Spring Goings On

Glass half empty on the negative side - March was kind of a lost month for me. I went to a 3-hour retirement celebration for a former colleague on the 9th. The next night after waking up with this horrible, racking dry cough, I made a cup of warm tea with lemon and honey. Four days later a friend convinced me to go see my doctor.

Glass half full on the positive side - Thankfully, the diagnosis wasn’t Covid or the flu but my first experience with bronchitis. By the end of March, after 2 rounds of antibiotics and 2 shots, I started feeling better even though an occasional coughing spell would throw me into a spasm.

Needless to say, the month began with me waking up on March 3 at 5:25am to witness a beautiful lunar eclipse by standing in the backyard and angling phone camera just so.  And you could clearly see the full moon later that night.

The Whistling Ducks came back. My pear tree had gorgeous blooms on March 10, which encouraged me to move seedlings started in the house out to the greenhouse. By mid-March crazy freezing weather hit, but afterwards I planted flower seeds in two old wash tubs bought at a second-hand store. Last week of the month I separated a couple of hostas for the first time and re-planted them in two other places in the garden. Also, planted thyme, oregano, basil with sorrel in a third wash tub.

Closing out the month, I got in my truck the morning of March 27, to capture an amazing sunrise.

Lots of happenings in April starting with beautiful sunsets.

My friend, Inge, found an injured bee in the garden.

All through the month, spurts of energy led to planting bushes, flowers, and vegetables. April 1, I planted 4 Wintergreen boxwoods in little front garden spot inside fence; Red Abyssinian banana in 4-square garden area; the last 2 cacti from Inge’s Houston garden; and 1 Crimson & Gold Quince between probably a dead peach tree and freeze-damaged pear tree. April 5 planted dahlias in small pots in greenhouse. April 13 planted 2 knockout roses. April 15 started planting vegetable garden (tomatoes, eggplant, habanero & jalapeño, kale, collards, Chinese cabbage, carrots, golden beets) this morning and netted this afternoon. April 19, sowed Suya cucumber seeds in raised bed. Very nice strawberry harvests this year. Even happy to see plants I thought were lost to the mid-March freeze are coming back.

Took a moment on April 18 and spent the afternoon at the Showcase on Wheels held at the Cabin on the Bogue in Leland, MS. I’m not exactly into cars, but it’s fascinating to observe the passion of others.

Continue to be amazed by the animal life ecosystem throughout my home place. Spotted an alligator in the pond. He has got to go, but so far continues to be present.

For the first time, discovered a goose nest on land near the pond. Normally, they start nests on little island in the middle of the pond. For the past 3 years, I’ve gotten a permit from the Wildlife Service which allows you to place vegetable oil on goose eggs in an effort to mitigate the population. Mother Nature is way smarter than us humans and a couple of geese have started nests off the island. Unfortunately, a critter got to the eggs. Cracked empty shells lay near one nest, while the grieving parents looked on. A neighbor said it was probably a hungry racoon, and a snake got the other eggs in the second nest because they just disappeared.

Other goose drama despite efforts to mitigate population, 4 goslings were born early April. I saw them healthy and growing April 24 and 28, but sadly I only saw 3 this morning. The gator in the water has changed the birds’ behavior. They swam in the pond with not a care in the world. Not anymore. These days they take extra care. It looks some time yesterday, one gosling disappeared.

On a happier note, I spotted a frog in the garden two weeks in a row.

There’s, also, a new Finch nest in the bird house. A few years ago, I bought the bird house for garden decoration, never thinking it would actually attract birds. This is the second year in a row they’ve started nests. While sitting outside on April 23, I saw them go inside. What a nice sight to behold.

To continue my animal life saga, this is the time of year that turtles appear. They come and lay eggs all over the place. Unlike Emi, who manages to spot them before I do and barks like crazy, I love seeing them, but dread the later times when critters discover the eggs. Oh, and before I forget, here are two other pictures highlighting Emi: one in deep sleep and another enjoying her new favorite garden spot.

Last but not least, there was another sighting of the bobcat. A terrible thunderstorm came through last night. Trees are down everywhere; one in my backyard and a couple in neighbors’ front yards. My fallen tree must have provided shelter for that bobcat or something because it was out back near it and looked dead at me in the window. Emi will not be going out today.

Speaking of that thunderstorm. The ground is saturated from all the rain these past few days with more to come. The pear tree continues to show damage from the mid-March freeze, even with pruning dead branches. Only one fruit bud is showing. However, my garden is doing well but just hope seeds I’ve sown, or young plants sown from seeds aren’t drowned out. Greenhouse dahlias growing from tubers are looking good. And my ancestors’ corner in the garden is liking its new chair.

I did cook off and on throughout the month, even hosted some new friends for lunch one Sunday afternoon. Highlighting two meals here. After a day of running around and hesitating about whether to go out and buy something to eat or cook at home, I chose the latter.  On April 23, I made cold pasta salad with fresh asparagus, onion, cherry tomatoes, olives, shrimp, fresh basil from garden, seasoned to taste with olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing. It was that kind of day, and the picture says it all. And my last April Sunday dinner, came after a moment of hesitation on what to eat. This time, I was inspired by my brother, whose had some health issues lately and is getting better at living alone after losing his wife this past December. On a phone call, he described the delicious meal he’d prepared, which inspired me to not be lazy and cook as well. My April 26 Sunday dinner included the last of summer 2025’s okra harvest (frozen in the frig) combined with shrimp, turkey sausage, onion, red bell pepper, tomato sauce over brown rice yellowed with turmeric. Ginger mango tea infused water was my drink.

March came in with a lunar eclipse and April definitely is going out with a bang! As always, blessings to everyone and remember to do what’s best to nurture you, family, friends and your community. Peace, wisdom, gratitude be with us all.