May 24, 2026
...until these guys spotted the pond and green grass,
so now the Geese Wars are on. Usually we only have to open the back door to start them on their merry way, but I walked toward this pair, and they continued to graze some more before they waddled away complaining, and finally took to the air.
It's Time .... to start planting! Today I planted out my well hardened off little celery plants and put a few marigolds among them, then covered the bed with hardware cloth propped up on bricks. For whatever reason, the local fox family have to investigate by digging, anywhere I have disturbed the soil, so until plants grow and fill in a bit, the hardware cloth stays on.
The pea patch is up, onion sets, seed onions and garlic are looking good, and yesterday we got the anti-cabbage moth, anti-deer, anti-any other critter netting stretched over the brassica patch.
Some potatoes have been planted, carrot and beet seeds are in the ground, and there are young lettuces almost big enough to start harvesting a few leaves.
In the kitchen, processing lovely, young, fresh rhubarb for the freezer, for winter pies and puddings.
Time will tell how well I succeeded.
and a male Purple finch, ditto.
This spring we have been daily serenaded by a Gray Catbird, who seems to like sitting up on the highest twig of the crab-apple tree. He has quite the song repertoire.
Out and about, Marsh Marigolds are blooming in the ditches,
and Lady Slipper Orchids are budded up.
It's a wonderful time of the year, and busy.
ReplyDeleteTime to get stuff into the ground now. I aimed for Jun 1 as truly 'frost-free', and weather forecasts look OK now, although maybe a little on the cool side still.
DeleteIt’s little wonder that the geese are attracted to that smorgasbord of grass. Maybe soon they’ll be bringing a family! Rhubarb has been on the menu here, too. We don’t grow our own but a friend has a huge patch and we can get as much as we want. Miriam made rhubarb muffins and we enjoy it very much as a sauce with chicken. We have been getting intermittent bursts of springlike weather but many cool days still send us to the closet for warm clothes. In June I will be taking a group of fellow naturalists to my daughter’s sixty acres in Maberly to do a weekend bioblitz. Should be lots of fun but she reports the ticks are bad. Best wishes - David
ReplyDeleteAfraid the geese want to make a family here! Not happening!
DeleteRhubarb upside-down cake last night....forgot the sugar....OOPS.
I'll really be interested in what you post after your Maberly visit. Tuck in your pant cuffs!
We're about at the same stage, planting like mad, though I don't know everything Mrs. F.G. is putting in. I had an old aunt who used to make dandelion wine.
ReplyDeleteNever made it before, but a friend has, and I remember it to be delicious. Does Mrs. F.G. grow a lot of veggies? I know her flowers are beautiful.
DeleteWe had a German friend who made the most amazing dandelion honey wine. I pick the leaves before the plant flowers and dry them for tea. Once the flower arrive the leaves get kind of tough and bitter.
ReplyDeleteHow does the tea taste? Have you ever roasted the roots to make tea that way?
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