Two weeks ago, we had a low of seven degrees. This was also the morning I found out my waders had a significant leak. Last week, and this week, we are near record breaking warm temperatures. This was re-emphasized by the four-foot cottonmouth I encountered the last day of January. He/she was as big as the calf of your leg. Stretched out, mouth agape, the hypodermic fangs were just waiting to inject venom into some passerby. I suppose the nasty reptile was hungry after its “long” winter nap. How crazy is this? Record cold followed by record warm. The snake adjusted to what it was dealt.
Christmas lights have been removed from the crepe myrtles and pruning is complete. It won’t be long until new growth will be emerging from the slick trunks with red, purple, and white blooms to follow. I hope your trees aren’t in close proximity to a swimming pool. Those petals will cover the water like that of duckweed covering a cypress brake. It’s an everyday affair to scoop away the never-ending petal shed. We have enough fun in the fall raking, piling, and burning leaves, but summer raking is a little much. Fall foliage leaf management and Charlie Brown go hand in hand. I’m not sure if there is a summer episode of Charlie Brown to go along with bloom management. The pool is for fun, relaxation, and margaritas, not leaf work. Tend to these limbs now and remember in July that I told you so.
I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if someone hasn’t spotted blooming jonquils and daffodils. These early indicators of spring will be noticed by their narrow, rush-like leaves pushing through the soil line producing aromatic yellow or white flowers. Just as the spider lilies indicate the coming of fall, these indicate what lies ahead for the full splendor of what is to come in the form of all sorts of flowers. Look for them in the same places you have seen them in the past. They’re there, just waiting to explode.
Have you changed the oil in your lawn mowers and tillers? Those blades on the weed eater probably need sharpening and I bet you’re about out of string too. I noticed several fresh produce markets and nurseries reopening this week. Fresh strawberries should be on the shelves soon. Those first tomatoes will be arriving soon too. The plump, perfect shaped wolf peaches will disappear quickly for those jumping the gun for a home-made BLT. Don’t get your hopes up, for many times these “early” birds are mealy, and taste is pale at best. That’s ok, this will just make you appreciate what the real McCoys bring to you in the way of flavor later. Plant a few Early Girls to get a head start on the harvest.
Speaking again of tomatoes, don’t get behind in preparing your rows in the garden or filling your pots and large containers with topsoil for the patio. If you have been using the same soil year after year in containers, it is time to consider dumping the old out and filling it with new. Add plenty of lime, basic slag, phosphorus, and potassium. The nitrogen can be applied later. Move your planting pattern around and do your best to not plant the same species over and over in the same place. This will help with disease and nematode control. I planted my garden in turnips this past fall for a cover crop but while I was in the mid-west chasing bucks around the canyons, cabbage loopers and velvet bean caterpillars wreaked havoc with them. At least I had some growth to plow back into the soil, but next fall, I will need to delegate an overseer while I am gone with a jug of bug juice to take care of those nasty critters that rob me of my agenda.
There’s been a momma redbird jumping against the windows at the crack of dawn lately. It’s funny, she will be jumping against the kitchen window when I’m making coffee and when I move to my study, it’s not but a few minutes until she finds me while I’m at my desk. A constant “tap-tap” is somewhat annoying and I’m unsure of what she is trying to say. She need not be worried about the cottonmouth, for the snake was several miles away from here. Of course, there could be another one here, but so far, I haven’t seen it. Maybe she just likes looking at herself from the reflection on the glass making sure her feathers are preened when a brilliantly colored male jockeys for her courtship. I’m positive there will be a nest in one of the shrubs in the backyard this spring.
Box calls and slates will be polished up soon and vests checked for mosquito repellent, pruning shears, gloves, masks, and everything else the turkey hunter will need. Public woods will probably be super crowded as they have been in the past. This sport is becoming more and more popular, and it gets harder each spring to trick a wary ole tom to the gun. The days of having a gobbler to yourself for an entire season are just about gone. I have been listening to the duck men all winter talk about the way it used to be and how tough hunting is now. It is what it is, and I know how many people hate this phrase, but it’s true. Social media has accelerated the popularity of hunting and while doing so has exponentially increased the pressure on the resources. I hope everyone understands how fragile our wildlife and fisheries are, and I encourage you to take a personal responsibility to ensure that it remains strong. I’m sure you can come up with a strategy to reduce your harvest while not sacrificing the enjoyment of the pursuit. Please think about it.
It’s almost time to begin planning for those trips out west this fall. Coveted tags will need to be applied for soon. It gets tougher each year to draw, so make sure you have back up plans if you’re not on the lucky end. Have plan B, C, and even D. It’s not getting any cheaper either, so get those side jobs secured so you won’t shock the checkbook when the tariff is due. We can’t get extra years, so make sure you don’t miss the party.
With all this hoopla about flowers blooming, gardening tips, bird nests, and snakes, it only means one thing. The season is changing from a cold winter to a lively new spring abounding in new life. Tender shoots of grass are waking along with the weeds and bugs. This also means it’s time for work to begin again in earnest for the entomologist. Corn planting could start in the next few weeks depending on temperatures. Between now and fall, there won’t be a break. This is ok too, for we must make hay while the sun shines. This also means “Outdoors in the Sun” will take a break for a few months while the turn row dust kicks up behind us.
We want to thank you, our loyal readers, for your support of our column for the past six months. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have enjoyed writing for you. For close to 20 years, the exact time escapes me, we have delivered stories from the field and swamp to your doorstep. It has been quite the journey indeed, and for this, I truly thank you. Good Lord willing, we’ll be back in a few months with a new pad and a pen full of ink to pick back up where we’re leaving off. In the meantime, drop us a note to let us know how you like what we produce for you. I’m always open for suggestions on how to improve our column. If you think of additional topics, please drop me a note or reach out to Jimmye. We’ll accommodate your wishes best we can. Again, thank you so much for the opportunity to write for you and I hope to see you soon. Please let me know if you have any gardening questions and I’ll be happy to help where I can.
Until next season, enjoy our woods and waters and remember, let’s leave it better than we found it.
