So here we are back at the cabin. It weathered well over the winter -- hardly any dust had settled, and this year, there was no evidence of mice. Max did a really good job of plugging the doggie door, which we decided last year must be the place of entry. It's a little door for a little dog, came with the cabin (you can see it in the next photo, to the left of the "porch pots"), and serves no purpose for Orvis, but . . . there it is.
The weather has been just spectacular -- almost too hot for us. Usually, when we arrive in mid-May, things have leafed out nicely, and Spring is in full swing, then we have a lot of rain and chilliness well into June. This year, spring was late and the aspens were still bare, as were our lilac bush and mountain ash. But after a so-so weather day on Wednesday, during which we rested up from our long drive (and did laundry and other little chores), Thursday burst forth with lotza sun and temperatures nudging 80. I went into Whitefish to reconnect with my walking group that day, and everybody thanked me for bringing the sunshine with me. Apparently, it was a very cold and long winter, and our observation that spring was late, was correct. Today the temperature is nudging 90, which isn't supposed to happen until July. Thank goodness, the nights are still in the high 40's or low 50's.
We have spent these sunny days doing our version of "square-foot gardening," in porch pots that we can gate off from browsing deer.
We have parsley, basil, a tiny weak rosemary, and a snapdragon in the first pot (from left); two Swiss chard plants and a pepper plant in the second; one tomato, two marigolds, and some thyme in pot 3; and one broccoli plant and another pepper plant in the fourth. If the rosemary catches on, I will probably have to move it to its own pot. I have lavender in a smaller pot by itself, but it wasn't planted when I took this picture. I've already harvested parsley, thyme, and a few chard leaves. The chard will be ready to make a meal in no time, I hope. Now we need to set up a drip system. Going into Whitefish tomorrow (Monday) to walk again, so Dad will hit "Home-Boy Depot" for supplies. I have also sown seeds for arugula and squash, as well as morning glories to climb up the posts that remain from the wire fence that used to be around our lawn (see right foreground in next photo).
I'm not sure you can really see it, but to the left of the house, in front where the gravel bank begins is a stump that has our Dish on top, and a white birdbath on the right-hand side. At the base of it, in a little rock-rimmed bed, I put out a clematis vine that I hope will climb up the stump, and some oregano and creeping speedwell (aka Veronica) to cover the ground.
If all goes well, we'll have an abundance of purple and blue flowers in a month or so. Deer don't like oregano, but I'm not sure about clematis . . .
This has been an outstanding year for Bear Grass (Xerophyllum tenax, or X. palustris, if you want to get botanical about it). Bears are said to like the tender new leaves in the springtime, hence the common name. Gee--lotza things could be named "Bear this, bear that" if that's all it takes to get something named after you . . . .
