We had some rain almost every day last week so lawns and fields are pretty and green. We haven't had to water our tomatoes, cucumbers and strawberries lately and, just when I thought I'd have to put water in the birdbath, a shower came along and filled it for me. Most of our flowers have slowed their blooming, but the purple vetch and delicate Queen Anne's lace in the nearby field are a treat for our eyes. A neighbor down the street brings me a bouquet every few days, mostly wildflowers picked on her walks, and each little nosegay brightens our living room.
Some are complaining we've had a bit too much rain. One area grower says the abundance of moisture has just about ruined the berry crop. I bought some of his raspberries which were almost saturated with water, but if I use them quickly enough I think they'll be a good addition to my Cheerios. Another gardener said he had more green beans ready to pick but they were too wet when he planned to harvest them Friday. Jim thought the timing was bad as he set posts for a privacy fence one day and put up the fence pickets the next, with rain falling on him both days.
The pesky moles are as bad as we've ever seen. Jim complains that their mounds get in his way when he's mowing the yard. Neighbors too are troubled with the critters. I occasionally find one that our cat, Miss Molly, has killed but they obviously have her outnumbered. Gladys Taber, in her lovely "Book of Stillmeadow," related that the mole was the pest that caused the most trouble on their Connecticut farm. Not only were their ridges in the lawn bad, but the digging the cocker spaniels did made it worse.
Taber lamented that once the moles ate up a whole tulip bed. They were expecting it to be especially beautiful since all the bulbs were pedigreed. Many remedies for moles had been suggested, she said, but none had been very successful for them. "Pouring old crankcase oil in the runs is a good one, provided the dogs do not dig in the same spot and get a good oiling of muzzles and ears," she concluded. Another treatment worth trying, suggested to us by a friend Friday evening, is placing castor beans in the runs.
The city pool opened at the end of May and, with the warmer days, folks young and old are coming out to enjoy a dip in the refreshing waters. I drove up Saturday to take a few photos and several youngsters were bobbing in the water, splashing their buddies and taking their turns on the diving board. Reminded me of long-ago summers when my nieces and nephews would come for a few days. Trips to the swimming pool were always a highlight of their visits. I enjoy browsing through the photos on my scrapbook pages that bring back memories of those days.
Vendors at the farmers' market are bringing more and more produce each week. We've enjoyed the crunchy radishes and tangy green onions, various greens and plump heads of cabbage. I visited the market Saturday morning and bought some broccoli, a head of purple cauliflower and two containers of new potatoes. I didn't get there early enough to get green beans to accompany the potatoes, but we boiled several potatoes that evening, cooked the broccoli and added a few smoked sausages with cheddar cheese. We mashed the potatoes in their jackets, seasoned them simply with margarine and a dash of salt and pepper and my, were they ever good! The grower promises to bring a couple of bushels of green beans this week. Maybe I'll make it before they're all gone.
With the weatherman calling for several days of dry weather, our hay man showed up Sunday morning to cut the grass in our field. He'll be back soon to rake it and wrap it up in big bales. The smell of hay curing in the midday sun is one of the most pleasant scents I know. We're glad to get the tall grass knocked down and happy it will provide some winter forage for a few cows. I'm reminded of my days helping out on the farm. I threw many a bale out of the barn loft into the back of my uncle's old pickup. Then I'd drive slowly across the pasture while he dispensed it to the hungry herd on frosty winter days.
This year's free fishing weekend is right around the corner and Jim's made plans to take grandson Matthew to the fishing derby at Centerton Saturday. Guess that means I'll need to get out the trusty Folgers coffee can and gather a few earthworms Friday evening. Hope the weather's dry and doesn't get too hot. Both Matthew and his grandpa look forward to this annual outing. It's hard to decide which one enjoys it more.
Susan Holland is a longtime Benton County resident and a reporter for the Westside Eagle Observer. Opinions expressed are those of the author. She can be reached by email at [email protected].
Editorial on 06/08/2016