Mandarin tree in bloom

My Texas satsuma tree (Citrus unshiu 'Miho') is blooming! Which means, MANDARINS this fall. Yippee! The flowers smell so so sweet, too! I've had this tree since my son, Patrick, gave it to me for Mother's Day in 2004. I can't believe I've kept it alive all these years.

First hummer!

James saw a male this morning at our feeder.

More signs of spring

 Peach blossoms

Egg sac

We were walking in the Meadow a few days ago when I spotted this egg sac on the ground. I believe it belongs to a mama crab spider. Anyway, I picked it up, and some little black ants scurried out. I gently tapped the leaf until all the ants had departed. Then I carried it inside with me and placed the leaf in a glass jar with holes. As I was setting the leaf down in the jar, I accidentally knocked out some itty-bitty eggs. Darn! They rolled out like tiny marbles. Hmm, interesting. I set the jar on a windowsill and will keep an eye on everyone. Stay tuned!

THEY HATCHED! March 6, 2018

I just happened to check the jar late this afternoon and discovered teeny-tiny spiders! I took the egg sac and babies outside. Alas, I went back to look and most of the spiderlings didn't make it. I'm hoping that any spiderlings still inside the egg sac will survive. I feel bad. But James reminded me that I initially saved them from the ants. That's true. Good luck in the world, my little spider friends!

Meadow sorta mowed

 Instead of mowing the Meadow this time, James took his weed eater around. We think we're going to have a fabulous wildflower season this year. (Fingers crossed.)

FIRST BLUEBIRD EVER!

We are SO excited! Our first ever eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis)! A small bird in the birdbath caught my eye so I grabbed the binoculars. Aw, just goldfinches. No biggie. THEN THEN THEN I saw a flash of blue, and it landed on the street sign (photo below). 

"JAMES, THERE'S A BLUEBIRD!" I yelled and ran down the hall for my camera. I managed to get one fairly good image of him. What a handsome fellow!

Carolina wren

A fun photo to throw in....Look, no bird cage needed!

One super bad mistake

 

I know, James. I KNOW. I KNOW. I KNOW. I KNOW. 

I should NEVER have planted those agaves or whatever they are in our "cacti garden" back in 2009. But it WAS a nice idea at the time, right? (See the photo below. Wasn't it lovely?) Well, I've seen learned that agaves are wicked wicked wicked. They reproduce like mad rabbits and take over the joint. I hate them. Anyway, I decided that today was THE DAY. I decided I'd go out there to the Meadow and take'em out.

BIG HA!

April 2009

Before Sheryl got to work

Take a look at me after two and a half hours of "taking them out." Not a pretty sight, wouldn't you agree?

As you can see from the photo below, I jumped ship. Yes, I got some out. But it was after much hacking and huffing and puffing that I was able to remove what I did. But I have a feeling that they've all sent out vibes to amp up their reproduction speed. Grrr.

They're trying to bump out my red yucca. I hate them.

After Sheryl jumped ship. Much work still remains to be done. I hate them. I hate them. I hate them.