No Geranium

 Either the geraniums I planted yesterday were too small to smell, or they are an unscented variety, or woodchucks/groundhogs aren't deterred by them.  Of course another possibility is that the chipmunks or some other critter is eating them.  I stuck a stick into the hole, I know it will be out tomorrow.  It was a half-hearted attempt to deter them.  The worst part is that I haven't even finished securing the fence and the little buggers are coming in through a hole and chewing through the netting. Thank you for reading my vent.  Now to concentrate on happy things for today:

• People at work are learning my name.  I think that is a good thing... I wish I could say that I am remembering all the names as well.  Most of the people seem friendly too, and that is good.  
• I haven't posted anything from the wildlife camera lately.  I just took a look at the footage from the last week or so.  There wasn't a lot this time, but there was a crow.  It flew very near to the camera.  I thought it might be a raven rather than a crow, the more sites I look at though, the more I lean towards crow.  I will continue to second guess myself so let's just say it is a big black bird.  I just want it to be a raven.

It is a large bird.  😁
Then I thought, what does Lens think it is?
Lens' first hit is a common raven,
second is a forest raven,
third the American crow.

• The plants in the front of the house that were identified as wild sweet William early in the spring have finally blossomed and do seem to be that.  They are pretty, I am glad I didn't pull them as weeds.

Wild sweet William.

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead, by Carleen Madigan.

Thank you for reading, stay safe.

Geranium

 This year one of the goals I had was to grow geraniums to plant at the family graves for Memorial Day.  There were many obstacles that got in my way and that didn't happen.  Many of the geraniums are now much closer to planting in the ground.  I took three of the smaller ones and planted them near where the zinnia were eaten by the woodchucks/groundhogs.  

These three geraniums are much smaller
than most of the others.

According to this site, scented geraniums are resistant to being eaten by deer and groundhogs.  I am hopeful.  Happy things for today:

• I am still employed.  (Yes, I'm tired and weary already.)  
• The blackberries are starting to ripen.  I had one today and it was pretty good.

Amid the black-eyed Susan and grasses
are the blackberries.

• Many thanks to Reader --K who noticed that what I thought was a yellow jacket yesterday is most likely a sweat bee.  I seem to remember seeing some last year, too.  

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead, by Carleen Madigan.

Thank you for reading, stay safe.

Blossoms

 It looks like the holiday weekend will be wet.  This is good for what plants are out there.  For those following along with my woodchuck/groundhog problem, there is one less zinnia today.  

One of the zinnia I planted is gone, the other is a bit trampled.

Yesterday I spread crushed red pepper around them and in some other areas of the garden.  It is quite possible that what I used wasn't spicy enough or the critters just don't care.  It is also possible that they are suffering somewhere now because of it.  A third possibility is that the rain has diluted any ill effect that the crushed pepper may have had.  If the weather cooperates on Sunday, I will try to get some more protection for the things I still want to plant in the ground.  Happy things for today are:

• Waking up super early and being productive!  I cleaned a bunch of the kitchen and did laundry.
• Earlier in the week I transplanted the pumpkin into pots from the little seed starter it was in.  Today two of them have flowers!

Two pumpkin blossoms.

• Friday is Minecraft night!

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead, by Carleen Madigan.

    --I am hoping to finish this book by the end of the month.  It takes a long while reading small parts every day.

Thanks for the check in!  Stay safe.