Just a short interlude to catch up.

 

resting cat

Recently I found myself with a bit of time on my hands.  Normally this time of year my wife and I like to take some vacation time.   We generally don't go to far, having visited Niagara Falls and New York state the last two years, the plan this year was to go south, to visit an old friend that has just accepted a facility position at Duke University.   A few days there, a few days in Charlotte; where I once lived and then, if we had time, a few days in Charleston, SC where I also lived for a brief time.

Sadly however, due to circumstances that I won't get into here, our vacation became a staycation.  Which was fine because I still had a tree to plant from the Native Plant sale, odds and ends to do and to continue my war against some aggressive neighboring plants, which it seems I was now finding everywhere, as well as other small jobs that I've been putting off.

I actually wondered if it would be affordable (and reasonable) to rent a few goats to clear out the multiflora rosa bushes that had spouted up in my "wild" section of the yard.   The original reason I let it grow wild was due to the number of stones, tree stumps and exposed roots that had cost me a few mower blades already.  I see now that it probably would have been better to clear that area the best I could.  I basically have a choice, concentrate on killing the multiflora now or letting it take over and eventually ruin what I am trying to do here.  

Having goats "mow" them down and then attacking the remains with mowers and chemicals might be an effective way of solving the issue.  Of course, that means finding goats to rent.  I would prefer to use more natural means other than chemicals if at all possible.   It would also mean that I would still have to clear the area of stones, stumps and any other issues that could damage my mowers but...it might be worth it. 

And who we kidding, goats are cute too.

My lovely Susan knowing what I'm thinking

Plus possible access to goat milk crossed my mind as well as I've always wanted to make goat cheese.

However life keeps getting in the way.   I was asked to help out a friend by providing security at a few locations three of the twelve days that I had vacation.   A job that I sadly could not turn down as money was suddenly tight in the household du to those unforeseen circumstances that I really don't wanna talk about..   

Nor did 90+ (32 + C) degree days don't exactly help in the matter.   In fact, we had several heat advisory days which made doing anything outside difficult at best.   The air quality suffered as well from Canadian wild fires far to the West.

So less work got done than I actually had hoped, but something was getting done.   I'm taking small victories where and when I can anymore.  

Cutting the Oriental Bitterroot at the base and being aggressive in trying to prevent new growth from forming but clearing out the underbrush and burning what I could should prevent it from spreading, although the old tree that they strangled will have to come down sooner or later as it can take out my shed should it fall.   

vines dying off

I only burned the multifora rosa and oriental bitterroot on the parts that I had cut and removed.  Burning is not really a good long term plan for either the removal or control of both of these species.  I'm not sure if I'm making a difference in this world or not, but I do know that every little thing I do has a benefit.  For example, I found that I saved a native chokecherry bush from getting tangled as well.  

That find actually brought a smile to my face, as did the bee balm and sunchokes that finally decided to flower this year, we will have a abundance of grapes and have already enjoyed a few wild strawberries. While we may not have a formal garden, it's cool that we can have a little bit of variety in our food, and new we can add some chokeberry recipes as well.    

So at the time of this publication I have five more days off and am about three quarters through the "Honey, Do" list.   Lets hope we can get a little more out of the way during this time.