The Daily Bucket is a place where we post and exchange our observations about what is happening in the natural world in our neighborhood. Each note about the bugs, buds, and birds around us is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the patterns of nature that are quietly unwinding around us.
I have two small terrace plots on the south side of my house where the yard slopes to a lower level. It is good to see the rhubarb is 8" tall and looking healthy. We get several harvests each season. I either run it through the food processor and cut the stalks into coins, then freeze them. Or, I make pie, specifically a custard based pie from Melanie's grandmother.
Help yourself to the recipe. For crust, I buy the Pillsbury ready made ones. I use one to line a glass pie pan and leave the top uncovered. Sometimes, I mix in some strawberries, or raspberries, or blackberries off the bushes in the backyard. Be sure to add a scoop of ice cream if that suits your fancy. Serve it while still warm.
There are some more pictures of my backyard below the orange birdnest. Give us all a report of the goings-on at your place. Here we go.
Right behind the house is a little hosta patch surrounded by some leftover stones from another project. One of the varieties is making good progress. I did have to shoo away a small deer Tuesday afternoon before it found them. I don't have much hope they will make it unmolested.
Close by is a small burr oak I've been nursing and training to grow straight. It was covered by a lot of other stuff until I liberated it. These wasp galls are on several branch junctions. You can see the exit holes on the galls. I understand this is a cosmetic problem and not harmful to the oak. I hope that's true.
At the other corner of the house in back are some Virginia Creeper vines that have detached from the Locust trees and are falling down. You can see where this one was located. It is about 1.5" across. I don't know what to think about this. Below this picture is an upward view of the same vine in the left of the picture. The trunk is on the right.
I walked back farther from the house along the deer trail to investigate some other things. Along the way were several patches of these violets. I will leave you with these pictures. Enjoy your days ahead. Watch for the signs of spring and new growth. Let it rejuvenate you again.
Peace to you...jim