Week #20: Rain and Mud

Here in southwestern Ontario, the month of May is probably the soggiest month of the year on average.  This year is no exception and with frequent rain showers even the farmers out in the county haven't planted any corn or soybeans yet.

Here at home everything has come to a stand still.  Even getting out to mow the lawn is proving difficult as the lawn mower doesn't like to go through puddles.

The chicks are enjoying life out in the garage without a care in the world.  They are going through that ugly stage right now where their down feathers are being replaced by their first true feathers.

Our chicks enjoying life in the garage.  Photo by Marianne Balkwill

There are some expected surprises in the yard this week.  Warblers, orioles, hummingbirds and vireos are migrating through.  Some, such as the orioles and the hummingbirds will take up summer residence.  Our Common Grackles and American Robins, which have been back since March, now have hatched young and have a lot of hungry mouths to feed. 

 

 This male Blackburnian Warbler, with it's fiery orange coloured throat, is a common migrant in our yard in both spring and fall migration.  Photo by Marianne Balkwill.

The male Black-throated Blue Warbler is another common migrant in both spring and fall migration.  Photo by Marianne Balkwill

Morel mushrooms are also starting to grow in the bush lot and into the yard.  Unfortunately we have never had the chance to eat ours yet.

The Morel Mushroom is a native mushroom that is prized for cooking. Dry Morels can sell up to $50.00 per pound.

We finally had a nice calm day by the end of the week so we went out and opened up the hives for the first time this year.  They are full of brood and honey and we added a super on top of each of our hives without a queen excluder.  In a few weeks, we will check them again and if they have drawn out comb or start building brood in the new super we will put in a queen excluder.

Aaron pulling out a frame of his hive that has brood, honey comb, and a lot of bees.  Photo by Marianne Balkwill

Both our hives with a super on top. You can see quite a few bees around the entrance of the blue hive. Photo by Marianne Balkwill

Our strawberries are also getting their first flowers for the year. Looks like we will be getting a descent crop this year!

Our Strawberry patch.  Photo by Marianne Balkwill

Hopefully next week the rains will hold off so we can plant all of our seed for this year!