An Outdoor Project & a Midnight Marauder

We are still awaiting the inspection and review of our solar panel system. So, there's nothing new to report on that.

Deciding it was great weather to be outside working, I took on the project of removing three large clumps of dead pampas grass from the hill side in front of the house. Since I'm not part mountain goat, I used a rope line to help me move up and down the slope. Over a couple of afternoons, I ripped out one yard waste cart and five and a half 50 gallon trash bags worth of dead grass and assorted twigs, and piled up dead branches to cut and bundle. Pampas grass looks nice live, but it's a fire hazard when dry like the clumps I removed.

Looking down from the edge of the driveway.
A pampas grass clump in shade at lower right.

Looking up from the road. Rope tether visible above small rake.
Debris from removed grass at lower left.

Suited-up to battle the pampas grass.

Looking down-slope after pampas grass removal.
Manzanitas (burgundy branches) now a bit safer from fire.

Debris awaitng transfer to regulation 30 gal brown bags
for pick up by the yard waste recycling folks.

Can you guess what the midnight marauder was? Here's what our lower deck looked like this morning.

Sunflower seed bag on the left, bag of plaster patch on the right.

The suspect left plenty of prints after tearing open the bag of plaster patch.
For a dose of calcium, perhaps?

On to get a snack of sunflower seeds.

Yep, it was a raccoon alright. But you already guessed that.

Time to wash up after getting all messy.

This week in flowers - if it's colorful and/or temperamental, we're growing it on a deck or balcony.

Roses on the upper deck, canyon side.
Groundcover rose, Happy Chappy in front.

Hybrid tea rose, Paradise Found

Hybrid tea rose, Henry Fonda

Small but mighty mini-Fushia on the front balcony.
I estimated 100 buds on this little plant for it's second bloom.