Two spotted salamanders, large ones, sighted during garden work today. One disturbed by digging near fence (had been hiding under edge of fenceboard).
The other had crawled into the base of a damp cardboard box, as yet unopened, containing parts to make a garden raised-bed. Couldn't pull out the pieces, realized I could probably dump it out or push it through. I don't know which of us was more startled when I flipped the thing over, opened the other end, and found a salamander.
Very glad and very surprised that the little beastie wasn't harmed by my tossing the box around. Or at least, was harmed so little that there was plenty of wriggle left in the very short walk to a safe area to let him/her go. Very strong wriggler!
Opened the other 5 identical boxes very carefully; not all that identical– no more 'manders.
Got my damn slides done just before midnight. Didn't want to waste another gardening day when I have broccoli seedlings getting tall & skinny. Cabbage seedlings coming up too. Time to plant beets, carrots. Wonder about my onion sets, currently in the fridge. Must be time to plant 'em, they sold 'em to me recently. “Fall” bulb, right? 😉
Pulled remaining 4 grown onions when forking/composting beds. All like giant leeks, no bulbing. One of same group bulbed earlier in year, the rest all leek-like. Must have been wrong onion for this region– bulbing controlled by day length, need to match onion to region and/or planting time. But you knew that.
Relentless Inquiry 
Leave a Reply