all season to quarrel over the feeder. Continue reading “Dueling hummers” →

Odd ducks

by rakeeter

Chris got his panties in a twist over two mallard drakes together in the pond. He suspects them of the love that dare not say its name. I like to think they are brothers, yearlings, yet to take a mate, just hanging out, two young bachelors doing the bachelor thing. I haven’t seen the mallard pair together lately though I think I’ve seen the drake by himself. I conclude that because he isn’t as skittish at my presence as the bachelor brothers. I seem to remember a similar pattern from previous years. At first it was the pair, the drake and the hen. Then we wouldn’t see much of the hen. Maybe she’s sitting on a nest somewhere. If she is, hubby ought to be staying close by to protect the family, but maybe they’ve got it handled. They’ve been doing it for several years now and no doubt know better than I how to proceed. Continue reading “Odd ducks” →