Of Moss and Green Things

Yesterday was quite a chilly day. The sun shone brightly above us, so it was not too bad.

Off the island:
Kame was still snoozing in the morning when vicious scraping sounds startled him awake. Voices of humans could be heard from the area off the island, a place the humans call "The Nursery". I was sleepy so I ignored the noise and tucked my head back into my wing. Surprisingly, Kame did just the opposite, he stretched out his sleepiness and contented himself to watch the area beyond the island's trees.

When I had woken up a little while later, Kame told me what the ruckus had been about. A few of the humans were re-potting roses and had been shoveling soil into larger pots.

I was surprised that Kame, who's been complaining all this time about my interest in humans, was actually paying attention to the going on of events off the island. He's is so strange sometimes. (Just admit you're happy with the island's change, won't you? They are doing a fine job for humans!) The obnoxious scraping sounds from earlier were actually the moss harvesters. There are many ways of safely and quietly removing moss as to not disturb the peace but these humans certainly did not know them. They used flat shovels and scraped the ground (resulting in those loud unpleasant sounds), placing them in single flat layers.

Though it was cold and difficult work, the humans managed smiling faces. Kame claims that he heard their laughter from all the way inside the island itself. I thinking he's bluffing. (Ow! What was that for?)

On the island:

A man dressed in red was busy creating a bridge across the dry stream bed. Kame (yet again) was complaining that the sound of construction was giving him a headache. I wonder if stone turtles actually get headaches or not, after all, his skull is too thick for anything to penetrate.

A little bit later on, the moss gatherers also came onto the main part of the island. They planted the greens in a circular pattern around trees, a move that brought even more color to our humble abode.

Well, that is it for my report this time. Many events have happened to us in the last few months, but most notable is the change. Kame and I are bored here most days, so feel free to come visit us. He's such a grouch, but I promise he's only complaining for the sake of it.

A New Year, A Cold and Bright Beginning

So much for my winter hibernation! Kame and I were quite rudely awakened by shovels on the wet soil and the sound of machinery at work.

Kame (The Turtle) rocks

Tsuru (The Crane) rocks - back center

Those humans were at it again today, digging holes and placing boulders into them. The adults each took a shovel and created some holes about the same size as the boulders, then discussed which ones were suitable for which hole. Those humans humans encountered some root problems in the process, which amused Kame and I to no end. Unfortunately for us, that didn't last long. The roots were cut off with strong hits from the shovels. Oh well.

They also planted some moss by the maple at the front, fern around their "stream" and dug a good sized hole for a pine. Kame scoffed when a human stood in place posing as the pine while an older human walked around examining her. There was a lot of work done even though it was chilly.

Rock sorting

Moss to be planted

View from the back of Tsuru Island

On A Breezy Day

A few weeks ago, on Saturday (November 22nd according to the human calendar), it was quite breezy. Alright, because I'm made from stone it was, but to the humans, the wind was strong enough to make one lose balance. Despite all this, there were still 6 young humans from that place called Reynolds High School, two of which were complete newcomers. It was a different day, for they worked passed their usual time and even brought coffee here.

Work wise, the humans planted some dwarf rhododendrons near the middle of the garden. They also planted some grass-like plants near Kame and I. (He's been sneezing nonstop since then, complaining about his allergies. Do turtles really have allergies to grass though?) I don't mind, at least it's going to keep me a bit warmer when the weather turns cold.

The azalea cuttings that were in the garden were taken care of well and transferred into larger plastic pots when they weren't sufficient enough to support the plants. Some of those were planted into the island itself. The plants in the garden, especially the pines, have also been pruned and shaped for winter. (Again, Kame has been making a fuss about how much it smells around here. Personally, I like that piney scent hovering lightly over the garden. He's such a pest sometimes.)

Talking about pests, the resident beavers have been downing more trees from the garden for their dam. Luckily, the trees are growing well. One of the trees is big enough that two weeks hasn't been enough time for them to down it and drag it away.

The humans have also moved some of the specimen trees from the barn house area behind the garden into the island. I hear that the trees will be here permanently (provided that those beavers don't take those as well).

That's all for my report, the last couple weeks have been quite cold and frosty. I think it's in my best interest to hibernate for a little while more. (No, I'm not a bear Kame!)

The Past Couple Weeks

The weather has been quite chilly the last couple of weeks. Just today, a cold rain fell upon our island, covering everything in a moist layer. On one of the better days, the red maples on the island sang with the brilliance of fire.

The replicated stream that the humans were working on a few weeks ago underwent some reconstruction. A few of the boulders in the presentation area were re-positioned to make more flat area. Some timbers were also brought onto the island. These will be used to create the foundations to the two small bridges that will go over the stream.
The humans also cultivated the soil by mixing in compost with the soil already on the island to create amended texture. Kame was slightly amused as the humans mixed it in by hand and not by the tools they usually use.
I overheard the leader of the humans saying that three younger humans will be building the new bridge. These young humans were representing Ace Academy. According to their conversation, they were from Reynolds and Springwater High Schools. Kame is chuckling in his corner by the stream about my obsession with these humans. I ought to give him a piece of my wing.

Saturday October 26, 2013

This morning found Kame and I surrounded in cold mist. A small replication of a stream was constructed by the humans. It was amusing to watch as they carefully stack each large stone on the side and gradually add smaller stones into the stream. Some of the humans even joked around, laughing at themselves. One mentioned the fact that they were mere humans trying to imitate what Mother Nature takes eons to create.

Though the day was gray, with a few drops of rain occasionally sprinkling, the humans were merry as the worked in small teams at different parts of the artificial stream.

After partially completing the streambed, the humans decided to call it a day and packed up, heading home. Kame was silently laughing as the wind blew across our small island, remarking that Mother Nature never took a break from her work. Though these humans try, they can only do so much in so little. We'll both continue to watch their work each time the unlock that poor excuse of a barrier (which only prevents other humans from entering the island) and come to make more wonderful changes to this once bleak landscape.

Saturday October 5th

Kame and I woke up to the sound of more metal claws and wet earth. The entire island is now covered in dark earth and there is a small stream running through. A few small boulders line the stream's edge, with a few bunches of horsetails too.

More work, of course, has been done. A few of the humans were moving more boulders and creating more holes on the grounds. On the borders and side of the island, some removal of weeds and unwanted plants were done as well.

                                                     

Outside of the island, there was much work completed. Some of the workers were repotting iris rhizomes into 1 gallon pots. At least, that was what I heard in their conversation, as the wind was blowing pleasantly towards me on that warm sunny day.

The Crane Wakes Up

How long has it been since I've slept? The island has changed so much. Kame (pronounced like "ka-may", Japanese for Turtle) and I have been woken by the sound of earth moving.

The island, which has been our home for many years, have completely been stripped. New plants (pines, maples, evergreens and azaleas) were standing firmly at the edge of the small island. I flex my wings, craning my head to stare at a bunch of humans hustling around, spreading moist, black earth onto the dry flaking ground. Weeks earlier, a huge metal machine came through, gouging out the hard, clay-like soil here. How different it looks, with the warm damp smell of rich earth in the steadily falling rain. It feels as if this island itself is slowly coming back to life after years of sleeping silently. It will be good to see smiling faces of adults and children here again; good to see our rocky island become a place for relaxation.