Snake in the Grass

Actually, it was snake in the weeds today.  The mail had just been delivered so I was on my way to get it from the mailbox when I saw a snake just off the driveway in the weeds.  This is by no means the first time we have found a snake in that particular area. But it was the first time for finding a snake featuring the rattles at the tip of its tail.  My spouse kept watch on it while I went in for the camera.  The rattler seemed in no hurry and allowed me to take pictures from several places.  I guess it figured we were no threat and was happy to soak up the sun.

Even more unusual was the fact that while I was getting the camera, my husband noticed a second snake just a few feet away.  But that one was a gopher snake, the kind we have encountered frequently.  The sunlight caught its scales just right — it almost sparkled.  It moved off and when I checked again some minutes later, it was doing what a good gopher snake should do — heading down a gopher hole.

First Growth on New Trees

Looking down the row from the other side, you can see that the trees are actually leafing out.

The stakes on the hill are marking the proposed locations for the second row of the orchard.

And of course, the weeds seem to be growing a lot faster than the trees.

Spring has Sprung

And we have a bumper crop of weeds to show for it. Much more diverse and robust than the weeds covering the hill last spring.

Winter was busy with holidays, birthdays, other seasonal events along with transitioning into retirement. Things have been happening, but not with any pattern that would make for a decent paragraph or two.

The garden area has been greatly expanded with permanent fencing on three sides. The first row of the orchard was planted and blackberries and raspberries were planted along the new fence. The dwarf citrus trees were moved from pots to the space between the fence and the driveway side. Additional raised beds have been built and are ready to be installed in the garden area.

The parakeet flock has been active as well. A pair of bourkes produced two clutches of four. Unfortunately they skipped a critical step and it was just eggs. On the other hand, Jade and Jasper, the red rump pair, finally settled down to raising a family. Unlike their behavior the past two years, this time Jade brooded the eggs and chicks and Jasper behaved properly – at least until the three chicks fledged. Jade started a new clutch as soon as the first batch started venturing out from the nest box. Expecting more chicks any day now.

 

Citrus Row

The citrus which have been growing in containers were planted along the driveway. Each is surrounded by a wire cage to reduce damage should deer decide the trees looked like lunch.

Bare Root Planting Time

The orchard trees started arriving right after Christmas. The empty garden beds provided a suitable place to keep them until all was ready for planting.

One of the thirty four bareroot trees for the orchard. Not so much in the way of roots for the part that is above ground.  Chickenwire cages were put around each tree to protect the roots from gophers. After planting, the trees needed to be pruned so that what is above the ground is better balanced with what is below ground.