Baljennie community and cemetery held their annual cleanup at the cemetery grounds for the first time June 3. The grass was mowed and cleaned up around the gravesites. The Custer family had cleaned up a few weeks ago where their family plots are. Due to so many busy farmers still working on the land, old age and people not well we get hardly any help anymore. Many others have passed away or moved on to new areas. It is hard to get the younger people to help. Seems all the communities are going the same way.
John and Lois Syhut of Sonningdale were recent visitors with Stanley and Dorothy Mills.
Crops are slowly starting to come through the soil but it is too dry for anything much to grow. We need rain badly. We did get a few little showers in the afternoon and one in the night, but that was soon all soaked up.
There are a few farmers still finishing up seeding feed for their cattle to eat in the fall. There are some farmers having to reseed canola fields after one night of frost. Some crops are up high enough as well as the weeds and they are spraying for bugs and grasshoppers. There is an outbreak of tent caterpillars on wild fruit and rose bushes, besides the areas that have the black forest caterpillars. They are mainly after the poplar tree leaves. So far there are none in our area. They do make a mess of the lush green bushes. The leaves will regenerate but it is a real setback for all trees and with it so dry, they will have a struggle staying alive. They have not been about for a few years. We love our native trees.
There has been a high population of dandelions and they seem to be everywhere. Now all the fluff is flying about, more seeds for next year's crop. Every garden, yard, pasture and field have them. Other areas, leafy spurge has started up as well as hawksbeard, plus many other kinds of weeds. They are getting harder and harder to control as the years go by, besides that, how many new weeds have we got growing?
Lizard Lake community pasture spent a busy few days taking in the summer pasturing cows and their calves. Many pastures have cattle in them. In spite of the dryness the grass is holding its own, so far. There is plenty of water for the cattle. They do need a good rain like all the rest of us.
There has been plenty of wildlife about. The big northern forest fires have driven the black bears to different areas. Some have been sighted north of here, so far nothing here that we know of, but just be aware of them about. Keep an eye out if you are walking alone. There just could be one eyeing you up that you didn't notice. Don’t get between a mama bear and her cub. Things can happen fast. Keep in mind, never run from a bear or climb a tree. Bears are ever so swift and can climb a tree just as fast as you run, just back away slowly to some protection. The bear's eyesight is not so great. Bears are nearsighted. The bear's diet consists of lush grasses and roots plus insects, berries and honey when they can find it. They have to be pretty hungry to come after people. One never knows. So try to be careful out in the woods and forest.
