Making progress? Eh, probably not

 Oh how the cuss words are wanting to settle in and fly out. I mean, if I break down my work pattern on the land, only being able to work there a few hours a week, I should expect to make a noticeable difference.....never. But I keep going back and trying, so I guess there's something to say for that! I am glutton for punishment, it's clear.

Each time we go back to the land we are both stunned at how much it has changed in just a matter of days. The rain, the heat, the season...everything is waking up and exploding. We just stop and stare, then put our heads down and trudge in. Some areas are so overgrown with raspberry and blackberry and all other things thorny, that it is painful to try and get through. Woodchuck brought his machete this time, which was very helpful!

For the first time, he decided to help me, and I am grateful for that because even with his help we were unable to finish the main task I had laid out. Finish pulling the Lily of the Valley. I found a few stray garlic mustard plants that I pulled. Although there is so much conversation on when it's too late to pull them where it will do any good, I always pull them, no matter what stage they are in. I also found the Dame's Rocket patch so that I could pull it. Luckily right now it's all just to the North of the pond, not too far into the CRP forest, so that makes it easy to find again. 

Many conversations again about this plant versus a native phlox. It seems the main deciding factor is petals. Dame's Rocket has 4, while phlox has 5. I had also read that they bloom at different times of the season, however that brought up more information in one of the nature groups I belong to and I was told that our native phlox is blooming right now. Then to add more confusion, someone else named a plant that seemed similar to Phlox and Dame's Rocket. I don't know, people, I just don't know. As the title of this blog says, I am already flying by the seat of my pants and I need some clear cut information to be able to know what I am dealing with. A group of people to help physically on the land that know their shit would be the ultimate bomb as well! I mean, I am already taking a chance pulling some plants that I don't feel certain of and my fear, always, is that I am going to end up pulling some rare and highly beneficial plant! Oh the anxiety!

Anyway, where was I? Ok, pulled the Dame's Rocket and went on search of the Lily of the Valley. Woodchuck remembered to bring the spade because I was trying to use a trowel and that was only prolonging my misery. I also got a quick lesson in the names of the tools. I remember when I volunteered at a friends farm in 2019, he would always tell me that using the right tool in the right way for the right task was crucial to saving your body and some time. What was a spade, I was calling a shovel. Huh. I have a lot to learn about being a farmer.

Found the patch! You could barely tell that I had pulled some out the previous time. Le' sigh.

Here's the thing about removing Lily of the Valley that I may or may not have mentioned in a previous post. It's a pain in the ass. If anyone tells you otherwise, they are big, fat liars. This crap is half mat, half devil rhizome and it's all connected. It didn't even smell good this time. Dammit. No luxury of sweet smells while yanking it all out. But with hubby's help, we finished this one patch and headed out to find another, which wasn't very far away, in the next row of trees.

I also ran across a patch of grass last time in this same area that I could not identify. Instinct told me to pull it, but I went ahead and posted it in several places on FB and didn't get any feedback. I waited several days, and since I was near it, I went ahead and pulled it. The root system, again, was horrid and very similar to the Lily of the Valley with it's devil finger roots. (BTW, I made that term up. "Devil Finger Roots".)

I also fear that I found a Tree of Heaven, though it seemed big enough that if that was what it is, I would expect to have already seen shooters and new babies coming up around it. I didn't have the time to really inspect and research it, so I made a mental note to check it out again next time.

There was no time, or energy, to just walk the land to walk it. We were filthy.....well, I was.

I really get into my work. Funny how when I worked at the bakery years ago, my apron also looked this way and my manager would get upset and tell me to change it out....only to have that one look the same way soon after.

It was 90 degrees, though the humidity really could have been a lot worse! But we still had some errands to run. Just never enough time in a day to get everything done that we need to. The plan was to spend the morning on the land, run errands, and then get home to just hang out together. Grill, bathing suits, beer. Nope, didn't happen. One day. One day we'll sit and relax again together! 

On the bright side, we have a Green Heron that visits our pond, and we got to see some beautiful Common Whitetail dragonflies! No pictures, they wouldn't listen to hold still. The pond will be one of hubby's main projects. It's driving him crazy to see it like this and he wants to skim the top and get some sunlight into the water. I might need to put the wildlife to work in exchange for use of the amenities........