Author Topic: What's in your backyard? (Read 19180 times)

Highmac · « **Reply #45 on:** June 29, 2007, 04:48:58 AM »

QUOTE(krissel @ Jun 29 2007, 09:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE(kimmer @ Jun 28 2007, 04:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So much to learn about plants, and so little time to kill them all off.

I'm only allowed to remove weeds under supervision...

After nettles and brambles I'm pretty well stumped, although anything growing between the paving slabs is fair game. And I am good at cutting the grass

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #46 on:** June 29, 2007, 04:20:57 PM »

"Ajuga" is a slightly dirty word around here. Many years ago, we had a yard with a steep Eastward facing slope with mighty Oaks giving morning shade and out two-story house blocking the afternoon sun. I decided Ajuga would be a great ground cover for that area. It was, but after planting the 500th sprig I grew weary of the task and let the other 500 in the boxes die from neglect! Judy now forbids me making any mail-order plant purchases!

But I never cut it with a mower, I thought it was supposed to be allowed to spread and cover the ground, it never got more than six inches high, anyway.

dolphin · « **Reply #47 on:** June 29, 2007, 10:33:57 PM »

I was out in the backyard this afternoon weeding and saw a snake. I have no idea what kind. It was brown with a faint yellow stripe, and about maybe a foot long. That is only an estimate since it was curled up a bit. It promptly went under a rock...and I didn't even have my camera.

krissel · « **Reply #48 on:** July 01, 2007, 05:06:05 AM »

Roy, take a look here:

http://critterguy.museum.msu.edu/FieldGuide/Snakes.html

http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_mat...ess_lizards.htm

dolphin · « **Reply #49 on:** July 01, 2007, 05:59:30 AM »

Kris,
I never got a look at it's belly, however; I do believe it's tongue was red with a black tip. Sooooooo...I guess it was a garter snake. Thanks for the links! Good reading!

krissel · « **Reply #50 on:** July 04, 2007, 09:29:44 AM »

Jim, the ajuga in my yard was unintended. I don't even know where it originally came from, at least I don't remember planting it. But it has taken over the side yard between the house and outbuildings so I have to cut it or wade through the stuff to get to the barn.

Well, the fawns are back and growing:

[attachment=424:fawns.jpg]

And remember the piles of feathers? I suspected there might be more than one hawk but I never imagined there were four!

Here are three of the buggers conspiring:

[attachment=425:threesome.jpg]

While the fourth kept a lookout from a nearby branch:

[attachment=426:hawk_close.jpg]

I think my next step is to try a scarecrow, or scarehawk...

kimmer · « **Reply #51 on:** July 04, 2007, 12:47:15 PM »

Oh, the deer are so cute. (Yes, I know they are yard pests ... but still ... just my opinion).

Your hawks (red tails?) are grand. Yes, I know they are pests as well ... but I rather like raptors. Again, just my opinion.

kimmer · « **Reply #52 on:** July 05, 2007, 10:44:23 AM »

Saw this at Gov. Patterson beach yesterday (almost our backyard). Vivid, vivid red and you can see the salt water damage to the leaves.

krissel · « **Reply #53 on:** July 06, 2007, 08:04:14 AM »

OK, now it's getting a little creepy.

I hear the hawks' calls quite frequently so this morning I was imitating them when I heard a noise above me and saw this on the skylight:

[attachment=433:hawk_on_skylight.jpg]

I decided to take a little video clip with my digital camera. Notice when I imitate his call he pecks on the window.

http://home.att.net/~krissel/wsb/media/148765/Hawk.AVI

kimmer · « **Reply #54 on:** July 06, 2007, 12:07:55 PM »

Now that is kinda creepy. I'd suggest not whistling when you are outdoors.

krissel · « **Reply #55 on:** July 16, 2007, 01:12:58 AM »

OK, so I guess there is one good thing that has developed by having the hawks around.

Because they've killed off or chased all the birds away I was able to pick about 2/3 pint of red raspberries this aft with more yet to come.

Gregg · « **Reply #56 on:** July 16, 2007, 07:31:25 AM »

"sounds" tasty, kris

Fencing keeps the rabbits out of our garden, but the only perennial goodies (goody) would be the rhubarb. However, we did pick 18 pounds of blueberries at a farm last weekend.

sandbox · « **Reply #57 on:** July 19, 2007, 02:44:48 PM »

Something old... something new!

krissel · « **Reply #58 on:** July 20, 2007, 02:13:14 AM »

Yup, the first pic is what I see nearly every day.

Last summer I noticed my birdbath had overturned and was face down but didn't bother to reset it for a couple days. When I did I was surprised to find a Possum dead underneath. He had apparently climbed up for a drink and it tipped over and trapped him.

Like the shot of the yucca.

sandbox · « **Reply #59 on:** July 20, 2007, 04:02:58 AM »

I luv my 30 or so Yuccas, they grow without any help, unlike the palms. This bloom is rare, we had two bloom this year, never before.
That's the 65 now maybe 70 foot pine to my western view, it gives us relief from the afternoon sun. If it ever came down i'd be in trouble! It's 20 ft. from my bedroom. We have a bunch bird baths it's always eventful to watch them, especially the snakes.

News:

Author Topic: What's in your backyard? (Read 19180 times)