Summer Arrived - at last.

Though things were late in starting,the new blooms are doing great. We are still getting ready for our big move. I hope to be able to show you the great place that will be the new home for Rusty's Retreat - deep in the Laurentians, with a small river within feet of the front door.

This bird finds warm is good

Quite a difference from the picture taken back late in the winter.

It's been too long. Computer problems were part of the problem in keeping things more or less up-to-date.

However there are some very BIG changes coming to Rusty's Retreat. True, things are going to be slow until the Fall, but wait and see.

ATB! Rusty

Waiting For Dinner

A friendly Visitor

There are quite a few of these birds around but I don't have a clue what they are. Though fast moving, they don't seem to mind me sitting just a few feet away.

A Friendly Redwing

And boy, does this character give me whatfor until I put the bird food out in the morning.

Look What I found.....

This young squirrel seems to think he has the motherlode of food. It seems just a little too big for him to drag away - but he is trying.

Bleeding Heart

Isjust starting to bloom. I'm going to have to divide this beauty later this year.

Mother Robin

Taking time out to find her breakfast.

Mrs Napoleon?

I seem to be getting a very strange look. She probably wants a change in diet. No peanuts in this particular bird feeder. Though it's illegal to feed any wild critters here - including certain birds - squirrels and raccoons refuse to read the signs on the bird feeders. :-(

Spring Nights

We had a few clear days - temperatures up to near normal. But after this was taken the rain returned.

Speaking of invasive.....

Nice fresh mint popping up where a tomato plant will be later this month. The black cloth is a method of mulching. I find it works very well.

And here comes the Bamboo.

By late summer this plant will be over seven feet tall and covered in bloom. It amkes a very good screen - but it can be invasive.

And Naturally - taking over the world...

I could drive myself crazy and think of it as a weed - but......

The Hosta are springing up!

I see I have to get to work and divide all of them this year. It looks like a four to one dividend on all plants.

It's a stray, but a nice one

Who knows where this came from, but I enjoy seeing it.

A future bloom

Even the lilac tree seems late this year. But it looks like there will be a good crop of flowers.

How Green It Is...

It's been a cold and very wet spring...

But at last we have some bloom. Perhaps the month of May will be better.

She Has Returned

Again in the same spot. A new nest has been built. Now we wait and see. This is the third year on top of this spotlight. I think it was the same pair that built their nest two years prior to that on top of a fixture by the front door. This spot is much more private, protected - and safe from just about anything on the ground. Naturally this light is simply never used while the nest is occupied.

Old Real Estate

I took down the robins nest from last summer. Now I'm waiting to see if they decide to set up housekeeping in the same spot this year. It's surprising how clean and well preserved the old nest is.