thinking that when the yard dries up I could set up a makeshift campsite and camp out a few nights every now and then.

Great idea! When I was a kid, I'd spend nearly every summer night sleeping in my backyard.

I had a herd of six deer pass through the backyard Sunday morning. It looks like Morning Doves are picking out a nesting site in a spruce tree. Across the street Killdeer are calling out and setting up territory in the softball fields. I wonder if they will be able to nest there this year...

missmolly: "Great idea! When I was a kid, I'd spend nearly every summer night sleeping in my backyard. "

I too did this every once in a while. I no longer live in an area where I would do this though lol.

Found bear scat out back yesterday

Canoearoo: "Found bear scat out back yesterday "

I often see bear and coyote scat too.

Every spring we have a temporary pond form from snow melt and rain. It form most years and dries up within 2-3 weeks. Right now there are 4 Mallards on it feeding and chasing each other around. In summer it will form if we get heavy, repeated rains. Last year we had a Grey Tree Frog in the trees right next to it so it is definitely a little "island of life." I sat and listened to it at dusk. Love it!

My backyard. About to go out and rake it to get all the debris out. Hoping it dries quickly so my kids can use the playground without getting crazy muddy. But its supposed to rain tomorrow..... so looks like mud is in the forecast.

Backyard? Spartan1 and I have a friendly disagreement about what is the front yard and what is the back yard at our lake cottage. But right at this minute he is raking oak leaves from the "back yard"--the hillside that leads down to the lake. I call that part of the cottage and the hillside the "front", but he insists it is the "back." We have three huge oak trees, so there is never any lack of raking in the spring around here.

We have been at the cottage since Friday. The lake level is high and the lake looks cold in cloudy conditions. Yesterday we had a few glimpses of sun and it was blue and beautiful.

There are a few crocuses blooming now, and I will have lots of daffodils, narcissus, and a few tulips. This is my very favorite time of year.

Forest is greening up nicely, buckeye a few weeks ago, then tuliptree, now the oaks are full of catkins and tiny leaves. The pine pollen is terrible, oak about to dust us, too. The worst is black willow from the river and beaver ponds. It feels gritty in your eyes.

We had a lot of winter rain and the spring wildflowers are putting on a good show.

Mama doe brought her twin fawns out for show the first time yesterday. They have been social distancing in a thickety place with a bunch of blown down pines. Real good cover.

It is comforting to see spring proceed unaffected by the human crisis at hand.

Had a camp fire at our lake house Saturday. Not a single jet vapor trail at dusk. Normally there are 8 to 10 at any given time.

During the day I watch the birds feed and squirrels chase each other around the yard while working from home. Then sat on the deck last night ~60 degrees out, clear night, cold beer, and grilled up a steak.

There may be plenty of negative things in the world at any given moment, but if you stop and think there are plenty of positive in your own life at the same moment. Life is not so bad, but is all about perspective.

We are in full backyard camp mode. My daughter would sleep in the tent exclusively if she could.

Spring bulbs have been coming up so I have been waging my yearly war on squirrels to keep them away from the crocus. I actually got to see 2 of the flowers this year before they nibbled them off. Disappointing as I have yet to see any of the saffron crocus grow before getting devoured. All else are good though.

Moved the blueberries out from wintering in the garage to the back patio and they are gradually budding. Clearing the beds and started seedlings for the garden a few days ago

Birds have been making their presence known and I am enjoying hearing them again. A little early, but I also go the first hummingbird feeder up the other day.

Our resident canyon bobcat paid us a visit. We call him Bob. Otherwise, just waiting for the next storm front to blow through

One kid is hanging in a hammock "working on his tan. " The other son is around the corner shooting my bow.

Once the shooting is over the dog will go out and be in heaven.

The birds have found the bird feeder that had not been filled for a long time. I have my office windows cleaned and am watching the Mississippi continuing to flow downstream. I can also peer in the other direction into the woods with my binoculars. I'm beginning to warm to working at home.

Crows have been picking up the dog hair and building a nest.

Looking forward to doing some clean-up and pruning if the weather is good this weekend. Hot coals and cold beers will be most of my backyard time this summer, the project list on the inside of the house is getting out of hand.

Rabbits, possums, skunks and raccoons continue to make the rounds after dark. The first flowers are starting to bloom, I'll have to ask my wife what they are.

Our backyard is our front yard because I live on a lake. Ice is still on the lake. I’m having a fire in my pit, drinking a Gin Tonic. I can’t wait to get the dock, boats and pontoon out. Our camper is at the dealer. When I get it in May it will be parked up in my outlet. I might have to spend a night up there if all the campsites are still closed.

Picking up after the dog and raking some. It is a delight: who'd of thunk it. Put out dryer lint in the trees for the birds nesting. Mr and Mrs Mallard should be up the creek pretty soon and the dog will be leaning on the fence barking at therm.
I always put up a wren box at the garage that I could watch; the male fills it with twigs, but the female always decides on the other one, down by the creek, behind the shed (house wrens).

Camped out with the dog last night in the yard.

Now the kids want a fire and s'mores...

The dog poo is drying up...perfect for flinging over the fence.

I still have about 2 feet of snow in my backyard.

Ice just went out on Lake Mitchell yesterday. Haven't seen any loons yet, although there's lots of mergansers and buffleheads. Awesome to finally be looking at open water after 5 months of ice. Won't be long til the canoe or kayak gets wet.

Ice out on our Lakes this weekend. Today there was a pair of loons on the lake.
Yesterday afternoon a coon showed up in my backyard at 1pm.
I yelled at it and it wouldn't leave, and actually laid down on his side.
One eye was mattered shut. I dispatched the poor thing.
I saw a Coopers Hawk streaked through my yard today. We have so many redwinged blackbirds I'm sure he was looking for a easy meal.
I don't want to camp in my yard though, I have a nice extremely comfortable mattress inside.

greywolf33: "The dog poo is drying up...perfect for flinging over the fence."

Into the neighbors yard ?

The dog woke me up this morning because a flock of turkeys strolled past the bedroom window, ducks and geese she tolerates, but she hates turkeys. The Mallards have mostly paired up and scattered there are only two dozen or so left of the 100 that overwintered, This was the first morning I didn't see any goldeneye had a dozen here since February. The snow is gone but there is still stubborn ice in the backwaters. Saw a guy in a wood stripper paddle by last evening first boat besides mine I have seen on the river since October.

I fed crows some sunflower seeds yesterday for the first time in life. I guess I must be missing feeding other birds that badly and watching a special on crows has elevated my appreciation of them. They're the geniuses of the bird world.

I've got leaves coming out of the ground too. It was only a week or so ago that the ground thawed, so I was surprised to see them. Spring's a long time coming on the coast of Maine. I was born on the West Coast and raised in the Midwest. Springs are the big thing I miss about living on the East Coast. The North Atlantic is just too cold to allow for balmy spring days.

podgeo: "

greywolf33: "The dog poo is drying up...perfect for flinging over the fence."

Into the neighbors yard ?"

;-)

Spartan2: "Backyard? Spartan1 and I have a friendly disagreement about what is the front yard and what is the back yard at our lake cottage. But right at this minute he is raking oak leaves from the "back yard"--the hillside that leads down to the lake. I call that part of the cottage and the hillside the "front", but he insists it is the "back."


"

My husband and I have the same disagreement on the lot we are building a house. He insists on the lakeside being called "the front" and the street side being called "the back". I find this labeling very confusing. My solution is to label them "lake side" and "street side" but he refuses to go along with it.

PatrickE: "We are in full backyard camp mode. My daughter would sleep in the tent exclusively if she could. "

I'm jealous of that grass!

I am also eager for our backyard to dry up so I can test out my "new" tent.

In the meantime, the turkeys rule the yard. Constant gobbling and strutting.

missmolly: " Spring's a long time coming on the coast of Maine. I was born on the West Coast and raised in the Midwest. Springs are the big thing I miss about living on the East Coast. The North Atlantic is just too cold to allow for balmy spring days."

I grew up in CT and have lived in ME about 40 years. Spring is the only time I miss CT. Spring down there is just so much earlier and nicer than spring in ME, even southern ME. I could never move back to CT though.

My backyard is currently being used by my 2 kids who have been busy building bird nests (you know in case a baby bird needs one), campfires (like daddy makes), and little animal homes crafted from whatever they can sneak out of the house with out mom and dad noticing. The dog is also right there with them the entire time.

The front yard has become the art studio with chalk being the latest hot trend in the art world. Its also being used heavily in the evenings and over night by the resident deer population. They have a pretty good trail worn into the soft ground at this point.

One of these days when I find a few free minutes I'll start on yard clean up but the free time everyone talks about having so much of now that we all have to stay home hasn't really materialized for me. My days are busier now than they ever were when i was going into the office 40 hours a week. Finding time to for 2 adults to work 2 more than full time jobs, time to help the oldest with her distance learning school work, time to put the house back together after the kids spend all day destroying it, and in the meantime finding time to keep the 3 year old occupied has me completely exhausted. I've never wanted to go into the office more than I do right now.

Not in my back yard but in the front ....

As I went out the front door yesterday, I scared up a Mallard from right next to the door (she scared me, too!). She had scooped out a nest in the soil between the door and the garage and behind some tall grasses and directly under a large window. There were two eggs in the nest. She flew off and I thought (hoped) that she had abandoned the nest, but this morning she was back and had laid a third egg overnight.

Waiting for the frost to fully come out so the playground looks level again... and dreading how I have to do siding this summer for the garage cause I am sick of paint.

RTurner: "

missmolly: " Spring's a long time coming on the coast of Maine. I was born on the West Coast and raised in the Midwest. Springs are the big thing I miss about living on the East Coast. The North Atlantic is just too cold to allow for balmy spring days."

I grew up in CT and have lived in ME about 40 years. Spring is the only time I miss CT. Spring down there is just so much earlier and nicer than spring in ME, even southern ME. I could never move back to CT though."

I lived one year in southern Ohio and that spring had me understanding why spring makes poets sing. Where do you live now?

Curly, all that turkey chatter sounds like fun!

Mocha: "thinking that when the yard dries up I could set up a makeshift campsite and camp out a few nights every now and then."

The neighbors will talk......

missmolly: " The North Atlantic is just too cold to allow for balmy spring days."

I have a friend/co-worker in Kennebunk that would be more than happy to agree.

straighthairedcurly: "

Spartan2: "Backyard? Spartan1 and I have a friendly disagreement about what is the front yard and what is the back yard at our lake cottage. But right at this minute he is raking oak leaves from the "back yard"--the hillside that leads down to the lake. I call that part of the cottage and the hillside the "front", but he insists it is the "back."



"

My husband and I have the same disagreement on the lot we are building a house. He insists on the lakeside being called "the front" and the street side being called "the back". I find this labeling very confusing. My solution is to label them "lake side" and "street side" but he refuses to go along with it."

That might actually work for us. There is no "street", but there is a small two-track private drive that goes by our cottage, so I suppose we could call it the "road" side, or the "trail" side and the "lake" side. I think, however, that I shall always consider the little room at the "front" of the house that overlooks the lake, as the "front room". I am stubborn. :-) He is going to have a long 30 days cooped up with me, and we'll both be glad that we have two residences.

It's always easy to know when the shad are spawning in my back yard.

This is a great time of the year out here. Everything is green, the wild flowers are all looking good. We have a fairly big back yard. There is a lake on it so I see geese and ducks almost daily. Right know there is a goose nesting on roof of the shop by the lake. In the past couple days I have seen a turkey, bobcat, coyote, quail and wild pigs.

Yesterday our neighbor called and asked if they could take there daughters senior pictures by the lake and in back yard with the cows in the background! All things considered its been a pretty good week!

I live in the city and twice this past week we have had to call the police for strange people in the back of our house and our next door neighbors' yards looking in windows.

Lots of neighborhood garages, cars, and houses being broken into even with people inside sleeping in the houses.

So I'm not camping in my back yard anytime soon!

I'm heading to my cabin in about an hour to check on that backyard. I'll put some pictures up if they seem good enough. Of course I pick the day that is slightly rainy :/

Please note I make no stops between my house and the cabin and there are no people near it either so zero chance of spreading if I even have covid.

missmolly: "

RTurner: "

missmolly: " Spring's a long time coming on the coast of Maine. I was born on the West Coast and raised in the Midwest. Springs are the big thing I miss about living on the East Coast. The North Atlantic is just too cold to allow for balmy spring days."

I grew up in CT and have lived in ME about 40 years. Spring is the only time I miss CT. Spring down there is just so much earlier and nicer than spring in ME, even southern ME. I could never move back to CT though."

I lived one year in southern Ohio and that spring had me understanding why spring makes poets sing. Where do you live now?


Curly, all that turkey chatter sounds like fun!"

Gorham ME, just west of Portland.

My dog caught his first skunk, I could only cringe when I saw it unfold out in the field.

Spartan2: "

straighthairedcurly: "

Spartan2: "Backyard? Spartan1 and I have a friendly disagreement about what is the front yard and what is the back yard at our lake cottage. But right at this minute he is raking oak leaves from the "back yard"--the hillside that leads down to the lake. I call that part of the cottage and the hillside the "front", but he insists it is the "back."



"

My husband and I have the same disagreement on the lot we are building a house. He insists on the lakeside being called "the front" and the street side being called "the back". I find this labeling very confusing. My solution is to label them "lake side" and "street side" but he refuses to go along with it."

That might actually work for us. There is no "street", but there is a small two-track private drive that goes by our cottage, so I suppose we could call it the "road" side, or the "trail" side and the "lake" side. I think, however, that I shall always consider the little room at the "front" of the house that overlooks the lake, as the "front room". I am stubborn. :-) He is going to have a long 30 days cooped up with me, and we'll both be glad that we have two residences."

You really are lucky. In Wisconsin we are under a travel advisory to not go to our lake cabin. We have to pay the mortgage, pay the electric, pay for the propane, pay for the internet and phone, pay for plowing, pay the taxes, and pay for the insurance. But the county board has decided that for the foreseeable future we should do all that without going there.

x2jmorris: " "

Nice, how about some inside pics.

onepaddleshort: "

"You really are lucky. In Wisconsin we are under a travel advisory to not go to our lake cabin. We have to pay the mortgage, pay the electric, pay for the propane, pay for the internet and phone, pay for plowing, pay the taxes, and pay for the insurance. But the county board has decided that for the foreseeable future we should do all that without going there. "

Hi onepaddleshort,
I don't think there are any county boards in Michigan at this time that are putting out edicts about going out of the county. But I suppose I could be wrong. Interesting point.

Our cottage, thankfully, is much simpler than yours. No mortgage, no propane, no Internet, no plowing. . .but of course we have the other things like taxes and insurance.

We all are just hoping that this doesn't last all summer, aren't we? ;-)

Yard just free of snow three days ago.

Raked it watch a couple of deer cross it wife saw a turkey wander thru it.

Swatted a red squirrel with the 12ga as the varmint ran across it.

Junko's and robins are around.

No bears or wolves yet but they are around.

My two ponds are still ice covered put as soon as they are ice free then ducks will be back and the spring peepers will start singing.

Just now I am looking at a cock ruff grouse strutting across it.

Most days I walk out behind the garage and do some practice on my established shooting sport range.

Yesterday I was sitting in my yard burning wood in my fireplace. Most of the snow had melted and was waiting for the yard to dry out. Today I am sitting in the House watching a full blown blizzard outside. We may get 12” inches of snow!
The joys of living in NW Minnesota.

Carl

LindenTree: "

x2jmorris: " "

Nice, how about some inside pics."

Next time I head up there I'll grab ya some inside pics

I love daffodils

Swans, Geese,Loons and quackers on the lake. Peepers are active in all the swampy areas. Hearing cranes in the distance and flying overhead.

The bluebirds are back!

QuietWaters: " "

Man, it is warm where you live. We are so far from flowers on the coast of Maine. Sigh. Still, I'm happy for you.

Spring peepers started here in Rochester Mn 3 or 4 nights ago. Saw Sandhill Cranes and Trumpeters in the Whitewater valley last weekend. Just waiting for the Ramps to pop followed by the Morels.

Garden is seeded with early crops and the garlic is 2-4" already.

onepaddleshort: "

Spartan2: "

straighthairedcurly: "

Spartan2: "Backyard? Spartan1 and I have a friendly disagreement about what is the front yard and what is the back yard at our lake cottage. But right at this minute he is raking oak leaves from the "back yard"--the hillside that leads down to the lake. I call that part of the cottage and the hillside the "front", but he insists it is the "back."




"

My husband and I have the same disagreement on the lot we are building a house. He insists on the lakeside being called "the front" and the street side being called "the back". I find this labeling very confusing. My solution is to label them "lake side" and "street side" but he refuses to go along with it."

That might actually work for us. There is no "street", but there is a small two-track private drive that goes by our cottage, so I suppose we could call it the "road" side, or the "trail" side and the "lake" side. I think, however, that I shall always consider the little room at the "front" of the house that overlooks the lake, as the "front room". I am stubborn. :-) He is going to have a long 30 days cooped up with me, and we'll both be glad that we have two residences."

You really are lucky. In Wisconsin we are under a travel advisory to not go to our lake cabin. We have to pay the mortgage, pay the electric, pay for the propane, pay for the internet and phone, pay for plowing, pay the taxes, and pay for the insurance. But the county board has decided that for the foreseeable future we should do all that without going there. "

In Minnesota it’s called essential travel ban. When is going to your cabin not essential.

We are cooking to kill time!

plexmidwest: "My dog caught his first skunk, I could only cringe when I saw it unfold out in the field.
"

It's funny. It was my wife's dog until he got sprayed by a skunk. Suddenly it was MY dog.

missmolly: "

QuietWaters: " "

Man, it is warm where you live. We are so far from flowers on the coast of Maine. Sigh. Still, I'm happy for you. "

The flowers are about a week early, but I've never seen butterflies here this early. There were three of these Eastern Comma butterflies checking out the flowers. Had to look them up as I've never seen this kind before. Also had a queen bumblebee in the crocus and never see them this early either.

I take it mud season hasn't arrived in Maine yet.

Heard the first spring peepers of the year last night. Always the most telling sign that winter is over ??

More daffodils for Mocha. We had 60 degrees and sunny today in south central Michigan.

QuietWaters: "

missmolly: "

QuietWaters: " "

Man, it is warm where you live. We are so far from flowers on the coast of Maine. Sigh. Still, I'm happy for you. "

The flowers are about a week early, but I've never seen butterflies here this early. There were three of these Eastern Comma butterflies checking out the flowers. Had to look them up as I've never seen this kind before. Also had a queen bumblebee in the crocus and never see them this early either.


I take it mud season hasn't arrived in Maine yet."

Oh, mud season is here. Cool that you know that about Maine! However, I skip mud season but using anti-mud fixes in the once muddy parts of my yard, whether it's blue stone, mulch, moss, or simply tons of topsoil that bury the once too high water table. I also have the rare paved driveway, so there's no mud there too.

What's happening in your backyard?



More of this white S@&t

The Quarantine Gardener


Here is what has been going on in my little world.

Bushman: " The Quarantine Gardener



Here is what has been going on in my little world."

Your garden is gorgeous! If you remember, please post media of the cucumber tunnel and the garden in August or thereabouts. What kind of wood did you use? I built my second raised bed last summer and used hemlock to resist rotting. I built it several feet high after seeing high raised beds in Vancouver. It took more wood and a LOT more dirt, but it's rabbit-proof and easy on the back. Great kid too.

My backyard. Not dry enough for a tent. But a great afternoon for a ??

MissMolly,
I used 4x4 untreated pine. I get them free from work so it was hard to pass up.
I know they will eventually rot out but I'll be willing to bet I get about ten years out of them. I have a huge stockpile under tarp so I can replace timbers at will if need be.
I will send you pics and a video of the cucumber tunnel. Hoping it turns out well. It is my first go 'round making a tunnel. Also will be tunneling pole beans!

-Bushman

Twin cities. Frogs are going absolutely bonkers in my back yard swamp. Ducks too- nonstop.

We don’t get spectacular seasonal changes but yes on the frogs. On a walk a week or so we stopped near a wet area and they were spectacular with loud calls jumping around the area creating a spatial symphony. It was joyous.

On another walk they weren’t quite as amazing but we happily waited and maintained our social distance while a kid got off his bike and looked for them. Happy to watch his developing love of nature.

On one walk we watched a hawk hang stationary high in the air, using the updraft for the bluffs over the ocean, for several minutes. In the distance, gray whales were spouting. They come close to shore in our area to feed as they migrate north to Alaska. I guess that is both spectacular and seasonal.