Autumn has been kind to the flowers this year. The two light frosts thus far have barely nipped the tender plants in more exposed areas. Most of the farm is protected by sheltering belts of trees that ease the sharp bite of the wind. Rock outcrops gather heat from the day’s sunshine and the tender plants nearby benefit from these warmer pockets as the heat radiates back into the air at night.
Life’s been busy lately. Too much to do, not enough hours in the day, or enough energy to speed through the to-do list at the pace I moved in my 20s. Or my 30s. Sometimes I get so caught up in keeping up that I lose track of the flow of nature as the seasons progress.
The roses began to leaf out on the north side of the house, and the wild ones in the woods did the same. Daylilies and irises sent forth new shoots. The chickens rejoiced . . . and ate the shoots. The air felt warm. It felt like spring. And then came the snow, as predicted, [...]
It’s the time of year when all things seem possible. I dream of verdant growth, record harvests, perfect blossoms, and fruit unmarked by insect damage and snacking birds. My wish list of seeds and plants is long and well over budget, yet still I dream. I’ll grow long, tall rows of corn and salad greens [...]
The common violet is one of my favorite spring flowers. It’s fragrant, pretty, tough and prolific. What’s not to love? This particularly sturdy violet pushed its way through a layer of sand deposited a couple weeks ago when the creek overran its banks and flooded the crossing we use to access [...]
Last night we had a hard frost, and it nipped a few tender plants and blossoms. As the sun eased over the horizon, I trudged out to the orchard, camera in hand to document the damage. The warmth of the morning sunlight already was melting the frost crystals from the blooms, so the damage wasn’t [...]
This winter’s tatsoi (mustard greens) crop is in full bloom in the greenhouse. The leaves are no longer yummy, but I’ve left the plants to flower because the blossoms make me smile whenever I step inside. The seed saver in the neighborhood is hoping there’s enough insect activity in the greenhouse now to sufficiently pollinate [...]
Champion collards, planted in the greenhouse September, 2007. Collards, like most brassicas, are biennial – that is, they go to seed their second year. Collards don’t keep calendars. They had their warm season and winter, and now it’s warm again. So it’s the second year by plant reconning.
It looks like little side shoot of broccoli, [...]
Years ago, I had two little snowdrop plants by my front steps. Those were my early harbingers of spring. The first appearance of the snowdrop blooms meant spring truly would come, and the world would be right.
Now, two homes later, it’s the daffodils that give my mood such a boost. Mine aren’t blooming here at [...]
They grew a couple inches taller this weekend when the afternoon temperatures swelled to the upper 70s (Fahrenheit). They’ll get nipped with cold tonight if the forecast is right — 18 degrees. Brrrr.
