Barely Barren

Things are a little drab around here, what with a real winter and all.

Wussup wit dat?


The bare bushes on the right side of this photo are my resting blueberries. The stump is a little oak that got big and was shading too much of my garden/blueberry zone. He has kept us warm this winter and provided a robust smoky flavor to my BBQ ribs, chicken, etc.



The little green hut is the "mallard mansion" ... a leftover from our duck days. It's a garden tool shed right now.
The view of that green shed would be blocked by worn out chicken pens, but we cleaned those out recently. At the far end of the garden zone are some nursery beds, a fish tank, and the hog pens.


Laya and Son of Hoot roost in this East Palatka Holly every night ... can you tell?
I have to shovel that pile up every so often so it doesn't kill my pretty native holly.

The pond puddle has grown with our El Nino inspired rains this winter. This pic is a week old at least and it has crept up even more. The frogs should fill it with babies soon. Already the chorus frogs are singing nightly.

I listen and hope the tiger salamanders hear the frogs singing of the return of water.


The palm glade where I did my prescribed burn last winter has recovered nicely. It is one of the most pleasant places to be on the property.

Here is a section in the same zone that was not burned. I like a mix of thick and thin, so this area may just be left alone to do it's thing.

The pocket gophers have been busy in the back corner near the planted pines. The fresh mounds fascinate Bear. He sticks his nose in the still damp earth and sucks in all kinds of data about what lies beneath.

He keeps this to himself and I can only wonder.

The sky alternates between barren and quite productive this winter.