the abelia

Outside the kitchen window is a mature abelia. It was trimmed back last fall, which appears to have prompted rampant growth. I’m hoping to have it removed this autumn, so I can see out the window.

My cottage, which comforts me in all seasons, has been added onto, back and far side. The side addition is my bedroom, complete with bath. The bedroom windows look out at trees and a farmer’s lane. Because of this addition, I’ve lost windows on that side of the “great room.” The back room addition is a laundry/mudroom, with windows overlooking the creek. Unfortunately, that cuts off any views from the great room. The only window in the main room is the kitchen window. Because of the abelia, I can’t see out that one. Well, I can, but all I see is the abelia and the bees and moths imbibing nectar from it.

I like to feed the birds, particularly in the winter. I’ve positioned the feeders under some evergreen trees that, under the right conditions, are visible from the kitchen. Much as it pains me, the abelia must go!

Life or Death

I was sitting on the dock at the creek, when a great blue heron glided by. He (or she) was only about four feet off the water, maybe twenty feet from me. Absolutely beautiful.

Then I went to the front of the house to check out my bug residents. I’ve been blessed by a garden spider, who has had to re-build her web a couple of times, in response to my cleaning up of the flower and herb bed. She’s gotten it back to her usual wonder web, complete with the zigzag stitching in the center. She doesn’t move much, so I can admire the beauty of both the web and her yellow and black markings.

I’m hesitant to pull up the tomato plant that Judy gave me in the spring. I originally had it in a pot, but my raccoon (or groundhog) neighbor kept digging in the pot, so I moved it to the herb garden, along with the basil seedlings. I noticed that there are a number of small green tomatoes on it, now that it’s finally gotten some growth. All I have to do is pick them, before the tomato hornworms get them. There are two of them nibbling on the leaves. One is infested with wasp cocoons, so I’m told I should leave it where it is, so the wasps can hatch, after they’ve eaten enough of the hornworm. It’s horribly fascinating to watch. You can tell the cocoons are having an effect, by the actions of the hornworm. It will suddenly whip its head around, as if in response to a mosquito bite. It’s also looking a bit desiccated and discolored. It certainly would be easier on my head to just pull up the plant and pitch it in the yard trash pile, but that would disrupt the garden spider, whose last web is attached to the tomato plant!


Constant challenges. Life or death issues in the garden!