The weather has continued to be fickle. The day after my last post we had a warning for snow and a freeze. Both apple trees in my “orchard” were in full bloom, and the blueberries were, too. The apple trees are each about eight feet tall and on a very steep slope, but I managed to cover them using bamboo poles to support old sheets and then fastened plastic to the protective fencing. (Those are blueberries in front.)
It snowed a little (on April 17th!), and I was glad to have made the effort, even if I did get snow down my coat when I uncovered everything the next morning. I hope it worked!
The turkeys continue to gobble and strut, and I have posted more videos (hen and toms), including one where I gobble at them first. They continue to keep me entertained!
The deer seem skinny now, and I’m glad there is more for them to eat in the woods and fields. Some of the does are obviously pregnant, and they all are still shedding their winter coats (although winter weather keeps returning).
Today I caught several of them watching me on my ramble.
The deer aren’t the only animals that watch. Yesterday I saw a stray cat (white with a black tail!) several times as I rambled until he finally disappeared into the undergrowth. Then I caught a glimpse of a neighbor’s cat as I approached the river. He disappeared into the undergrowth, too.
Four deer showed up while I was writing this—my favorites, the mother of the triplets and the extra that hangs out with them. You can see all of them here. (That’s Fuzzy in the front and Vee in the middle of the video.)
It’s been in the low 50s all day and was windy and sprinkling when I went out for the deer. No more freezes are in the forecast, but we still have blackberry winter to come. I’ll write about that another day….
French Broad Hollow Ramble 