PLANTING DAY

We're experiencing UP Summer weather: sunny, mid-70's with very low humidity. Lovely. This year's goal is to simplify: no more growing from seed, switching over to perennials as much as possible in the East Garden. I began with planting the deck gardens. I left the middle planter empty so Bud could still use it as an outpost. The cages might be freaking him out a bit as I have not seen him use his tower since I put them in. 

Our wild neighbors were out enjoying the day as well. I encountered the young squirrel featured in an earlier post who sat up in Grandfather birch, hollering his head off because Buddy was on the deck. At the time, I thought he was part of the predator warning system but I was mistaken. He hollers if anyone is around that he doesn't approve of. I was on the garage back porch next to Mr. Locust tree and I got an earful:

I went to work in the Back 40 with the weed trimmer. In the back of our property is a berm between us and Sparrow West and its parking lot. East of this is a large field that I think belongs to the Farm Bureau who keeps it mowed. FB is directly north across Westshire. This is the first time this season I have been back there mainly to take out the burdock, giant thistles and other big weeds. I looked up from my work and I saw a young doe come trotting in my direction in the field. She saw me but instead of either immediately running away or freezing in place, she merely slowed her pace. I didn't move. She stopped about 50 feet away at the edge of the field and dipped her head to nibble on some grass, all the time without taking her eyes off me. She righted herself and we stood there, our eyes locked on each other for a good 8 mississippis.

Stock

Suddenly, she gracefully wheeled to return back to the field and the woods beyond. As she turned, she looked back, raised her white tail and kicked out both rear legs. I raised my hand in answer and she galloped off, vanishing in a matter of seconds. Two hours later, I am in my office checking emails and I glance out my window and see her out front heading West. By the time I can grab the camera, she is well behind Johnny's. 

I have a feeling this doe is part of the Pruners clan who turned up late last Summer during the drought. She, her Mum and sister were regulars during the Winter at the neighborhood Diners. She was the independent one, often seen foraging alone while her sis stayed close to Mum.

~

At the Diner, Mama Nutkin brought her 2 kids for a meal. I'm sure she needed to get out of the house as these two look to be a handful. Already there was a mature BigTail. Now, if you remember from a few years past, my tale of the Diner Kerfuffle between Stubbs and a mature Nutkin-the two clans don't get along, to put it mildly.  BigTail is minding his business getting a meal with MamaC and Mr. Redbird fueling up as well:
 

The Nutkin kids begin to annoy the BigTail with their antics...

He chases them off. Twice. Each time, their Mum had to intercede to save them and BigTail chases the three up GF Birch. On the second round, a very irritated BigTail attempts to nip one of the kids and comes close. Well, the kids decide to take revenge by coming down the Birch, splitting up and attacking BT simultaneously from different directions. He lost his shit completely driving the Nutkins completely away from the Diner complex in a obscenity-laden rage. The air was filled with the loud chittering in 2 squirrelese dialects. 

 

A half hour later, the kids returned to the Diner which was empty. Their Mum, seeing that they can take care of themselves, sent them back so she could have some quiet time at her spa.

How bold are these two? Well, one came within a foot from Buddy while eating a seed. Bud was tracking something or another in the grass and I saw him realize the Nutkin was there. Bud's head moved up slightly and his eyes widened. The kid ran off.

 

Late in the afternoon, MamaC brings out all of her children for the first time. She has four chuckettes this season and they were exploring the porch area in front of the apartments. Like most young mammals, they are cute and chubby-a bit smaller than the size of a bun. 

I discovered this odd red patch on one of the planters:

Meet the Clover Mites: tiny, bright red arachnids that frequently emerge and swarm in late Spring. Though they can number in the thousands, they do not bite, damage property, or transmit diseases. They either die off or go dormant once temps get into the 80's.
 

The pink peonies are in bloom:

 Deck yoga with C and Buddy

 

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BUDDY!

 He turns 6 years old today! We wish you many more!

 

FIVE SECOND STORIES

In the Neighborhood:

To me, this is Memorial Day in Michigan.

Warmish, you go through periods of warm and cold. The sun is nice and only in the sun does a breeze feel good. In the shade, it's chilly. Bright and green-the last bit of rain perked everything up. 

MamaC and a couple of BigTails:

His tail glowing in the light, useful as an umbrella against both rain and sun:

A chipper and sparrow join him: 

Little Guy was at the Diner and he and Big Blue both enjoyed the peanuts I had thrown. He can be a bit aggressive with his demands:
 

I'm experimenting with a patch of unmowed grass-see how our friends react. One of our Buns seems to enjoy:

A nutkin, with its creamy belly, enjoying a peanut:

News alert!!! The first sighting of a BabyChuck! It had come out onto the apartment porch:

Click to enlarge

We think this is MamaC's third litter here after being brought up here as a pup.

Buddy chillin' during the afternoon:

First Indian Paintbrush:

When I was mowing the front, I discovered a colony of clover that was in bloom. I mowed around it as is not unsightly and the pollinators and buns will enjoy:

It's peony time!

Siberian iris in bloom: 

Hodgepodge for $300: 

Centuries-old baobab tree in Madagascar dying as the result of climate change: 

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/25/world/africa/baobab-tree-dying-madagascar-africa.html 

As seen on TV: cat with major attitude

I saw this from a Reddit poster whose cat had whacked the cup to the floor and shattered it.

I saw an ad for Pet Provider Chewy which offers 24/7 chat with a vet. I guess such services for a hooman exists as well.

Fun pix:

Ice Canyon Greenland:

Striped cuckoo chicks have plumage that resemble pine cones:

 Sailor's Eyeball:

A member of the algae family, this is one of the largest single-celled organisms on the planet.

Bay Cat:

A rare, small cat from the island of Borneo.

Ubari oasis, Sahara Desert, Libya

 

MADads:

I saw a quick snippet for O'Reilly's Auto Parts. A beautiful, young Latina woman with long black hair and bright red lipstick is leaning over a car, replacing a windshield wiper. This is a service they provide (when you buy their wipers, of course).

You gotta wonder if at one time, corporate mandated that every store hire a hot chick for this activity. It was tried but ended due to howls of protest from many quarters. So, is this a nostalgic piece: oh, the good old days before the feminazis and woke maniacs crucified such examples of male enjoyment? Really carries the odor of Project 2025's mission of turning the clock back. 

 

 

 

 

 
 

FIVE SECOND STORIES (updated 5/26)

In the Neighborhood:

More rain yesterday-.7" during the afternoon and early evening. I'm sure the MI Weather Gods are being excoriated on social media with this wet holiday weather.

>Really? Barely a trace of rain all effin' month long and now, for our first summer holiday, you decide to do us a favor? 

Heavy fog morning start with low 80's promised for the pm. At the Diner, our resident Stampy:

 

The peonies are showing bud:

Bud surveying the realm, finding a dry strip on the deck:

Happy Memorial Day:

 

Later in the day, 80° and mostly sunny. Johnny's backyard:

I tossed some peanuts out and a BigTail was so there in the dappled sunlight of my jungle/lawn:

Big Blue flew in to join in the peanut hunt:

 Buddy exhibiting the spirit of the holiday:

Our young squirrel taking extreme umbrage with Buddy's presence with a lot of tail switching and vocalizations:

Oy! drama and squirrels, especially with the young. Mr. Jay stopped by to see what the fuss was about:
 

Eventually, the youngun calmed down and ran off. Mr. Goldfinch stopped by for a bite: 

5/26-pleasant morning and the bun siblings were having breakfast along with a BigTail:

C'mere you!

Just can't eat one!

Meanwhile, the other sibling was hanging out by the shed: 

Hodgepodge for $200:

Beautiful car design: 1939 Delahaye type 165 Cabriolet. Only 2 built.

 

Sculpture by English artist Penny Hardy:

From her "Blown Away" series 2019 

 

In Kingsland, Arkansas, the birthplace of country music legend Johnny Cash, has a silhouette of "The Man in Black" holding a signature red guitar painted on the side of their 50,000-gallon water tank. In May 2022, a vandal (who was eventually convicted and fined) shot a bullet directly through Cash's crotch area. 

I'm sure alcohol was involved. 

Perhaps a group of adult guys one night came up with this "Spring" stunt. The debate amongst them was who was the best shot while drunk as most were military-trained and all were expert hunters.

Giant lemur-the Indri, perpetually looking over-caffeinated or using too much speed.
 

Another sharp-dressed man-the Sarada Lizard from India:

 

The earliest ancestors of Praying Mantis first appeared ~145+ million years ago during the Jurassic Period:

MADads: 

I neva understood the cult of ranch dressing. Here is a 1 gallon container ($15.99 at Walmart). I recently saw an ad where a frig was opened revealing a 4 gallon jug complete with spout. I also see on YT shorts people have made on X testifying (that's right brothers and sisters!) their love of Ranch: "I'll eat it on anything!" they declare. To each their own. I'm more of a thousand island guy which I only eat on salad or a burger.