Squish, Smoosch, Slurp, Slip and Glide

Walking in soaking wet tenny pumps. If you calculate your gate you can walk in rhythm. Sorta like walking when you are wearing cords, they sing; or driving over a road where they have re surfaced the cracks. If you maintain a certain speed, a syncopated rhythm becomes so obvious that a song comes to mind. Then you intently try to maintain that speed, then you figure out other song, scores, cadences that will work. So it rained, and rained and rained. Some of the Koi ponds efforts were disrupted. As I was walking passed the pond I heard the pump sucking for air. Upon further investigation it was apparent that the upper pond had spilled over and went to the underneath of the lower pond. I placed my hand in the pond so I could retrieve the pump. The swelling, from below was as large and darned close to the same shape as a woman’s belly at the 9th month. I pulled the plug so the pump would not burn up. The frogs, now numbering 3 of one species and 2 of another peered at me with upset eyes. I had disrupted their Spring Rituals. Now we need to wait for the drainage to begin before we can remedy the situation. Meanwhile back at the ranch… It appears that finally the Wisteria tree is going to bloom. Ella was so right in telling me how to cause this to occur. Thin out unwanted mature stems in winter (January) and head back new growth in summer (July). Over wintering flower buds occur in spurlike twigs that must be watched for, not broken or pruned off if flowers are to be seen. In this manner wisteria are similar to apple trees, although their flowering spurs are even more fragile and easily lost to clumsiness or lack of awareness. If your climber is all over the place it may not need to be fertilized at all. At any rate, always sample your soil and have it analyzed before fertilizing. Use soil test report to choose appropriate formulation, if any fertilizing is indicated. Re: the Panda post on Ruth and Matt’s blog. It sure brought back wonderful memories. I remember taking you all to the DC Zoo in the late 80’s when Ling - Ling and Hsing – Hsing were the DC darlings. How amazing they were!