Trapped inside

It’s been raining since last night, and water is pouring down the roads, creek branches,  and ravines in the Hollow. Above are the view from my deck, the “water feature” that is usually dry, and the branch that flows near my driveway. I’ve seen the field and branch flood like this two or three times before, but the water feature becoming a waterfall is something I’d only imagined! Here’s a video of the rain and another of the “water feature” that is usually dry. I have never seen it flow like this! As I noted on my previous post, we’ve had a lot of rain recently; you may notice the effects on the river.

I’ll miss my walk today (haven’t even been down to get the newspaper and the mail), but I’ll head down in a while to put out food for the deer—or at least for the turkeys. I saw the turkeys earlier, but the deer are likely bedded down, trying to shelter in a thicket somewhere. Below are some photos from previous days; you can see that some of the pregnant does are beginning to show, and the little bucks’ antlers are beginning to grow. This video shows them heading home one evening. Note the difference in the meadow between then and today.

The rain abated, and when I looked out, I saw a few deer in the meadow. I went down to feed them, and by the time I finished, there were more deer than I’ve seen since the bleakest part of winter. Here’s a short video, and it doesn’t even show the ones in the woods above the field or across the road!

As I walked this week, I was struck by the many hues of green and had planned to write about how the white-blossomed trees and shrubs stand out instead of writing about the the rain and flooding. BTW, here are more flood photos and a video. (If you’re quick, you can see a deer in the woods at the beginning of the video.)

The rain has stopped, and the sun is out, but the internet is slow and spotty. More trees and wildflowers next time!

Turkeys and mushrooms and rain, oh my!

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It’s turkey season, and the toms are gobbling and strutting, trying to impress the hens (watch). For the most part, it seems the ones I see and hear are not very successful, as not many hens are to be seen, except for occasional visits by the big tom and his flock. They stay in the meadow, too far away for a good photo. These two toms hang out together and gobble loudly from my driveway. This morning there was a single hen, but she left without them.

The April rains have continued, and I walked early today to avoid the forecasted downpours (happening now—I hope it lets up before feeding time!).

The rain has brought mushrooms. When I tried to identify these, I found that the spongy-looking ones are (I think ) Morels (Morchella esculenta), and the other is a Dryad’s Saddle (Polyporus squamosus). The web says both types are edible, but not by this blogger! 🙂

More trees and wildflowers are in bloom. I am happy to see blossoms on the blueberries and apple trees in the orchard and the pawpaw trees in the meadow. The Carolina Allspice (Calycanthus floridus), or Sweetshrub, near the house always reminds me of Tuscaloosa and my friend Louise who gave me a little sprout from the one by her house to plant here when I moved.

I like seeing Carolina vetch (Vicia caroliniana), star chickweed (Stellaria pubera), and purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) on my rambles, but I know they are invasive, like so many other plants and trees in the Hollow.

I have a shady bank near my driveway that is not as dry as most of my property. I noticed the wild geraniums (Geranium maculatum) and ferns the first spring I lived here, and I have added more ferns and other native wildflowers, like this Heartleaf Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia).

The rain has stopped, and the wind is blowing in colder temperatures. The deer (and turkeys) have been fed, and the cats are telling me it’s their turn, so I guess it’s time to end this post.

 

 

 

April showers bring April flowers

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I was able to get out before the rain yesterday; today I am waiting for it to end before I ramble. I guess spring weather is fickle. At least it appears that we may escape another freeze, but we had thunder at the end of February, and my neighbors in Tuscaloosa swore that meant frost in April.

More and more of the trees and flowers are waking from their winter dormancy, and it seems there are blossoms and emerging leaves all over the Hollow.

Not everywhere is green, as work continues clearing for the new house.

and other work goes on across the ridge. (Remember this tree?)

The sun is out, and I just walked up into my “orchard”, where all three apple trees have blossoms, and the blueberries are beginning to bloom. Songbirds were singing, and turkeys were gobbling. I walked back in to hear Finlandia playing on the radio. (Listen here.) Spring in this little hollow in the mountains is full of wonderful sights and sounds!

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Spring has arrived!

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Spring has arrived since my last post. We’ve had some warm, sunny days and some cold and rainy ones. I missed a week of rambling in the Hollow when I visited my family in Roswell, NM, and I didn’t do much rambling while I was there. That made the first few trips down to the river and back up to the ridgetop harder than usual, but I’m back to my routine now.

 

The trees are budding out—some have leaves already—and spring ephemerals are in bloom.

 

The deer look ragged as they shed their winter coats. They continue to come to eat but sometimes run when they see me walking. Watch!

 

It was raining when I started writing and uploading photos this morning, but the sun is shining as I finish this afternoon. In between I’ve walked, fed the deer, checked the apple trees (they are budding), and watched turkeys strutting (photos soon). I hope to write more next time. (Oh! And work has started on the new house; I’ll make a post about that, too.)