We have been a little busy around here lately.  Not so much on the home improvement front, but other things.  I thought I’d play a little catchup.

Strawberries

Last year we moved the strawberry plants.  They had been in the same location for about 4 years or so and the concenus is that they only last 4-5 years, then the plants need to be pulled up and replaced.  Instead, we took runners from the old plants and moved them to a new location.  This year we have a bumper crop of stawberries on the way.

strawberries with bird net

I put a bird net over the plants to keep our losses down.  The cat birds sit on the fence and eye the red berries, that’s how I know it is time to go pick them.  We loose a few to our resident chipmunks, who have figured out ways under the net.  I think they have a secret tunnel.

Mulch

I bought a yard of mulch yesterday at the local mulch making place.  This stuff is great, it is mostly from stumps, so it has soil and rock mixed in.  I also noticed some twigs and leaves mixed in as well.  I mulched the flower beds, the herb garden and the vegetable garden

mulched flower bed

mulched vegetable bed (onions and broccoli)

The idea behind the mulch is it keeps the weeds down, the soil moist and when it decomposes over the winter, adds nutrients to the soil.  This yard of mulch cost me $15.00, which is well worth the time in avoided weeding.  I like this particular mulch because it is natural, there are no additives, dyes or anything else.

Wrens

I built these Wren houses last spring.  They seem to be very popular.  This one is by the back door and every time the door slams I hear all baby birds start chirping.

wren house in White Pine tree

Wrens are great birds to have around the yard, they eat lots of bugs and are generally very chearful.  They have complicated songs and often get into territorial duels with each other, using raucus song to defend their feeding grounds.  It is great to listen to.

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