Since we have lived out here on our acreage we have heard pheasants, usually living in the ditches along the road. This year they have been coming closer, squawking around our yard. I have yet to see one on our property, but by the sound they are very close. You never know what might strut, flit, crawl, slither, hop or scamper across your place out here.

The guy we hired to cut down our dead ash trees backed out, so while we look for someone else to do the job some woodpeckers are making good use of them.

I spoke with a DNR forest biologist about our white willow trees (the crowns are dying) and his conclusion was they will either get better, or they won’t. (!) He explained they might be coming to the end of their natural lifespans, could be suffering from disease or insect infestation, but probably were not dying of drought. He said we could hire an arborist to check them out, but most likely there is nothing to be done. So we will wait and see. I might consult an arborist, or just let nature take its course.

Our mulberry trees produced a fine crop this spring that we were able to enjoy until the robins discovered the berries and stripped the trees of the rest. The garden is coming along okay so far this year, but as usual there is always something struggling. This year it is the tomato plants and the green pepper plant. A volunteer tomato plant grew up right next to the pepper plant, and I think I will let them battle it out.