Category Archives: nature

Not just any ditch daisy

June 24, 2020Bob, naturesusanmanzke

I’ve been on the lookout for ditch daisies to pop out along our road.

Bob would mow around them for me. He knew how much I like them.

Every year, I’ve broadcast some of the seeds around the farm. Too bad my efforts never took hold in my flower garden.

Still, some had to survive. Today I found a patch of long ditch grass dotted with daisies.

These are a gift for me from Bob.

Bob would have mowed that deep ditch. It is too high for me and any of my helpers.

I feel blessed to have found these today.

Blossoms

May 26, 2020naturesusanmanzke

Spring continues no matter what we humans are doing or not doing.

Our pear trees are filled with blossoms from top to bottom. It looks like my pear harvest will be a great one. So remember me in the fall if you want some.

The apple trees are far from their full bloom.

The pear trees are in the background and the branch to the left is from one of the old apple trees. Its blossoms are just starting to open.

If all goes well, fall will mean a lot of fruit. And as I said I’m willing to share as long as you’re willing to pick.

The seasons will continue. Let’s hope that there are many, many people here to appreciate the changes and the bounty nature provides us.

Winter Survivors

May 15, 2020naturesusanmanzke

I just set out pots of geraniums that I saved from last year. All winter long these plants rested in the basement.

In their own time, without my help, two geraniums started showing signs of growth.

They are now getting green by the day, though they have a long way to go.

Others are not–I’m still giving this one a chance to have a rebirth.

I hope to see many more flowers as the weather warms.

I have faith that these geraniums will decorate my flower garden for months to come….at least I hope so.

The rescue

April 28, 2020animals, nature, Odds and endssusanmanzke

It was time to take Sunny for a walk this morning. I hadn’t planned to go far. But ended up walking for 30 minutes.

Along the way, I noticed a few worms had wiggled onto the shoulder of the road. They were covered with bits of gravel and soon would die.

I picked up one and deposited it back in the grassy ditch, not where it would drown, but where it could clean itself of the gravel and not get smashed on the road.

During my walk, I rescued 6 worms. It’s nothing earthshaking, except for those worms.

There are so many others in our world today who are real rescuers. I honor them all.

Still, doing my part this morning made me feel useful, if only to a half-dozen worms.

Spring Greening

April 11, 2020gardening, naturesusanmanzke

There are a lot of flowers getting ready to grow and bloom on Sunnybook farm.

All the photos were taken here today on Sunnybook Farm.

The joke is the rose. It is growing here, too, but inside. A small rose plant I saved from last Mother’s Day.

I can’t wait to see actual roses blooming, along with poppies and tulips. It looks like it will take a while before that will happen.

Winter weather is predicted to return tomorrow night and into Monday. Let’s just hope that the amount of snow that falls will only be an inch and not ten inches.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person