It's spring; we're on it

I introduced my gardeners to "no till" gardening today.

It's been four years since this project started, in officially terrible dirt.

A layer of topsoil was broadcast today. By hand! 

I think of how beautifully Hamilton swung the shovel for the same job.

 A layer of mulch on top.

We put all the pots in place.

We only need the nursery to stock our list of plants.

I did find butterfly weed today, and we planted four.

I need to look into milkweed.

Stand back spring and summer, we are ready.

I promised Pig his nasturtium next week.

I have a succulent I've named Pete Seeger.

Immediately to the left of the watermark a succulent has come up through the sidwalk.

We'll plant more anemone bulbs in the fall. 

Can't have too many anemones.

And here is number three from yesterday.

For the last two years we have no outdoor cat.

The chipmunk population has grown exponentially.

I no longer stalk them.

They stare me down.

One more step and I could have touched this fellow.

Bold as brass.

I turned and went in the house.

If we do wind up on a first name basis, I'll call him Rocky.

Chasing my elusive chipmunk

There have been outdoor cats here since I moved in.

A neighborhood cat makes his way through on occasion,

but Purrl, our last outdoor cat, gave up the chase last year.

Our chipmunk population has boomed to three we know of.

They frequent the safflower seeds on the ground.

If two or more approach simultaneously,

they chest butt each other off in the field,

in their best Alvin and the Chipmunks routine.

They move faster than 1/60th of a second, that's for sure.

Left with a pair of house finches.

Stuffing, stuffing, stuffing its little cheeks.

Not its best angle; missing that wide-eyed innocence.

Sharing with a juvenile cardinal and a finch.

You can't see me.

You can't see me, I think.

You can't see me, can you?

Pfffttt...gone.