This Week at Iten's Acres: Third Day of Spring Break March 30, 2015

Day three of Spring Break, Warmer. Windy still. Work done--a little. It is still, for the most part--a dormant world. At least among the trees and shrubs. Hyacinth and daffodil and tulip are showing their quest for the beautiful. Every day new crocus bow to the windy world unafraid. Snow crocus they call themselves just so you know their fearlessness. Though the leaves are mostly brown and dead, the Lenten rose are budding--in a rush to beat April's appearance perhaps.

Cleared out some beds. More to do tomorrow and Wednesday. Amazing what you can find once you cleared away last years "stuff." You can't hide the beautiful forever. 

Most of the afternoon was spent sitting around The Acres taking in the silent loveliness. The green chair on the hillside. The corners of the pot bunkers--if round things made of square stones can have corners. The chair on the front patio. Perhaps this poem by Wendell Berry sums up my day:

Best of any song
is bird song
in the quiet, but first
you must have the quiet.

This Week at Iten's Acres: Second Day of Spring Break March 29, 2015

Second day of spring break: If March is going to balance its coming as a pride of roaring lions with a flock of gentle sheep, today was not a good sign. The wind at The Acres was bone-chilling. Brrrr. I still took my walks, of course, but no work for this old man today. Hopefully, warmer weather will show up this week. Today, there is a film of ice on the pond again, snow still on the ground by the tree line in the meadow, ice patches in the wild area.
Last night I had two huge racoons visiting the front patio. Homesteader was thrilled. I hope she realizes that she would have nary a chance in a "battle" with those creatures. Gus could handle them one on one--I don't think he would take on two of them. But genius he's not. So who knows?
There were a few more crocus today--yellow, lilacs, purples, and the first white one. And the first Lenten rose bloomed under the Ancient Maple. I suspect that it's two weeks or so until the daffodils actually get in blooming mode. Ah, but then, that will be a show. Wordsworth would be envious--wax poetic maybe. The pot bunkers seem to have "worked." Things are blooming, the iris are starting to grow--though they're quite small. Hey, it's two months probably before they start blooming in earnest. Or in Morrow County. One day this week I'll feed them.
Anyway, tomorrow I hope for weather warm enough to do some work. We will see. The bad news--no blooms or signs of blooms on the good old forsythia. Of course, the frost date in Ohio is mid-May so one shouldn't be alarmed. Ohio is Ohio. Spring, summer, fall, winterfall, winter, springwinter, spring--and on and on it goes. Gotta love it! Or move.

This Week at Iten's Acres: First Day of Spring Break March 28, 2015

First day of spring break. (I don't know. Does this first Saturday count as the last day of last week school wise? Or the first day of the break? I vote break. I'll probably be doing school stuff next Saturday. Have to give the seniors tons of work when they get back to school--just so they know how much I love them.) Anyway, the "first" day of break is cold. A trace of snow covers the ground. Had to bundle up to take my morning hike..Not much has bloomed this week. Well, lots more crocus. And a few more orchard iris. Daffodils are coming up everywhere except the wild area, but that's always the case. Perhaps by the end of the week a few of the dwarf daffodils will bloom in the bed under the Ancient Maple. A couple Lenten rose seem eager to bloom this week as well. Most of today will be spent getting the door handles on the little red wagon fixed. I'm tired of climbing through the hatchback to get into my car. Good exercise, I suppose. The rest of this week there's work to be done on The Acres. I will enjoy it. Being a hermit is a wonderful thing for this old man. If you don't know what an orchard iris looks like, I'll post a few pictures on the page--three different varieties. They are quite small but beautiful. And add a little "differentness" to the early spring landscape. Have a marvelous day. Keep a handle on things.

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Today at Iten's Acres: March Snow March 23, 2015

Another late Monday. 10:30 home at last. Thank you Lord for the use of guardian angels. Ice patches even on the freeway. And the backroads of Morrow County? Just ice. Inch or so of snow out here, obviously followed by a little freezing. But the Lord took care of me. Home. Interesting--but expected--Ohio contradictions. Yesterday I saw a couple of the red polka dots in the pond. Today, snow. Hope they know how to dive again. The snow crocus will live up to their name tomorrow. Too bad I'll be at school. I wonder if there is such a creature as snow goldfish? Oh yeah, the snow is beautiful on this dark country evening. Never let the beauty sneak by you!
And just think--the forsythia haven't bloomed yet. Can anyone say three more?

Walking Iten's Acres: First Flowers March 21, 2015

Delightful day at The Acres.  I finally had a morning to traverse The Acres now that spring is officially here.  The crocus and snowdrops are coming up in a variety of places.  One patch of aconite under the canopy, but I think another batch is coming up in the trees. Crocus lots of places--mostly yellows with a few soft lilacs and one a little darker.  They yellows brighten up a couple of the pot bunkers, Bed 9 (it's by the pond), the trees, meadow wild, wild, and back 40.  The soft lilacs are in Bed 7 and by the old dilapidated doghouse.  The snowdrops are also by the doghouse, by the house, in the trees, and in Bed 14.  I love their whiteness.  There will be more of all these in the next week or so.  And at least one of the Lenten roses has begun to bud.
The early morning walk resulted in the pictures you can see below. First orchard iris bloomed this afternoon as the surprise for my after lunch trek. You'll have to wait until next Saturday's gallery to see a photo of it. Sorry. Deep purple with white on its "wings." More and more daffodils coming up every walk and even some tulips. Daffodils will bloom first; tulips are a mite slow. Buds on several of the Lenten rose. Should be a lovely week of fulfilled expectations. Despite the somewhat frigid snowy February, most of these blooms are a week earlier than they were last spring. Of course, last winter was a bit chilly if I remember correctly. The pond is ice free, but no sign of the red polka dots.
The birds are still active at the feeders, but there's fewer of them. Still some snow birds hanging around--just so you don't get too dreamy about the cold being over. Actually, the weather is perfect. Frosty nights--magnificent star shows, warmer, breezy days. Today as I walked and worked about The Acres the sun and the clouds were constantly fighting for supremacy. I did get to spend a little time on the green throne in the meadow. Robins about, which is good. Saw a meadow lark as well. And the buzzards have returned. Guess I'll have to see if I can rustle them up a little squirrel and rabbit for lunch.
One more week of school and then I'll have the whole day to enjoy my hermitting. I did do some work today--raked last fall's leaves off a couple of beds under the Ancient Maple. Did some clearing of "junk" from some of the beds. More than enough left to do to keep me entertained over break. I'd make a list of all I want to do over spring break, but then I'd just feel guilty at the end of the break when I saw all the stuff I hadn't done. I think I'll just remain listless--as always.

Today at Iten's Acres: Random News March 16, 2015

Gus and the possum had a meeting. Heh. Heh. Good old Gus.
Peepers--it's not even spring yet; Peepers.
Peepers climbing up the doorwindow drive Homesteader insane. Yes!
It takes me five minutes to drive the first fifty yards from my driveway on Country Road 25 in the morning. The road does not have malicious, monstrous, cavernous, malevolent pot holes. It is a malicious, monstrous, cavernous, malevolent pot hole. Not to mention that the swamp has flooded the road.
Up at 5:30; home at 10:30--no chance to walk The Acres today. Sigh.
Did I mention--Peepers!

Walking Iten's Acres: Impatience March 14, 2015

The Acres, as I anticipated, are somewhat waterlogged The ground is still frozen, and the water from the melting snow pools on the surface. Had to do a little wading in a couple areas in the Wild Area. It's still to early to look for any blooms. What? Of course, I was looking. All the places that normally have the first blooms got a real investigation. Anticipation--nicer sounding word than "impatience," is a dreadful disease. The flowers that stay green all winter are doing fine--lungwort in the trees, Lenten roses everywhere--no bulbs yet, hardy cyclamen--won't bloom until next fall; some iris; a few scabiosa. A few things are coming up--several crocus; maybe they'll bloom next week (it's supposed to be 69 on Monday); a daffodil or two, the magic lilies, even a couple of hyacinth. The pussy willow by the pond is, of course, magnificent. Not so much, the other ones. The pond itself is as high as I've seen it in my decade at The Acres. Maybe I should wade out and buy some flood insurance.
There are still patches of snow here and there. Hanging around hoping for reinforcements I imagine. The back patio even has ice still. Some of the snowbirds seem to be gone. In fact, the bird population seems to be down some. Some creature broke a couple of the feeders. I'm guessing the possum I've seen hanging around here lately. Where's Gus the hunter when you need him?
I am waiting now, impatiently, for spring break at school. Couple weeks yet. One more week--well, four days--before the seniors head to the Dominican. Then a week of teaching the sophomores. Then, the break. Hope the weather is conducive to lots of outside work. Still need to do some bed "cleaning," feed the iris, rake the leaves out of a couple beds. I am still being tempted to risk arms and legs and buy a chain saw. Anyway--spring is arriving--officially next Saturday. Some snow birds have left; the harbingers of spring, the redwings are here. I'm sure some crocus will bloom by next weekend. Impatience can be such a lovely thing.

Today at Iten's Acres: He's Back March 13, 2015

Yep. He's back, Saw him on the way home tonight. Heard some of his brothers around the cave. The red-wing blackbird is here. And now it begins--spring can officially return.

This Week at Iten's Acres: Anticipation March 7, 2015

Ten days of almost spring-like weather are predicted at The Acres. Highs in the forties and even fifties. Rain, of course. I am sure as the snow melts it will be quite soggy around here. I'll take it. The beds will reappear. I wonder what I'll find? And I wonder what the week will bring? Is it possible that a crocus or two will show its beauty? Are the snowdrops hankering to be the first blooms of 2015? I am sure that under that snow blanket they have all been nice and warm. Anticipation. And when will the goldfinch start to bloom? Oh, I'm sure there are more cold days to come--it's not even spring yet; two weeks officially. And a couple of days ago it was minus five in the morning. So spring isn't here yet--but, anticipation.
And maybe it will encourage some of my Morrow County neighbors to take down their Christmas lights. As I cruise the backroads of Morrow County there are many homes and front yard trees still covered with lights. Sigh. It's March folks. What you think I'm a Scrooge or a Grinch? Never. They wimped out.
Homesteader is doing fine for those of you concerned with my safety. She has been patient with me. As long as I understand my responsibilities, she is kind. Not too many tirades about my human frailties lately. Well, not more than once or twice a day. Such vocal chords for a little thing. Currently, she is entertaining herself by jumping at the doorwindow and frightening the birds. A daily joy. Such power!
Anyway. A little warmth--sort of--is on the way. I shall be anxiously watching The Acres for the first beauties of spring. Can't wait.
Death to the man who came up with daylight savings time. I will reluctantly give you back your hour of sleep. He was probably one of those folks (dare I say, slackers?) that kept his Christmas lights up the year around. Sigh.

Walking Iten's Acres: An All-Day Snow March 1, 2015

It's been an all-day snow. Beautiful in every way. Another six inches or so on top of the inches that were already there. The pot bunkers have completely disappeared. All the flower beds are "gone." Walking the wild area literally wore me out. I loved it. It was a long slow trek but worth each step. And only my footsteps mar the serenity. Even Gus practically disappeared as he tried to meander around The Acres. Two old guys enjoying the loveliness. My FAS suggests that the last day of March--in order to balance out the universe--will have to be 100 degrees without a cloud in the sky. I'll take another snow day instead. Such beauty!