Ghosts in the garden and immigrants in the creek

 One of the downsides of gardening in the country is the danger of field drift from the ag fields around us when they spray their crops.  We've lost some favorite plants to drift and it's always a heartache.  We have good relationships with the men who farm the fields around us and over the years they've become pretty good at letting us know when they are going to spray.  If it's on a day with low wind or wind that doesn't blow the spray in our direction, we consider ourselves blessed.  And when we know ahead of time, we drag out our stash of old sheets and run around, covering all the plants we think most vulnerable, mostly roses and young trees.  It does lead to some questions from people who drive by and see things draped in sheets!

Last night the farmer across the road let us know they are going to spray this morning.  We got out and covered the things.  Thankfully, there is NO wind today - something that almost ever happens here in the flatlands.  So they have sprayed and we can now remove the sheets and save them until another day.

On another note...the only animals I know of that will actually domesticate themselves are ducks.  We have had a wild duck come and join our domestic duck flock but it's not common.  And sometimes they just decide to relocate.  Our neighbor has a lovely flock of ducks and he has a nice pond for them, too.  But this year, one pair of his ducks has decided they prefer our creek to his pond.  They wandered over here and have since made themselves very at home in a shady spot on the north bank of the creek.  

Who wouldn't love life in this shady and cool spot?  There's a bullfrog that lives near them and I imagine them conversing congenially with each other.

The neighbor tried several times to call them home but they stubbornly return.  He quit trying when he was out there going "Quack, quack, quack!  Come, duck!" and didn't realize Anne was walking the dogs and heard him.  He must have felt slightly foolish because he hasn't attempted to retrieve them again and they remain on our property.  We check every day to see if they've escaped the coyotes another night.  So far, so good.  They are lovely ducks and I love to hear their soft quacking.  He has some louder ducks over there and when they quack they sound like they are laughing hysterically and they make me laugh every time.  My mom often said, "It doesn't take much to amuse a weak mind."  Mine must be weak because those ducks amuse me enormously.