Spring?

[Frosted Rabbits]

Not a lot of mosquitoes breed IN lake Erie-- The tidal areas- marshes, river mouths, etc, are where the big mosquito breeding beds will be-- IN your neck of the woods-- the river levels will affect the breeding-- many mosquitoes-- lay eggs along a water line-- the eggs hatch AFTER the water level has risen, than dropped below that line-- Other mosquitoes- the cavity layers-- those are the ones that reproduce in 'water holding' containers-- tires, old cans, etc. (One of those Species is the West Nile Virus carriers) Osquitoes thay lay eggs in tidal areas-- are water line layers or under water layers.
When I looked into mosquitoes a few years back--I never would have thought there were so many little subsets of reproductive needs. Mosquitoes have basically, a 2 square mile range from their birth place Your best bet- you and your neighbors keep all open water that is not out for a purpose, fro happening,- use insect repelling plants around your property edges, kennels, etc, and place bug zappers-- AWAY from your home and buildings--many people place zappers next to their living areas, drawing the nasties TO them!<br /><br />__________ Sat Mar 03, 2012 10:16 am __________<br /><br />Not a lot of mosquitoes breed IN lake Erie-- The tidal areas- marshes, river mouths, etc, are where the big mosquito breeding beds will be-- IN your neck of the woods-- the river levels will affect the breeding-- many mosquitoes-- lay eggs along a water line-- the eggs hatch AFTER the water level has risen, than dropped below that line-- Other mosquitoes- the cavity layers-- those are the ones that reproduce in 'water holding' containers-- tires, old cans, etc. (One of those Species is the West Nile Virus carriers) Osquitoes thay lay eggs in tidal areas-- are water line layers or under water layers.
When I looked into mosquitoes a few years back--I never would have thought there were so many little subsets of reproductive needs. Mosquitoes have basically, a 2 square mile range from their birth place Your best bet- you and your neighbors keep all open water that is not out for a purpose, fro happening,- use insect repelling plants around your property edges, kennels, etc, and place bug zappers-- AWAY from your home and buildings--many people place zappers next to their living areas, drawing the nasties TO them!

 

[Random Rabbit]

Today... we almost hit 50 degrees... so that foot of sn*w is compacting...There is some melting, especially where DH ran the sn*wblower...Now we have puddles as the ground under the sn*w and water is still frozen. We're running a sump pump to divert the meltwater away from the barn.

The other neat thing is... now we have MUD ! With mud... i now have a Lot of paw prints all over my kitchen floor. Furry paws can certainly soak up a bunch of mud ! .

I'm begining to think that we have Winter...Mud...Summer...Mud... Winter ...etc...yeah... guess that would be four seasons..... :bunnyhop:

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

Mud season-- by a LOT of straw and sawdust to lay down to keep it from coming indoors!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Mud season-- by a LOT of straw and sawdust to lay down to keep it from coming indoors!

I have often done that- especially when we are going to have a houseful of kids spending the holidays with us. When it is dry and we get wind it all blows away. I also use the bark that falls off of our firewood to minimize tracking the DG into the house in dry weather, and it stays put a lot better when there is wind. One year I bought bags of bark but we got slivers from it if we walked bare footed on it. Once again home-made trumps store-bought! :lol:

We also keep micro-fiber rags near the doors and wipe paws before the dogs get to enter the house. If it is really muddy, dipping their paws in a bowl of water prior to wiping them works very well. We also have coats for the dogs to keep them from getting all wet when it rains or snows- that way we only have to dry their heads, undercarriage, and legs and paws. The aussie and border collie don't need them for warmth, but Chase, the JRT does, even when it is just very cold but dry.

 

[Random Rabbit]

I have to keep reminding myself that " it Is still Only the middle of March " ... Normal years we are sn*w covered and cold until mid-April at the earliest. Right now almost all of our sn*w is gone. There is a small amount in sheltered areas. Robins and red-wings are back in full force. I did notice the one spring sign that is missing... for all the early start... No peepers !

We have had several days of soggy fog. The clouds will sit on our ridge and it keeps everything wettish and dreary. Even the barn is damp and clammy. Makes me concerned for the buns there.

Silly rhubarb is showing tiny red starts...they will certainly get set back Many times this year, before the actual growing season begins.

Pne good thing... with the moderate temperatures... we are not using the amount of firewood as usual. That will, hopefully, save DH some work later on.

So... how's everyone elses Spring progressing ????? :bunnyhop:

 

[akane]

I think we've hit summer. It's 85F projected for the 3rd day and we already found ticks.

 

[MaggieJ]

Lovely weather here with temperatures well above normal. It has hit the upper 60's several times, balmy air and SUNSHINE. Our snowdrops have been in bloom since the 11th and David saw a frog down at the creek. Robins, redwings, native sparrows and mourning doves are all back.

I'm looking forward to picking the first spring greens for the bunnies... It won't be long at this rate. Ontario's oracle groundhog, Wiarton Willie, forecast and early spring and looks like he was right.

 

[skysthelimit]

I am terribly afraid that a sudden frost will come, and kill everything! Except for those collards (I'm afraid to eat them now). And still, I'm planting spinach at the end of the week.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

Sky-- collards that have been sheltered are safe to eat-- as long as the leaf looks god, you are good to go-- now, I do prefer turnip greens to collards-- collards were always a bit to bitter for my taste.

 

[Miss M]

Yep, we're just about to summer here... it's been in the low 80s all week, with no cool-down in sight so far.

By the way, for the mosquitoes, you must have a bug zapper that is at least a 1 1/2 acre model. Lesser zappers do not attract mosquitoes.

 

[SterlingSatin]

its supposed to be 80 tomorrow. not fun. i'll be putting ice packs out much earlier than expected.

 

[akane]

Try 85F for the past 4 days. We don't get spring this year. The coming storm is only suppose to get things down to 70s and usually we would be looking at 50-60 maybe 40s for storms and 60-70s in between. A march ice storm is generally expected and I don't see that coming.

 

[Random Rabbit]

Maybe it Really is becoming spring....Last night i heard the peepers for the first time... and today...Coltsfoot in bloom ! Two of the Early signs....

( but the doom and gloom side of me says "we ain't out of the woods yet"... can't help it....)

 

[skysthelimit]

Sky-- collards that have been sheltered are safe to eat-- as long as the leaf looks god, you are good to go-- now, I do prefer turnip greens to collards-- collards were always a bit to bitter for my taste.

No they've been out all winter, next to the driveway fence, but they have new leaves. I planted these three years ago, when I first moved here, from seed,I swear every seed in the pack sprouted, and they have successfully reseeded themselves every year, in the dog potty spot, in the driveway cracks, in the compost heap, in the original garden... at this point, I don't trust them.

I'm going to plant a new batch this year, maybe a collard turnip mustard mix. Traditionally, they are cooked so long, with smoked ham hock and onions, I have no idea what their original taste is.

 

[Random Rabbit]

Reality Check..... Back to 'normal' for the end of March... We're in the low 40s and will drop into the 20s tonight...*sigh*... the violets were begining to bloom, as were my daffydills...forsythea was also blooming yesterday... But it IS really Only the end of March....It was nice while it occurred... :bunnyhop:

 

[skysthelimit]

I just hope my peach tree survives. I was in all it's blooming glory, peaches and plums. I may spray the tree this year to get rid of the worms, so I can actually enjoy the fruit instead of letting it fall to the ground.

 

[Random Rabbit]

Had Flurries this AM ! oh i luv New York !!!

 

[lostcreekrabbits]

Looks like it's gonna be a gorgeous spring day here, supposed to be in the 50's. It was 60 degrees on Sunday had to take advantage of the crazy nice weather and put some doors on the barn gables to keep the hawks and owls out

 

[AnnClaire]

The weatherman showed photos from 3 years ago this date when we had 24"+ of snow on the ground :lol: I harvested my first lettuce from the garden today, too ... a full 30 days before the past few years!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Spring?

Apparently not. :angry:

This weather is driving me crazy. <Sigh.>

I was looking at one of my flowerbeds a couple of days ago, and hollyhock seedlings are popping up everywhere, as well as a couple of sunflowers. This morning everything was covered in frost, and it is about 33 degrees out, 74% humidity, overcast and breezy. My hands just about froze while I was feeding the critters this morning... and I have another growout cage to work on today.