1777, Again

 










Trees

 Best time to plant a tree is 10 year ago. Next best time is today. 

I'm slowly realizing that the old trees we have out front have numbered days.  I've been working on planting some new deciduous trees around the property strategically to combat the old trees' eventual fall.  I am inspired by my Uncle Randy moving sprouted maples around his property, which looks fantastic.  I've been moving maples and some horse chestnuts.  These will be great for the birds and eventually give our landscape some shade and beauty. Also because my toxic trait is to plant everything everywhere.  I am just going to end here before I start talking about the 10 apple trees I grafted that are waiting to be planted....



Gardens.

I'm realizing that I have yet to take a picture of our vegetable garden. It's planted, but honestly I have been focusing my efforts elsewhere this year. Here are some highlights. 

1) Bushes for the birds: 
When we moved in, we basically had two long hedges and a large field.  The birds stayed on the hedges.  Now that we have an orchard, I'm delighted how many birds hang out in the trees.  

I thought if this empty corner of the property had some bushes then the birds would circle around our property. I put in 9 quince, 6 azalea and 3 viburnum. All from friends or marketplace. (Thank you!) I still have that big mess of perennials in pots to plant and deal with. Still working on it.

2) Peonies!
I've wanted peonies here for a long, long time.  There's a plant here that has never flowered. I cleared around it and waited. Nothing. I moved it and waited. Nothing. I found all these for 50% to 90% off last year and boom!  Peonies!

3) This blasted rock garden. I tell you, this will be the death of me.  SO MUCH of this has turned to weeds.  We've had such hot summers that most everything on the rock garden has died and basically turned to weeds.  I am not done yet, but have logged SO MANY hours out here.  Hopefull you can see progress here.







Most everything is stuff that I either dug and potted before they mowed the lawn (below) or moved from elsewhere. 

Getting there.  Still a lot to do. 

Other random gems: 

I love growing lettuce around annuals in our out front boxes.  By the time it bolts, the annual will probably fill the bin. This is lettuce I sowed in March in the jugs.  Still eating it now.


The Jerusalem artichokes are everywhere and apparently love the rain we've been getting. We ate some this spring for the first time. They were quite good! 
Sometimes I get this one to help. Don't need a tractor when he has a bike and a rope.
And then sometimes I even get this one to do a thing or two! 

All in a day

 Five photos, five captions. 

King Zippy

Zucchini fritters with sour cream and garlic scapes.
Catherine's natural dyeing class outcome. (Thank you!)
First mock orange propagation success (after 3 years of failed attempts). 
The very first cosmo of the year.

Mock Orange Flower Sale

We've had a couple of days of flower sales. Girls wanted to make enough for ice cream out.  They met the goal! 




My entrepreneurs

 Our 4-H club made a bunch of dog biscuits and I think around 3 dozen reusable animal bags. My mind is foggy because four days before the event, I realized that I had A LOT of started but unfinished bags that needed finishing touches and only one that was completely complete. Oops. Should have checked sooner!  Got them finished with Audra's help and the kids had the time of their lives selling them at tractor supply. 


Natural Materials Art

 We are very blessed to have had the opportunity to attend our friend Catherine's natural materials art series.  I didn't take nearly enough pictures, but the ones I have showcase some amazing opportunities nature provides. So inspiring!  Thank you, Catherine! 







New Plover Monitor

Meet your new Plover Monitor
We had our training, we're badged and we're ready to go! 



Air temp was 64, water temp 59, and their first swim (in wetsuits). One would think it was a dip, but no. They were in for a long time.  I can't even begin to understand...





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