I'm doing things in the garden that you probably shouldn't 🌿 Garden stroll

[@patfitzgerald8902]

You never look like garbage! I just see a hard working, knowledgeable gardener who I enjoy like a favored friend ❤

[@victoria-louisevalois1323]

Dear Erin, I think everyone who gardens at this point in the summer literally wants to throw in the trowel,_or rip out the whole thing and burn it. We all need support because those dreams that we had in catalogue season have turned fecal. It helps me to see that even accomplished gardening stars like yourself can be heard gnashing their teeth. It usually helps to do exactly what you are doing and "help" one specific section so you can look back on it and feel solid again. We've all been there and we are cheering for you.( V. from fungal, thrippy R.I.)

[@carolfifarek6144]

I love how you say you’re ‘debating’ going to Roy’s in the morning. 😂 We all KNOW that you will be going. Looking forward to seeing what you get😊

[@TheImpatientGardener]

@@carolfifarek6144 You are so right. And of course I went. 🤣

[@kimbar11]

@@TheImpatientGardenerI wanted to go to a nursery today but it’s been raining all day. Tomorrow!

[@SusanGBell]

@@TheImpatientGardener 😆

[@corleeashley8016]

I am in mid Michigan and in zone 5b/6a. I began watching you several months ago - Laura from Garden Anawer mentioned you and I am so glad she did! I enjoy your sense of humor and the honesty with which you share your successes and troubles. I learn from you each time I watch. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your garden with us - you are a blessing!

[@labelleforme1]

Erin, your messages in this video landed at exactly the right moment. I was gone for 11 days to take my 82 yo mom on a quest she asked for, and came back to insect and snail infestation, disease, overgrowth, and bind weed ripping across my property toward the house like it is planning to swallow me. My wonderful husband monitored my 12 zoned drip system, making repairs as needed in 100 degree heat, and hand watered what wasn’t on the system. He was a hero. I just needed to arrange for a plant pathologist and an army of bats and ducks to eat the bugs and snails. Not feeling so alone and switching my internal script thanks to your balanced dose of frustration and calm solutions/interventions is helping me regulate my response. For this I am deeply grateful. The neighbors with young children or tender sensibilities thank you as well…😂

[@DalhiaSun]

Every time I see your green nicotiana I turn green! I can’t find it anywhere for years now!

[@mbtvalli]

You look like a REAL gardener. And naturally beautiful!

[@kathymorrow9951]

Give yourself some grace Girl! You have a lot of gardens to take care of there and you work full time! As a retired lady, I can finally manage my gardens without stressful weekend warrior work! Your plan to work in zones is the key, I have found. I load up my Gator with all the stuff and get after it, it helps immensely to have it all with you and then I make myself stop when I have completed the zone I am working in. That way I don’t feel so overwhelmed and can enjoy it all more! Damn deer!!

[@ginnytalbert3696]

"My brain has left the building" 😂 You certainly make me laugh! A valuable skill, Erin! Thanks for another sip 'n stroll sunday.

[@rebeccamasters3943]

I appreciate and can totally relate to “real Erin” who looks hot and sweaty and can’t remember all the plant names! 😁

[@melonieroe7310]

Girl quit worrying about how you look. You look like all of us in our gardens. This was a really; good video. I enjoy weekly tours because there is always something to learn and enjoy.

[@beverleysimmons7885]

I am thrilled to hear I am not the only one feeling frustration in garden. The heat and humidity for me could leave anytime. Great video. Thank you 💝🇨🇦

[@jillsimpson8716]

No worries Erin! We are all in that slump. Thanks for a lovely Sunday evening!

[@tessmonro7102]

I meant to comment in another video how much I appreciated seeing your real gardener's soiled hands 🤣.

[@martinlugus5499]

Thanks for giving me a Sunday morning lift. Your casual approach fails to obscure your natural charm.

[@pcrice-lr2dn]

Thanks,as always….ENJOYABLE 🌿🍃

[@Gaylarenee]

Sometimes, when I am tired or feeling a little overwhelmed, I can only see what looks bad in my garden. Your garden is beautiful.

[@duane-gailfuller7067]

What a great video, I have enjoyed them for over a year now and the unedited ones are truly special. As a gardener, it is not that we want perfection all the time, but just let our hard work show itself and not be ruined by deer, rabbits, and so on! You have so many garden areas that are spectacular, and your containers are lush with vibrant color. Thanks so much for sharing your gardens and your knowledge.👍Gail

[@ktne2619]

Your gardens look lovely! I think as gardeners, we are always looking for what needs to be done, looking for what's missing, damaged, weedy, etc. in our own garden. That can sometimes feel overwhelming, because it is time consuming and a lot of work. Your plan to focus on just one bed at a time is a great idea because it will help you feel accomplished and will give you an area to visit where you can renew your gardening passion and feel a sense of peace. As a visitor to your garden, I must say that all I see is the beauty of the space. I don't know what is missing, what's been eaten, etc. Thank you for letting us visit your garden and helping us feel rejuvenated and excited about our own beautiful spaces.

[@EvelynLovesGinkgos]

“I like flowers that look a little dangerous “… 🤣

[@SusanGBell]

🤣

[@jillerdmann4598]

That trio of baskets is stunning! Those bright colors under the canopy of the tree is the perfect accent. Thanks for the idea - I’m stealing it!❤

[@kandyharris2195]

Ditto 👩‍🌾❤

[@lobstahchowdah8920]

Your garden looks fantastic, Erin! I only see beauty, hard work and real life. Top up that G&T and enjoy the summer evening!

[@lorindachristine3291]

You look like a hard-working gardener, nothing to be self-conscious about. 💚 I also find this time of year overwhelming--the garden seems to double overnight, as do the pests, there are heatwaves and forest-fire smoke to avoid, there are spring plants to harvest, summer plants to tame, and fall plants to start. Then there's all that harvest to do something with and realizing that your freezer is still half full with last year's harvest, so re-thinking how/what you're saving. Just me? Your garden looks amazing, as always, but that's never what we see in our own. 😅 Have a great week!

[@lisahowell3468]

Erin, I feel your pain with deer damage! They ate every hosta and hydrangea bush in my yard a couple weeks back! So discouraging!!! Your yard still is awesome with all the other plants! I love that you film yourself right after gardening, no primping first! We all look the same after working hard in the yard… who cares, the plants don’t ! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!❤

[@shirleynall9048]

I too get discouraged when the garden gets out of control ! Things I try to do is take a break and get back to it. The beauty usually out ways the disappointment and then I go plant shopping😂

[@stephaniesharkey3538]

Love your tours- as I’m having coffee in patio watching a rabbit eat weeds! Yay! Then a mother and child deer come through with no stops to eat! Another yay! Zone 8 GA I think this time of yr all gardeners and gardens get discouraged ! Don’t worry!

[@terry3596]

You look fantastic!! Enjoy your garden strolls - they inspire!

[@amyparker1762]

Love those hanging baskets. Beautiful 🩷. As for Mr Much More Patient’s gutter garden…tell him he’s not alone. My husband is on our roof several times a year having to clean out the gutters. I sympathize!! Thanks again for a relaxing walk through your garden. Very inspiring! Cheers 🥂

[@Thingys-Jill]

God Bless you for having the energy to maintain such a large property. On the whole, it's gorgeous. I'm in my retirement home on 7500SF of property. It's been a huge endeavor since I'm completely relandscaping it. You're battling deer. When I lived in Oregon, I battled them, raccoons, turkeys, plus some other animals. Here in the Boise area I'm battling a gopher. Extremely frustrating, I agree with you on one section at a time with your tools in tow. You have 2 pears. I have 2 Pink Lady apples growing - my tiny orchard is getting established, Quit worrying about how you think you look. None of us care about that. We love you as you are!

[@jessie5583-g4z]

You have way more that is beautiful than not in your garden. Focus on the beautiful. Thank you for taking the time to share your gardening journey.

[@KidCity1985]

I think you need to be thankful for what you have. So much beauty.

[@Talula72]

I find it very productive to haul my Gorilla cart with my usual supplies and just tackle area after area. Otherwise I end up walking more than getting things done.

[@salimorton641]

Baskets look very good 👍 the yellow is a pleasant pop of color.

[@susangautier787]

That front border and window box are exquisite! Your garden is so enormous, I don’t see how you can keep it all going. There are so many beautiful things. I had surgery this year and am frustrated with the amount of gardening I could do but each little success is worthy of if its own joy. Thanks for sharing your garden. You are a gracious person.

[@tamsyngardner9308]

I think your garden looks beautiful as it always does . We create these huge gardens that can be overwhelming at times , that’s just what gardeners do .

[@colleenwhiteford8430]

Your gardens look beautiful, but I understand how defeating it can feel sometimes, like with your deer situation. Between the rabbits, squirrels, the high temperatures and lack of rain, it's been a struggle in my neck of the country too. I just keep telling myself to do what I can but don't stress out over it. Easier said than done. Your gardens are lovely and I know you put a lot of time into them, but try not to stress out. Enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather!

[@barbaramccann7944]

This is real gardening, Erin. I, too, took some (not recommended) action on plants this week, but gardening Is an experiment!

[@kasiacholewinska]

Hi Erin! I can totally relate to the state of affairs in the garden and state of the gardener too 😊I also work full time plus have two small kids to take care of and sometimes feel overwhelmed with all the things that need to be done in the garden. We’re so lucky to have you, get to watch your videos and share smiles and sorrows of the everyday, real time gardeners. Keep it up! Each stroll you find smth to cheer on, smth beautiful to share ❤ hope you got a chance to work as you planned and had some fun plant haul to lull your soul 😊 happy gardening!!

[@kimbar11]

I love the hanging baskets. Such depth and richness to the arrangement.

[@therestlessgardener9287]

Oh my gosh...I am soooo glad I'm not the only one feeling defeated this year!! The weather has been incredibly challenging here and it's been so tough on the gardens. So much looks bad that I'm ready to throw in the towel. So good on you for showing real-life gardens!!! 🙏

[@kristieoblak963]

❤ your content all the time! It mirrors my own struggles from time to time, Good to know I’m normal 😁

[@aalejardin]

I do miss those lovely Wisconsin summers. There is something magical about them after the long gray winter. Still not used to the high temps/high humidity in NY although, to be fair, my native New Yorker husband also wilts. Any gardening has to be done before 10 am or after 5 pm. I finally put in an irrigation system. Way easier to tap on the app than to drag sprinklers around. We are on the side of a mountain going down to the Hudson so even though we have had a lot of rain this year, the garden dries out quickly if we have a spate of sunny days. Squash vine borers are decimating my squash, the daylilies were scorched by early heat, some disease is attacking the polygonum and there are lots of things flopping over. That just seems to be high summer as usual. Your garden still looks amazing.

[@gorettibertram9892]

Hello Erin. You look real being in the garden. It’s hot some of us get sweaty 🥵, keeping it real. The hair is like mine. 👩🏻‍🌾👍🏼 Everything is still looking great. Time time of summer if things are dry and looking nasty, it gets pulled and that’s it. Plants the nursery’s and big box stores are looking so so. So there will be nothing. Lol. Just enjoy. 🌼🌿☀️💛👩🏻‍🌾

[@DeAnne9743]

You think you have problems. I just received my water bill and want to cry. We are down over 5 inches of rain here in Columbus ohio. Then I listen to these wonderful videos that I love and everyone is talking about all the rain they have had. 🤬I don't begrudge you your rain I'd just like you to share, lol. I guess we all have our problems, from a real Debbie downer! Love your strolls.

[@TeresaByington]

Thanks for the tour! Love how the vegetable garden is growing - so much in a small space! You make me think I need more veggies next year. Looking forward to a Dahlia tour as they come into their own. 💐💐💐

[@AmandaKennedy-bv4dh]

Thanks for your videos- some years in the garden are better than others. Dealing with deer and other critters can be really discouraging, I know from experience. They always, ALWAYS manage to take out that prized stem on the verge of blooming that would've been the center piece of the garden display. But.... carry on!

[@roberts9565]

Your honesty is much needed here. I have such terrible deer problems. (deer, ant, racoons, and snails) I am happy that it is not just me but also someone that is much more experienced than me.

[@lisagoggin8021]

Love the hanging baskets ❤

[@ellenmchale6103]

Well Erin, I feel your pain as well as raggety wet hair! I left my brand new garden with a wonderful neighbor for 3 months. (Magnificent trip around the USA) All my permanent plants survived, but, My God the weeds! Something was 8ft tall! My drive to weed is waning.......... I feel a little of that defeat, every single day for two weeks, while in the early morning shovel and pull. My helpful neighbor even tied up one of 3 humoungous Poke Weeds. I suspect bird planted. I do so want to thank you for two fab new tools, I bought the medium Cobra Head weeder - AMAZING! And yesterday, we fired up (haha fired up) the brand spanking new Red Dragon flame weeder for those pesky unwanted plants in all my new stone pathways. Super recommendations. Although you and I are separated by many zones and my one little Zone 9a acre, there are similar issues in common, not only the very wet head! Your garden is stunning even if it looks tattered to you. Cheers and Thanks, E

[@BarbA.Rachell]

I certainly enjoy watching your videos as they are very informative. Thank you for sharing your success and garden problems with us.

[@Rustytoolgardener]

Love love love the newly planted hangers.

[@kandyharris2195]

Even if "it's not recommended " and "it turns out fine" , is a gardeners life 👩‍🌾 am I right ? I always enjoy your strolls , especially when I can't get out into my own garden. Your knowledge of specimens and recall of the names is impressive to say the least . I have been planting sweet peas everywhere in my garden since I found your channel. I love the scent wafting through the air as I putter around 💜❤. Q; I too have dried leaves on some of my sweet peas, what the heck is causing it ? Thank you in advance and Happy Gardening 👩‍🌾

[@terrypauloregon]

You don’t look bad I actually thought you have a beautiful glowing face today. We are gardeners. My hair, hands and feet are always dirty and or messy.

[@annar8290]

Dear Erin, you are so funny!! Thank you for your honest videos. It’s so soothing to watch you going thru your garden. I wish you were at my garden to see how horrifying a garden can look like. You have a beautiful garden! You make me go out and tackle my garden even though I also feel ‘defeated’. Looking forward to your next video. 💕🌺🥳

[@verawallace9055]

Horrifying 😊 I tried fixing my shade Garden yesterday, by moving things in the container around, must say it's coming along

[@tombrown5883]

Thank you so much for expressing your feelings of frustration. I am feeling very frustrated and defeated due to a loosing battle with spurge. What a nasty weed. I have pulled and pulled the weeds only to find out they have many tap roots and pulling rarely gets them all. Then they come back with a vengeance. I am at a loss on how to get rid of it without destroying my entire garden. It’s even spread to other areas that were not originally affected. Evidently critters and birds spread it just by walking around. I had several families of quails in my 6a garden, which I enjoyed watching but now I think they are the culprit of spreading spurge seeds everywhere. I don’t mean to be so long winded. I just wanted you to know I share your frustration. UGH

[@amyk6403]

@@tombrown5883 I use dandelion puller to get the tap roots out.

[@cathybragg1279]

That dahlia Seedling is a total keeper!!! I love it!

[@pixipatricia4304]

If my garden looked half as good as yours, I would be over the moon!

[@cherylj7460]

Wow, that is a great vegetable garden! All enclosed and safe from deer.

[@merudolph6758]

I hear ya about feeling defeated. We went to the shore for a week and although I set up so many solar irrigation kits to keep what I could alive (we are in extreme drought here in Charlottesville, VA), Bambi's family and every pest under the sun have devastated both containers and beds. I figure all I can do is keep on going, enjoy what's looking good, and strategize for next year. Love your show!

[@julieibanez8959]

In central Cali zone 9B….it has been one of the hottest summers I can remember…over 100 weeks on end & we do not get any rain during the summer months! Your garden is amazing Erin! ❤

[@jomassey4207]

The hanging baskets look great with the pop of yellow. And the yellow coreopsis is a delicate color which actually makes the pink alliums sing. You summer sun is so warm and golden coming through your small woodland...grasses are so suited to this area and thalictrum.....anything floaty, tall and airy seems to be so natural in this area. Great job and it's a big job that keeps on giving...we do the trimming and cutting away mainly.😊 jo.

[@kathleenwhite4917]

I really enjoy these unedited strolls. One plant I have been watching for is the perennial begonia you planted last year and showed just emerging in Spring. Could we please have an update, even if it died? I planted a couple and they seem delicate. Thanks

[@christinekelly3671]

I am so glad you said you are discouraged this time of year so I know I'm not the only one

[@pjgoolesby4584]

I love the reported baskets, love the yellow 💛 😊

[@GardenGlovesOptional]

Gaaa!!! I hear your frustrations, Erin! I'm in northern Illinois, and the deer and the rabbits have just been ravenous this year! And all this rain has been GREAT for the creeping charlie and creeping bellflower which are taking over EVERYWHERE. Spending another Sunday pulling and smothering. 😒

[@KathleenSmiley-te6hv]

I love it, “hosta sticks”😂

[@Angie-ci1lp]

You look just fine working in our garden bring out our natural beauty sweater and fuzzy hair and all. Enjoying your videos very much. Enjoy summer.

[@candyt7083]

This was actually a great video. Made me feel good to have such an experienced gardener as you feeling the same as I am. Now I'm going out and tackle my messes! Have a wonderful day!

[@rebeccapultz8416]

Love the area planted fir privacy screen. Evergreens, shrubs etc

[@neldahargo5933]

July happens every where every year along about this time. You are not alone. Good luck with all the weird stuff.

[@courtney5037]

You’re not alone in feeling defeated. I’m in my 3rd year of trying to turn a barren patch of weeds into a garden. It’s hot as idk what down here in southeast GA, everything is tired except the grass and weeds, and bugs, and I’m ready for Autumn to come on 🎃

[@amyoreilly-et8ys]

I just adore your posts!!! You come across so authentic and relatable - I cackle when you do the 'before and after' shots of yourself - mine are much more severe, but I love seeing someone so put-together struggling with sweat and soil!!

[@esterklerfors7965]

You look absolutely lovely, Erin. Just had to say that, first of all.💚 I know the feeling about slugs eating everything that is supposed to be beautiful in the garden. So sad! 😔 We spend so many hours picking and killing them - time that could have been for actual gardening instead. The deers, however, we have’nt been troubled by, since I got some deer repellent called Tricogarden in a large can from a friend this spring. You can buy it in smaller amounts in gardencenters in Sweden were I live, but this can was large and for use in newly planted forests. I accidently miss read the tag and used it undiluted. Some of the plants that I sprayed looked horrible afterwords, (so don’t do that) but I also sprayed dots on the ground along the properts lines, and the deers started to walk around our garden. This was in early spring and they haven’t been eating anything in my garden so far this season, even though we see them outside the property now and then. I don’t know if the repellent is available for others than forrest owners, or if it containes something that shouldn’t be handeled by people lacking sufficient education, but if I did something wrong, it was sure worth it.

[@adz5bneweng589]

I also love echinops. It's the most asked-about plant in my garden! I cut mine back once the first blooms fade, and it re-grows and re-blooms in fall. Z5b/6a Massachusetts.

[@courtneysediblegarden518]

I just finished weeding my garden- I look just like you do in this video lol

[@claris1755]

I love the window box. Beautiful!

[@BsDumas-x4h]

Your pots look amazing. I love the moss in there. I have used hardware cloth and chicken wire successfully … will now try deer fence … thank you for your videos… love love love the unedited ones 😊

[@ManagerWestlan]

You work full time and care for over an acre of garden yourself, so you've nothing to apologize for. As for those nasty snails: what about getting some land turtles to munch on them (assuming they will survive your harsh winters). Worth a try.

[@rosemarymarocchi1650]

I completely understand and feel your pain it seems I’m battling everything this year. Black spot on my roses, Japanese beetles bunnies, and deer. I keep fighting but we have had so much rain in North East Pennsylvania that I fear I’m fighting a losing battle. The one thing I’m thankful for is my hydrangeas are doing pretty good.At this point I’ll hope for a better summer next year.

[@schoolbeginsaftercoffee4759]

YES! This has been year...in the garden and in life.We came back from vacation and I realized our irrigation failed. Earwigs, slugs, spider mites❤ etc..had a field day. We had several 70mph storms. My garden is in the trenches fighting for its life. Feeling a bit defeated. All that work, time, and let's be honest, money. 😅 My garden is looking a bit bare after pulling all the damaged plants, and the few things I have left are bouncing back quickly.

[@Danster333]

Thanks for your unedited video. It’s so nice to see somebody who’s real and shows you their garden even though some of the stuff has issues with diseases or bugs. Not a Debbie downer I’m feeling a little defeated by myself, but I think we noticed the bad parts of our garden.that other people don’t see. Your yard looks great. I❤ it.

[@sharonszalay]

I have watched the squirrels take poppy pods, they get up far enough to pull the stem down. I even tried covering some w paper bags which turned out was really helpful to the squirrels.

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Ha!

[@phillipsgirl3278]

I feel like everyone is struggling with their gardens this year. Bugs deer bunnies are no one's friend this year. Too much rain early and cool nights have been hard for plants to thrive in. I am in North central Wi, zone 4. Here it is a!most August and I feel like some things that should have been thriving are just getting their groove.

[@rhondaschenk5727]

You have LOTS of beauty there!!

[@spotonequinebodyworkllc8996]

I have a baby pagoda dogwood right now too. We really don’t have deer problems but the first night some deer ate all the tips. It’s in a cage now too. I read that deer like them when they’re young and tender but don’t like a more adult specimen. And we never have deer damage. Not even arbor vitae!

[@cyhomer]

Yup, time to start revamping a few things. Just whacked my daylily foliage down to 12”.. pulled all the nasty dead leaves from the base. Pulled all my poppies. Snipped back the saponaria that had gone crazy. Deadheading false sunflower. And getting ready soon to pull my mildewed phlox. Nope, I’m done with that crap. You are a natural beauty girl.

[@terrivance8750]

Thank you, Erin! 😊

[@SusanschneiderVirginia]

Hi Erin! You look cute and your garden looks beautiful! You are being too hard on yourself. I have torn apart a container not once but twice and it is doing fine. I am in Richmond Va and it has been HOT so I think your containers will do well. Take heart, there is more looking great than you think!

[@SusanGBell]

We all hit the gardening wall at some point in the summer. Totally relate! Speaking of things you probably shouldn't do - I've been transplanting during near-drought, heat wave conditions. I wonder why some of the transplants are dying?! 😂

[@lisag6796]

You look great!! Like a gardener! I'm usually very sweaty and red! I'm happy about my front porch containers that are red, white and blue theme for the Olympics this year. I hung my Olympics flag, too!

[@susanskinner8855]

I vote for a trip to a garden centre! Lol. Hard to resist. When I see something to new, I am obsessed until I get it!

[@cpaslick1]

Your gardens are so delightful, that as a visitor I think I would never even notice the areas that you haven't had the chance to tackle. I purchased a Soft Serve this summer --it's about 6" tall, but I love to touch the foliage. Did you plant out your GMO purple tomatoes? Mine has done well, and the tomatoes are so sweet --great for snacking in the garden. The insects and bunnies are insane this summer, and I feel like it's been a constant fight! 🙂 Thanks for taking us on another walk in your gardens.

[@samparr5276]

I saw the variegated fatshedera looking lovely in so many of your videos this summer, I've finally caved and ordered one as a houseplant. I'm hoping it will help with the winter gardening low as everything turns to mush in the garden with perpetual UK rain!

[@aptkeyboard3173]

Your garden looks awesome! I too am feeling somewhat defeated in my garden trying to remove Bermuda grass from beds. It is relentless

[@echomountain3370]

Your garden looks more stunning every week! Thanks for doing these weekly videos!!

[@terrypauloregon]

I love the pots you have.

[@gailforbes7834]

Glad to know we are not alone! Lol and if you are a “ real” gardener you always get messy and dirty, well at least I do! Never understood how anyone could be perfectly clean, dry, great nails and make up when in the garden, or at home either! lol thanks for the videos, I do enjoy them!

[@belwynne1386]

Gardening at the end of July l. If you know, you know. I think it looks great!

[@almabuettell6491]

Girl, slow done and take a breath. There are growing seasons like what you are having. You talked about Japanese beetles, deer, rabbits, neighbor seed pod thieves, plant diseases and all. Love the opertunity to garden. You are still learning and growing as a gardener. People enjoy your gifts of knowledge, I do. Take care.

[@karlagrant3405]

Your garden is beautiful!!

[@user-wd7ec5ss8j]

Hi Erin, I enjoy your videos very much and feel so inspired by them. I am a dermatology nurse and noticed on the palm of your left hand what looks like a dark irregular mole. I hope you will have a dermatologist check it for you, Thanks for your awesome videos, I always learn something from them.

[@TheImpatientGardener]

@@user-wd7ec5ss8j thank you for your concern! I really appreciate it. That was a blood blister (pinched my hand in a gate) that was masquerading as something ominous.