RACCOON BABY ALERT
It's Feb 26 and we had more than 10 babies here last night. We saw the first babies of the season this past week but last night they all showed up, tiny, fluffy, cute as can be.

No Possums

We have noticed this year that there are no possums.  The last possum we saw was late summer 2016.   Not sure why there's a possum shortage, but I expect they'll be back this summer.  It's just odd to not see their cute little pink toes and long odd ratlike tails outside int he dark...

BAMBOO CLUMPS - Round 2

Last year early April we asked Clay of Valkaria Gardens to give us 10 clumps of field grown Emerald Bamboo.  They are huge, full, plush, green, thick, and exceptional, so we bought 10 more of the same this year.  Clay installed them a couple of weeks ago on February 8th, and Mark is doing an amazing job of watering them a couple of times a week (while we wait for rains to return...).  Then, a couple of days ago on Sunday, February 19th, Mark and I dug a trench and planted 10 Seabreeze Bamboo (3 gallon containers) that we bought in December from Beautiful Bamboo in Homestead, Florida.  So the amazing Wall of Bamboo is filled in, and we're going to be seeing some stunning culm growth this spring.  I'm buying an extra 25lb bag of earthworm castings so I can make sure those underground rhizomes are developing happily...

Bamboo is very fun, and when it forms a plush wall like our April 2016 Emerald clumps, it's nothing short of stunning.  What other plant can produce a 30' green wall in a year?

Peacock Feather Peak - about February 1st 2017

Every year we watch the growth and removal of the most magnificent feathers in nature... the male peafowl display feathers.  And every year I try to remember when the peak is; and I believe it's February 1st.  They start to grow late fall, and are short but growing in January, but by February 1 they are HUGE and magnificent.  In fact, other than Hooky (our favorite), we name the male peafowl names like Big Tail, Huge, and Mega...  because the feathers are really that amazing!

Why do we note a peak of the feathers?  Because after the peak (this year, over the last couple of weeks) we notice a feather or two here and there.  After the peak, they fall our during normal grooming from now until the summer when they're all gone.  Peacock guys, time to impress the ladies is NOW!

Baby Raccoons Feb 17 2017!

We saw our first baby raccoons this week on February 17th .... a  pack of 3 running around together.  One of the three followed mom closely, and the other two were adventurous, staying within 20 feet but not worrying too much about being beside her.  The one close to her ate Ol Racon, but the other two weren't hungry and probably drank all of the milk earlier.

So, for the future, we'll remember to look for babies early to mid February.

PLANTING TODAY FEB 18, 2017
Today we planted cantaloupe in two different locations on the raised bed platform, these will stream on to aerial tracks above the ground and ants.

We also planted Honey Dew and Sugar Baby watermelons in a ground based pot on the black fabric.

WEATHER UPDATE

Temperature dipped into lower mid 40's Feb 15

NEW T-12 MICROPHONE
Hand made in USA by Weemurtone

using the finest parts available 😎

Planted Carrots 2/12/17

Planted a LOT of carrots - two large pots, and 8 10" pots using a grid system (30 seeds per pot).

Bamboo feeding 2/12/2017

Today gave the emerald bamboo timed release fertilizer.

Banana Circle Planting Day! 2/12/2017

The banana circle is loaded with bananas, finally.  I waited until the waning moon (2 days since the full moon) so the little guys get all the help they can from the moon.  They got earthworm castings and bone meal in the hole, along with a lot of planting mix mixed in with native sand.  Then they got a bucket of fish emulsion water.... they love that stinky stuff.

Now, we watch and wait.  The middle of the circle is filled with wood, leaves, cardboard, manure, and all kinds of kitchen waste and "stuff".