I guess I am not going to mow anything today, just as well, Mowses is almost out of gas and the big-wheel push mower, Willie, doesn't get any mileage at all. It is raining, not all that unusual for Memorial weekend, but nevertheless a surprise. There was quite a bit of traffic yesterday, fun-seekers heading for camp-grounds and the State-parks, having paid dearly for the fuel to get them there, looking for some relaxation, I feel for them and hope they manage to have fun just the same. It is possible, been there, done that. My bored cats have settled down, Sooty and Taffy choose to hang out on my un-made bed, I planned to change sheets this morning, well, it will have to wait, I am not going to disturb them. Tomato starts are waiting to be planted, Memorial Day is the usual time to do that in this neck of the woods. Last week, in triple digit heat, it felt as though this rule need not apply, but it is a good one. Our Health Food Store's ad in the local Weekly contains some interesting slogans, real groaners. The last one: "Time flies like an arrow Fruit flies like a banana" and the current one "A hardboiled egg for breakfast can't be beat"

if this tree is overhanging a house.. or anything valuable ... it most likely needs to go ... it is a severe danger to you and your stuff .. and perhaps the neighbors.. but that would depend if you like them ..... see above about a local trained professional .. and to be clear.. not every monkey with a chainsaw is a trained asa cert'd professional of course.. if you already know the answer ... and were just hoping we came up with another answer .... then all you need is an INSURED monkey with a chainsaw.. and be done with this nightmare .... i totally agree .. that there is something significantly.. structurally .... wrong with the interior of the tree.. for the pecker of wood to do that ... it needs to go ... and now that giant holes have been introduced.. its going to rot even faster than it probably was .... ken

babka - I used to find the caterpillars and stick them in jars with a twig and a few leaves, usually in a week or less they pupate and then I'd wait for the butterfly or moth to emerge - ain't much better than that when you're a kid. ggnancy & troutwind - I opened the skylight and screen and still had to direct the hummer out. The chippers have gotten into some areas I wish they wouldn't, so don't want to encourage them too much. Besides if it ran up my leg - I wear shorts - yikes - lol. Woodpeckers are fun to observe, especially the Pileateds - as long as your house is metal - lol. Neighbor finally decided to reside after all their woodpecker problems. The Pileated has a jungle like call - so you can tell when they are close. Paul

Beautiful pics Gymell! I enjoyed looking through your album as well and LOL'd at the t-shirt! Your yard looks great and the prairie area looks like it will be beautiful. Our situations are very similar - I am trying to create a native habitat on a 1.25 acre lot that was (and still is) horribly overgrown with invasives too. I've had 4 large Norway maples removed and have cut and poisoned tons of Oriental bittersweet and Buckthorn. I've got both Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn) and Frangula alnus (Glossy buckthorn) and detest Buckthorn almost as much as Oriental bittersweet. I also have a medium-sized weed wrench! Unfortunately, I've still got tons of work left to do. Bummer on your nice snag tree - I've left up about a dozen Red pine snags, and 3 of them have blown over in the past year. I've got a gorgeous snag right in the middle of the back yard that looks like a tree sculpture to me. It was so exciting when a pair of Bluebirds decided to nest in this snag - successfully raising 2 broods last summer! I am afraid it is doomed to fall soon too and have actually discussed bracing it with an arborist. I have also discussed "planting" a snag with him but we haven't figured that out yet either. Here is a pic of my favorite snag in the Back garden and Mr. Bluebird's hind end as he's feeding the nestlings last August -