Prowlers

We have a new visitor since a few days. Maybe he just moved in the neighborhood. He certainly adopted our yard. I call him the booted car (like in the fairy tale - or Shrek) since he has an original shave-job that makes it look like he has little soft booties on. He is cautious and curious and comes frequently to explore the new patio. He's shot here on the side of my wife's garden. Hoepfully he won't be a nuisance when the herbs are all planted...

I have to confess that although I like cats 'symbolicly', I don't much appreciate them 'practically'. I'm lightly allergic but what bugs me most is that they eat birds and I like birds better...I always rooted for Tweety when I watched the cartoons. Woody Woodpercker is one of my idol and Roadrunner is just too cool and daft. Also, they are kind of sneaky, like some women I know...not a trait I have much respect for...so watchout cats! Don't get too comfy in my yard...or else!...

Other Early Risers

Every day is a new surprise as more and more flowers pop out of the groud...

Tulips!

Tulips...they're always the first ones to bloom...

Green Green Grass

There is an old saying that proclaims that the "neighbour's grass is always greener".  Not always. Not on my turf. I am a vegetation war criminal. I commit a yard genocide every spring. I relentlessly pursue and tear all dandelions from their cozy growing spots. I find this to be the best way. It doesn't use any chemical products and the result is more satisfying...it's just too bad that we live in a world where effort has apparently lost its merit, or status. In my opinion, it takes effort to achieve great results and quality. With today's information overload and the crazy pace of our lives, it is easy to fall on the Dark Side of lazy-way-outs. So I don't mind sweating through my dandelion killings. There is something zen and deeply satisfying. The other tricks to keep the grass thick and green are quite simple and no secret: leave it long and cut more often (at about 3 inches). The roots will dig deeper and your grass will 'resist' the usual 'attacks' naturally by itself...Leave the cuttings on the lawn. This will auto-fertilize the lawn and hold a bit more moisture in times of drought. Finally, applying a healthy dose of seeds in spring and fall doesn't hurt...

To redeem myself from my brutish treatment of dandelions, I have become the savior of critters in distress. After the usual frogs getting trapped in my inground pool, it was the turn of a Redwing Balckbird youngling to be rescued. After the very strong winds that gusted through our area the other day, the poor bird likely got knocked out of its nest (?). I saw him by the side of the pool, his parents taking turn to come feed him on the ground. It happened so quickly, a moment's innatention, and I suddenly noticed the little bird had fell in the water and was dangerously being swept away. I started off my chair in a bounce and caught the little one and let him dry in the sun by the side of the pool. Later on, I could not see him anymore so I assume he either survived and hid in the underbush or got eaten by a marauding cat. I will keep believing the former option at the detriment of being dellusional. I guess we'll never know what really happened. Makes for a good end.

iyard 1.0 - The beginning

Yesterday, I woke up to the first redwing blackbird call of the year. For me, this shrill sound garantees the coming of spring. It was a day early. Not bad for a bird that doesn't know about our Gregorian calander!

Canadian seasons have big egos though and don't let their place to each other so easily. Today, we were graced with a soft blanket of snow as winter let out the last of its breath. But spring is in town and it knows it. The Canada geese know it too; I saw and heard a small flock of 26 swoop over my yard this morning.

My yard...this is what it's all about. My yard is not very big (in my rural Canadian standards); it's about 6,000sq feet for the number crunchers (minus the house, so the actual yard is probably about half that).

I decided to start a Blog about my yard to document its biodiversity. Without being too scientific, I hope I will be able to compile meaningful information about this local biosphere. It should also demonstrate how rich an ecosystem a small yard can be. It is in a way meant to broadcast eco-friendly ways...

I will pepper the posts with photography as well since I am an amateur of this medium. I hope one day it generates enough interest to attract followers that may be able to interact and even maybe answer some questions I may have about plants, insect species etc...

Let the fun begin...