RE-CLEARING A FENCE ROW AND BURNING OFF THE GARDEN

The fence row between the goat pasture and the garden was cleaned and ready for fence over five years ago.  The materials were purchased and the fence was started on the other side of the pasture (the fence between my property and the neighbor).  A series of injuries, infections, recovery time and other factors beyond my control, made it impossible to proceed with the fence project.  Now, I am fully recovered and ready to build the fence.  However, during my down time, the brush and trees grew back, thicker than ever.  It is amazing how fast a cleared area left unattended can become a

thicket.

Last week, I went out with the chainsaw and cut the trees and brush.  It took a couple of afternoons, but it was good to finally see progress.  With lots of brush to burn, I planned to take Sunday and make a day of it. Unfortunately, Sunday was a damp day, making it harder to get a good fire going in green brush.  Progress was slow at best, then it began to rain in the afternoon.  With less than half of the brush burned, I had to stop for the day.

By Tuesday afternoon, the rain was over.  Bright sunshine and some wind dried things out a bit giving hope of finishing this part of the project.  I was not disappointed.  After work, I got the fire started and began dragging brush.  There was a lot of brush remaining so I had to keep moving at a pretty good pace, but by late afternoon it was down to just pushing in the unburnt ends and watching the fire.

Just before sundown,  with a little time on my hands I had the bright idea of burning off the garden.  Amazingly, so soon after several days of rain, the dead grass was dry enough and there was just enough.  The wind carried the fire through it for a fairly quick and reasonably clean burn.

At the end of the day, I was plenty tired, but truly satisfied to have visible signs of accomplishment toward not one, but two projects.  Soon, the fence building and garden tilling can begin.

BATS IN MY BELFRY ? MAYBE NOT!

This may sound a little batty, but last Sunday (Feb. 20), I was enjoying the warm weather and taking the opportunity to work on the garden tiller.  Yes, T-shirt weather at the beginning of February.  Admittedly a little strange, but not at all batty.  Right?

While removing the engine from the tiller, I became a little distracted by a bird swooping and flapping nearby.  Still not batty enough?  Turns out it was not a bird at all.  It was a bat, fluttering about, tending to the business of catching mosquitoes and other flying bugs.

I normally see bats at my place a bit later in the spring.  Early to mid march is not unusual, but early February seems a bit strange.  It was a Red Bat, Lasiurus borealis.  These awesome little creatures migrate in in the spring and stay all summer before heading back south.  With climate change, the early appearance doesn't seem so much of a concern.  After all, I was outside wearing a T-shirt and the bat's food
source was abundantly present.

The thing that seems really strange to me is the time of day.  Though the Red Bat comes out earlier in the evening than most other bats, 3:00 in the afternoon, on a bright, partly cloudy day is really out of character.  Nonetheless, I watched this little character flapping and swooping for its prey for quite a while, and even managed to get pictures.  I continued to notice the flight and feeding through the afternoon until it finally became to dark for me to see.

Yes, it was a batty afternoon.  No belfry required!