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.

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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.

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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