The Ants Came Marching Out...

I will remember this as the day the ants came out. Every year we get the 'red ants growing into flying ants' nests, they all come out at the same time within an hour or so of each other. And we don't see any signs of the red ants before they are ready? I don't understand their life cycle, maybe I should google this.

I think this is the record...we found 10 nests!!! It really grosses me out, I remember our first year in this house we couldn't go outside because they were flying all over the place. But now, when we first notice them we eliminate them. (Cats were put inside, chickens in their run/coop & dog in kennel. Tomorrow we will clean up any residue. I don't like using chemicals, but don't know what else to do in this situation!!)

I have a couple pictures...not sure you want to see this, but these are the two nests at the bottom of the stairs in the courtyard leading to the deck off the dining room. Three of them were in my succulent garden (would that have anything to do with some of the plants dying?) and five in the pool room between the concrete slabs!!

 This was the smallest nest of the bunch. 
See the dead weed? I used 2 parts vinegar to 1 part dish soap and holy cow, does it work like a charm!! Now to work on the others...the ones I can't pull...

Look at them all!!! Yikes!!! 
(Yes, the stairs need repairing!! The whole courtyard needs an overhaul...)

Thank heavens we noticed them before they started flying!! Mind you, now that we know what we are looking for, it is easy to see...basically the earth is moving! Yuck....

Chickens, Cats, Dog & the Mulberry Tree

The mulberries were ripening up fast. One day last week, a couple squirrels were having a feast way up in the tree! Silly cat that Pickle is, he was lying in wait for one of them to fall...at least that is what Larry said he was doing...and doesn't he know squirrels are tree dwellers and don't fall? 

Pickle keeping a close eye on the squirrels, he thinks he's hiding under the hosta! 

Well, the chickens have found them all over the ground. And boy were they enjoying them! We already knew the dog loves them and nibbles all the time, but this is pretty cool the way the chickens have taken to them, too. The funny thing is, Brownie decided she could get her own and kept jumping up to feed off the branch that is so laden it is hanging low! She was hilarious. :)

Brownie

We had a so much fun watching the squirrels, the dog and the chickens all devouring the mulberries, while the cats looked on. We did manage to snag a few for ourselves.

Jet helping himself while Pepsy watches (still lots of work to do on this side of the property)

Mulberries

 Pepsi watching the activity...

Zara finding a berry