Peent

Kavi heard the first woodcock of the season tonight, in the Lillys' field across the street. I heard the twittering flight routine when I came out, but no peents. We hope to hear woodcocks often in the coming weeks.

2007 Gardening Season Begins

With less than 5% snow cover and the next several days predicted to be sunny, I decided to check out the raised beds I prepared last fall. While the rest of the garden is cold, sucking mud, the raised beds are well-drained and workable.

Planted peas and favas in one bed today, will start to think about getting chard and other greens going soon. Cleaned my boots and tools in a snowbank.

Crocus are sprouting, and the yard is mobbed with robins.

Foggy morning

Only 20% snow cover after a warm few days. The girls have been enthusiastically free ranging since 9am. In hopes of deterring any alleged foxes, I put Henry's old radio in the sheep shed tuned to the only station that came in strongly, a God Talk station. The girls are all over the yard today though, out in the open and sticking to the perimeter of the house. I should not assume that they would not venture to an area where a fox would be able to nab one, though.

Lots of robins in the fields here, just like on the lawn in MA last weekend. Apparently this is good maple sugaring weather - days in the 40s, nights in the high 20s.

Wintry Mix

This 10" or so of ice pellets should be the last big storm of the season. I picture some little flurries in early April to give people something to talk about, but otherwise some right quick melting, thawing and springtime action. That is what I picture.

Saw a flock of Juncos in the big maple tree this morning while the ice pellets were still coming down in force.

When does spring arrive in Maine?

1st Spring thaw. Yesterday's cold front felt like a tropical breeze. Lots of snowmelt - the swale is swollen, and the raised garden beds are visible. I saw a swarm of honeybeees high in a tree on Upper Pond Road the other day, and a "wooly bear" catepillar on the porch. Today I hear Red Winged Blackbirds in the ashes along Pleasant Pond Farm Lane.

Chickens have been free-ranging since 3/12, one week after Daryl #2's untimely demise. I would say that the first sign of spring that I noticed was the night of 3/2, when I saw a skunk ambling across Brunswick Road near Pleasant Pond Orchard. In subsequent days the skunks have dug up and stunk up around our place as well as the Viselli's, which I consider to be a good omen for job hunting. I did put out a number of rags soaked with red fox urine to discourage skunks from making dens under the ell -- hopefully this does not discourage Hiring Decision Makers.

Though it was forecast to be rainy today I opened the coop door for the eager free-rangers in the morning. By the time I got back from the (failed) truck inspection it was raining steadlily, so I thought I'd close the door. 1,2,3...14. No Daryl #1. Wandered around outside in the rain saying chickie chickie, no result. Crap. After the rain let up in the afternoon the usual free-ranging group made an excursion, but still no Daryl. Crap.