Why do governments do a census?

My youngest kid works for StatCan.

There are some ignorant people who don't know why we do a census. 

This is the perfect summary:

This isn’t the self-own you think it is.

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— Mark Gerretsen (@markgerretsen.bsky.social) May 10, 2026 at 3:51 PM

Saturday's Critters

 I enjoy critters both large and small. OK, maybe not the bugs, but we have to take the good with the bad. 

 

 

The big moths are now out and about.

   

 The snakes are coming out in the daytime and the sunshine. Otherwise, they are now where to be seen! They run in fear. 

   

 There are small achievements that keep me happy. I managed to capture the quick red fox on three cameras. It begins in the back, on my Wifi camera. Then it runs so quickly by the Crumbly Acres camera that I had to slow the clip down. Finally, my Gardepro catches it on the driveway. Can you believe how fast they are?

   

 The Osprey are back and sitting on nests. They eat fish and snakes, and such. The wetland water doesn't have any fish. I am fascinated.

They continue to visit the wetland. Sound up, if you are curious!

   

 I was having a hard time keeping up with the nuthatch in its nest, climbing up the tree! "A day late and a dollar short!"

   

 Out back, under the great pine tree, a pair of Brown Creepers. Sound up, again. They were happy to entertain me while shopping for snacks. (The birds, not me!)

 

Saturday's Critters # 648 visit more critters at Eileen's blog!

Gardening season approaches!

Caitlin gifted me with a hanging planter for Mother's Day. It's been chilly, so I bring it in at night. 

 Our May long weekend is traditionally the weekend we in southern Ontario plant. Joe and I decided to get started, to beat the rush, and went off to the nursery.

It was lovely and moist inside, a cool 10 ℃ outside. I wore my lovely second hand, thrifted coat. I had compliments at the nursery! Isn't that fun?!

A joy to behold!

All these hobby farms, people are planting. 

I tucked it in the garage until we warm up a bit. Basil, marigold, petunias, some veggies the critters will eat!  A hanging basket of cherry tomatoes, as that's about the only safe thing I can grow. Those critters love the bounty!

This is a Hollyhock. I am hoping Fred won't get this one. She piled dirt up on my last one and it didn't recover. The fuscia the hummingbirds like. 

Crumbly Acres

 We had a major rain storm go by. We survive with indoor play. You may laugh, nay, you should laugh. It really is funny. Nutmeg, our wee female, is so aggressive. Cinnamon prefers to watch and think about it.

It poured Wednesday. Our TV satellite reception was out.

We don't let Nutmeg out in the afternoons, unless it is raining! Cinnamon is a different story.

I was on the front deck reading, birds were at the feeder. The Towhee came back, Cinn ignored it. He is more interested in mice friends.

Fred has been out front, exploring my garden.

 

Both Freds were out Wed., May 13th. MiniFred took off down the hill beyond the garage. I just don't know what's happening.

These are her kits May 17th, 2025. A year ago. 

Pooter, lady slippers, & pulpits

 I had to get my pooter out of the cupboard. I only need it when the red lily bugs come out. Okay, not true, I use it in the fall when lady beetles try to come in the house! 

pooter  Wiki

One sucks on the short end, which had a trap (gauze) on the other end. The long tube you set by the bug and by sucking on it, the bug ends up in the jar. 

Everything is greening up!

Primula veris, the cowslip, common cowslip, or cowslip primrose

Trillium are scattered throughout the forest:

We have ladyslippers in our wetland. They are beyond the frog pond, on our furthest lot. Sometimes I forget to go find them! I found only two plants, We'll see. 

Here is one from May, 2020. The problem with May is the bugs come out. I think we already have blackflies. That's why I forget to go find if they are blooming!

Fred is being very careful, wary. She lost 3/4 kits to coyotes last year.

This was a big surprise. I was down in the forest, doing a walkabout. This is a jack-in-the-pulpit. I wonder if a bird took a seed down. 

I have them in my garden behind the house. 

Yard birds report

It is a delightful season for us. All the birds and bees are in mating mode. I love the songs. Each day the leaf buds get a little bigger. We'll lose our sunsets, but nature unfurls.

Phoebe is proudly atop the purple pencil. It's a great vantage point. They should hatch in a couple of days.

Here is Momma phoebe. Tucked in the nest in the corner. We had ice on the bird bath Monday morning. 

The lilac tree is budding up, and the rose-breasted grosbeak was bug hunting. Bless their hearts.

You can see why so many bird counts should be done in May. They are breeding, singing in top form, and you can see them between the leaves.

Merlin is giving me some valuable information. 

It helps to know what to look for. This is a pair of Yellow-rumped Warblers. They were off in the distance, in the birch trees out back. Even with a zoom lens, it was tricky. This is the male.

The female was nearby. Hard to see her, but she is in the upper right. of the photo. Trust me! They are well-camouflaged.

I have found a bird new to me. 'Lifer' for someone who volunteers in hospice work just doesn't sound right to me! 

 Cinnamon and I were out front and I heard a bird. Next we had a towhee who visited. Merlin told me what it was. I am always dubious!

 

 It came to the bird feeder, but was shy! 

Also heard: Common Yellowthroat!

This bird eludes me. It looked more like a green heron on my iPhone. I wondered if it was a mistake, but it is a small one. I looked it up!

👂Listen, because there is no way I could spot it! 

Yay, SPRING!