Thursday, November 17, 2011
31.8° here on the mountain and only a faint wind now. The dark skies of an hour ago have faded to a rising sun over Peacham Pond and long flat clouds that don't appear to move. The temperature is more than ten degrees cooler this morning and the feel is more like November than the previous two weeks when we were spoiled by above average temperatures. Blue jays are everywhere this morning and they are greeted by 7 mourning doves that lift off and land outside my office window, apparently remembering the cracked corn feeder that is nowhere to be found. Until the bears hibernate, the feeders remain empty here.
Overhead a few beech leaves rustle as a murder of noisy crows heads east. They were loud enough to get me to stand up from the computer and count them as they went by the window. I stopped at 87 but there were more. "Murder" is a collective noun specific to what many might call a "flock" of crows (or ravens). But crows are usually in small groups until in late Fall when they decide to move along a bit, south to warmer temperatures and more frequent road kills and east to more snowless fields. I like crows and I appreciate their attitude towards clean roads. This morning I hope a few are down at Ian the bagpipers house on RT 232 as there was a giant skunk there yesterday, flatter than flat and already quite odoriferous. Death occurred at the crest of a hill and it's difficult to avoid the pile of black and white with traffic wanting to get by quickly.
Just the word "collective" reminds me that it's Fall and Fall is pick up time in the garden. I have a very bad habit of leaning up tools against trees and then not going back to pick them up. Today will be pick up day and at very least I'll get everything into the cellar in a pile so they can dry out. Later this winter I'll sharpen edges and oil handles but for now, just collecting them will be enough. It's probably a good idea for you to consider too.
Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where deer hunters pass the house and the wind has grown silent. Have a nice day!
George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
On Facebook as Vermont Flower Farm and Garden and also as George Africa
On Twitter as vtflowerfarm
Call Gail at 802-426-3505 if you need a holiday or special occasion gift certificate. We're always happy to help you grow your green thumb!
Overhead a few beech leaves rustle as a murder of noisy crows heads east. They were loud enough to get me to stand up from the computer and count them as they went by the window. I stopped at 87 but there were more. "Murder" is a collective noun specific to what many might call a "flock" of crows (or ravens). But crows are usually in small groups until in late Fall when they decide to move along a bit, south to warmer temperatures and more frequent road kills and east to more snowless fields. I like crows and I appreciate their attitude towards clean roads. This morning I hope a few are down at Ian the bagpipers house on RT 232 as there was a giant skunk there yesterday, flatter than flat and already quite odoriferous. Death occurred at the crest of a hill and it's difficult to avoid the pile of black and white with traffic wanting to get by quickly.
Just the word "collective" reminds me that it's Fall and Fall is pick up time in the garden. I have a very bad habit of leaning up tools against trees and then not going back to pick them up. Today will be pick up day and at very least I'll get everything into the cellar in a pile so they can dry out. Later this winter I'll sharpen edges and oil handles but for now, just collecting them will be enough. It's probably a good idea for you to consider too.
Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where deer hunters pass the house and the wind has grown silent. Have a nice day!
George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
On Facebook as Vermont Flower Farm and Garden and also as George Africa
On Twitter as vtflowerfarm
Call Gail at 802-426-3505 if you need a holiday or special occasion gift certificate. We're always happy to help you grow your green thumb!
