Dreaming of Spring Gardening in the Middle of a Wisconsin winter part 2

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Since my DH wants to feed the birds BOSS and suet the bears will keep showing up until he brings the feeders inside every night...

I'm still feeding birds. A bear would be a deal breaker, and the free food would stop immediately. We have them around here, but I've never seen one thankfully.

 

[Callender Girl]

I read yesterday that bears are showing up in northeast Iowa. I hope they stay well east of here.

As historic reenactors, we used to camp on the North Shore of Lake Superior, and one year, I spotted a bear trap at the public campground, less than a mile away. Spending the night knowing I was "protected" by tent canvas did not improve my rest one bit.

Forecast calls for daily temps in the 70s for the coming week. MAYBE, if it also stays dry, I can get my tomato and pepper plants in the ground.

 

[Cebarmlds]

We don't dare put tomatoes or peppers in until the first of June here.

 

[jvls1942]

yep, tomatoes in pots for a few weeks yet.
I have only 2 tomatoes that survived transferring into larger pots, and two squash, a trip to the greenhouse for a 4 count box of tomatoes is in my future
yesterday I cut a slot through the downed pine tree large enough to drive the tractor through
Now I can start hauling the raised beds to their summer homes ,
I have four 5 gal pails of rabbit manure, I will mix them with soil, I use my cement mixer for this, it blends the two very well. I might have to go out back and steal a couple buckets of soil from Barby's stash,.
today is starting out perfectly. aaaa57F at 9AM and sunny. wakes up my soul.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I hope to get my water walls filled this next week so I can plant my tomatoes out in them. Hopefully it stops constantly raining. I slipped and fell because of all the mud the other day. My foot slipped out sideways due to a slight incline. Thankfully I landed on my good hip.

My mother goose made a break this morning for freedom. She wasn't happy we rounded them up and covered the escape holes. I want her to stay confined another week at least. I don't need them getting squashed by the goat or donkey.

 

[Callender Girl]

Thank goodness it was your good hip, Lisa! And, that you've got the goose and goslings protected for their own good.

Best wishes to you and Jim on raising your tomatoes. With a week's worth of temps in the 70s predicted, I am planning to get mine into the ground this week.

Of course, my plans often go awry. For example, I was planning to get a good night's sleep after an exhausting Sunday. But, no, I had to get up at 3 today and run outside to quash a coyote concert. The dogs let me know there were multiple coyotes singing east of my house.

Yesterday, I had three daylight encounters with a coyote. First, it was out along my north fence, and I chased it east, out into the open field, until it disappeared.

I thought that was that -- until a couple of hours later when I saw my six pullets dash across the yard together. The coyote was just outside the driveway gate. This time, the pursuit changed from a sprint to a marathon as I yelled and followed it through a recently planted field (sorry, not sorry Mr. Sullivan; your strong chemicals make breathing for me and Rachel extremely unpleasant, and I at least tried not to stomp your plants). Every so often, the critter would stop and stare at me, apparently trying to figure out when I was going to drop from exhaustion.

I don't know how far I ran, but when the coyote finally disappeared, I realized I was in the middle of a field that is well past Sullivan's and a neighbor's house, which is a quarter mile away.

A couple of hours after that, I looked up in time to see a coyote running at full speed across the same field and heading west. Nothing was chasing it, so maybe the fresh memory of a loud, plodding lunatic made it run? In any case, it high-tailed across the road, paying no attention to two oncoming cars and, with my steady encouragement, disappeared over the horizon.

On the plus side, because I was worried about the safety of my poultry and ruminants, I spent hours outdoors and made real progress on my to-do list. I wish my back and my not-good hip were happier about that.

 

[jvls1942]

Barb. those coyotes are going to keep you in fine shape,. you know you are conditioning them to keep just ahead of you,. watch out for the second one who might snatch a chicken while you are chasing the first one,.
last night the motion light went on just after midnight, it stayed on for quite awhile, so something was moving around out there, . otherwise it shuts off in 3 minutes,
I charged up the battery on Ollie, he started right up after that,. next I have to charge up the rider lawn mower,
I am thinking I will put the tomatoes 1 in each 5 gal pail this year,. I will use the larger raised beds for peppers and squash,

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank goodness it was your good hip, Lisa! And, that you've got the goose and goslings protected for their own good.

Best wishes to you and Jim on raising your tomatoes. With a week's worth of temps in the 70s predicted, I am planning to get mine into the ground this week.

Of course, my plans often go awry. For example, I was planning to get a good night's sleep after an exhausting Sunday. But, no, I had to get up at 3 today and run outside to quash a coyote concert. The dogs let me know there were multiple coyotes singing east of my house.

Yesterday, I had three daylight encounters with a coyote. First, it was out along my north fence, and I chased it east, out into the open field, until it disappeared.

I thought that was that -- until a couple of hours later when I saw my six pullets dash across the yard together. The coyote was just outside the driveway gate. This time, the pursuit changed from a sprint to a marathon as I yelled and followed it through a recently planted field (sorry, not sorry Mr. Sullivan; your strong chemicals make breathing for me and Rachel extremely unpleasant, and I at least tried not to stomp your plants). Every so often, the critter would stop and stare at me, apparently trying to figure out when I was going to drop from exhaustion.

I don't know how far I ran, but when the coyote finally disappeared, I realized I was in the middle of a field that is well past Sullivan's and a neighbor's house, which is a quarter mile away.

A couple of hours after that, I looked up in time to see a coyote running at full speed across the same field and heading west. Nothing was chasing it, so maybe the fresh memory of a loud, plodding lunatic made it run? In any case, it high-tailed across the road, paying no attention to two oncoming cars and, with my steady encouragement, disappeared over the horizon.

On the plus side, because I was worried about the safety of my poultry and ruminants, I spent hours outdoors and made real progress on my to-do list. I wish my back and my not-good hip were happier about that.

I think they would start getting buckshot at this point. Those are very brazen coyote. Glad you and your birds are safe.

 

[jvls1942]

good wednesday morning
the tractor and the lawn mower both took good charges on their batteries
Annie mowed around both rhubarb patches and I
back dragged the driveway,
too hot to stay outside,. 83 F
went to the green house and bought 4 Big Boy tomatoes and 4 bell peppers, Annie picked out some Thai basil ,.
I am going to go back to the field and snag a few buckets of Barby's potting soil, going to put the tomatoes into buckets this year, save the raised beds for peppers and squash,. maybe try some green beans and peas,.
I always seem to plant peas too late,.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Jim I planted my peas a couple of weeks ago. I should go out and see if they are coming up yet.

I released mama goose and babies this morning. Lots of promenading, and looky loos. No ones seems aggressive, so hopefully that's it. Hopefully they can avoid the donkey and goat. Not much I can do about that.

Grass needs mowing here. Husband is still working on getting the mowers ready to go.