Pussy Willows

Okay, I admit it...I nearly always walk through the Garden Section at the big Target Stores. While I avoid Walmart and Sam's Club like the plague (that they are), I rather like Target. In spite of being a 'big box' store, I like their commercials and the way (I see) that they conduct business.

So, when one of the two River Birch I bought in Pueblo West from a family owned nursery died (I noticed when planting that they were horribly root bound with thick, winding roots and little soil), I looked to see what Target had to offer. I found River Birch! I looked through the whole pallet, pulling plants from containers and choosing the most likely plant to make it in my yard. The unfortunate thing was, I apparently picked up a Pussy Willow! [sigh]

I had no intention of planting a Pussy Willow. Other than knowing they like wet roots as much as a River Birch, I knew little about them. I've never heard they have real flowers and I had no idea if anything ate the little furry buds I know are called catkins. Past that...a rambunctious shrub that suckers, but offers little in the way of food, was the last thing I was interested in...pretty pussy willow branches in early spring or no.

Then my big dog, Zeus died. He was only about ten or eleven; young for an Akbash, I think. I was crushed and he was so big; I asked a friend to help me bury him in the spot he chose to die. Jerry hit water before he was two feet deep; not a good spot. He filled the hole back in and we came up with another plan, but I remembered how high the water table was in that spot.

I checked; this willow will take some shade. The spot is shaded a bit by huge cottonwoods and other willow trees, so I knew it'd be okay there. But it can be huge; and will grow to a thicket if not severely trimmed. Imagine my surprise when I discovered this today:

The Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project of Prince Edward Island, Canada notes the importance of pussy willows for feeding wild birds and other wildlife:

Willow buds are second only to the buds of poplars as preferred food of ruffed grouse. Beaver ... muskrat, red squirrel, and snowshoe hare all include willow in their diet. The leaves are rich in Vitamin C and zinc. Pussy willows are an important nesting site for American goldfinch, while other songbirds use them to a lesser degree. The cover and protection thickets of willow provide are probably of equal importance to wildlife as its food value.

Oh good I thought, this won't be so bad after all. At least it'll feed the birds. I seldom purposely purchase any kind of plant unless it feeds birds or at least offers 4-season good looks. Not only will this feed birds, young branches will look cool in a tall, glass vase.

But then I read on: Deer also like to eat the branches of pussy willows. All this attention from wildlife has its good side, of course, especially for bird watching. But the downside is that, if you don't want your pussy willows damaged, you'll have to protect them. Ugh

Since Zeus is gone, my yard has experienced even more squirrels, skunks, raccoons and deer; not to mention bears, I'm sure they'll be back, too. The damn skunks are turning my lawn (such as it is; I don't water it) into what looks like a mini-mine field and the raccoons are pushing down feeder-poles and tearing apart bird feeders!

The deer seem to enjoy my new puppies as much as I do. What on earth is afraid of a 10" fluffy-butt; even if there are two of 'em? [sigh] Even their growls are cute: Grrrrrrr is more like a Purrrrrr...

So, today I planted the Pussy Willow. It should do fine; presuming the deer don't chew it to the ground. I also planted two Trumpet Vines that I got from Perennial Favorites last month. Funny, a neighbor was walking buy and stopped to say hello. Turns out she was friends with the folks from whom I bought this house. She loves the spot, so I invited her in to take a look around.

Ahnee (sp?) works at the Ryus Street Bakery, so while I recognized her...we'd not officially met. What a nice lady! Anyway, she also has Trumpet Vines and says the little hummingbirds practically disappear into the flowers; so deep must they dive. I've looked some time for this plant; too bad I didn't meet her earlier. I hear this is yet another rampant, rambling vine that is easy to transplant! I'll share as soon as its established.

Everything was planted out front, if you'd like to see how things turn out; the Trumpet Vines will grow out front, next to my driveway (near the Virginia Creeper and Honeysuckle), and the Pussy Willow will be on the opposite corner of the front yard. Wish me luck...

Photos of plants from Wiki
Photos of puppies are mine

Christmas Rosies...

Twas the night before Christmas and all on the line...

were hundreds of Rosies I like to call mine!

Okay, so I know they are not mine and I know that they'll be gone as soon as the weather clears up; but it's a Very Merry Christmas to me...and one I hope you all share, too.

A Dirty Little Story...

This is the story of what happens when I give my dog, Zeus, a bath.

First let me say, he's big...about 30" at the shoulder, so bathing is best done on a warm day...outside.

Zeus does not like baths. He likes smelling like a dog. Thankfully, most of the time he doesn't smell bad, either. Well, unless he's found some really putrid scat to roll in.

But, that was not the case this time. This time, I thought I could bath him to remove some petroleum-based salve I'd put on a couple small hot-spots he had above his hips. The spots have healed, but his long hair remain greasy and yucky to touch...not to mention filthy, in those spots.

So, out come large buckets of warm water and a pitcher with which to pour water over his coat.
Yeah, he's spoiled...but ya know, Colorado water is
C O L D !!! I used baby-shampoo so as not to risk stinging his eyes, and soaped him up good. He was not happy, even though even the rinse was with even more buckets of warm water. I always make sure to get all the soap out. But still, he does not like baths!

Immediately after emptying the last bit of water over his butt and removing the leash I had tied to a stake so he couldn't run away...this is what happens:

I didn't even have time to put the hose away; he'd dug up a patch in the 'lawn' to fine powder and rolled:

and shook,

and rolled again!

I'm not sure he was finished yet...but, this is how he looked
five minutes after his bath:

The cool thing is though, that he has a long, flat outer-coat; when the mud dries and flecks off, looks like this:

Ya know, he does the same thing when he gets skunk-sprayed. He coats his sticky-self in mud and when it dries and flecks off; he's all clean and hardly stinks at all. Really! I can even let him in the house!

Yeah, that's Zeus...the Mighty Dog!

Oh, did I tell you my dog, of ancient Turkish ancestery (he's an Akbash Dog), thinks he's Hispanic? Yeah, I've got to quit stepping outside to call him for dinner: "Yey...Zeus!"

Sounds of Silence

Last evening I came home from work and got out of my truck to the sounds of owls. I love that sound, it is peaceful and wild at the same time…like the call of a loon on a quiet night. I just love it.

I think it is a privilege to live in such a wild area. Sure, it’s not the cabin…but I don’t have to worry about tipping over my truck with a full 200 gallon watertank while sliding sideways down a hill or plowing out three miles only to discover the county road wasn't plowed yet. Those were the days!

A friend glimpsed a mountain lion in town the other day, and was upset about it. I wonder why people move to areas like this and then want the wild animals removed. I remember a young family moved to a home several miles from town…to raise goats. When the lions came around they put pet dogs inside and called in the bounty hunters. Yup, killed eleven big cats one season! Of course, doing this just brings in lions from further away…and perhaps larger litters for a year or two; but solves nothing. I just do not understand why more ranchers don’t use LivestockGuardianDogs.

Zeus is the best! He's an Akbash Dog, an ancient Turkish breed, who thinks he's Hispanic. Hey, Zeus!

I talked to friends about the owls; I understand only some hoot, which is what I regularly hear here. Apparently we have quite a variety in the area, including Great Horned Owls, which is what I believe I hear. I have never seen one here, though I’ve begun scanning the treetops across the road, along the river, where I hear them. Perhaps I need a scope. Yeah, that’s it; I really do need a scope! There are fourteen kinds of owl in Huerfano County.

BirdChick has a wonderful (and educational!) little video clip she created and put on her blog Feb 1st. Thanks, Sharon!

There are several bodies of water aroundthe town of La Veta, and of course at Lathrup State Park. I’m going to have to start looking for loons, too. I know the eagles find ‘em!

Did I tell I once saw a Greater Roadrunner running fast across the highway near Lathrup...I half expected to see that wiley coyote in hot pursuit!

And we did get snow...in fact it's still snowing. Looks to be nearly a foot of fairly heavy stuff. Yippieeeeeee Of course I stayed home and watched birds out the window, replentishing the feeders as needed. And I finally saw more than one White-winged Junco at the same time...thrilled to learn it is a 'rare' bird...only to have my thrill dashed by not finding it on Colorado's RareBirdAlert. Sometimes I'm too wierd.