Hostas, Water Plants, Berry Blossoms Galore

Hubby transplanted the hostas this afternoon. He also moved all the water plants down to the farm. I got a bit of mowing done but the mower was acting up. Both it and I do not like mowing that particular section of the field due to those "ground rats" slinking along in the hay. There are also a LOT of mounds they've piled up that make it a challenge to mow. Honestly, the area needs raking as it's so thick that it makes mowing difficult, especially with our last year's deal of a mower. (It's ok, dear mower, you are a good kid!)

I got several sections of the baby lilacs weeded and also a small portion of the glads weeded. Lilacs sure love the UP! I was enjoying looking at a lot of them in our travels today.

It was so lovely to see all the white blossoms on the strawberry plants, in our new beds, old beds and the poles! (I also have a porch planter here at the house with some showing up...didn't notice any in our bed behind the house yet. Oh yes, I noticed blossoms AND berries on the few plants left right behind the house while I was watering our little apple starts. (The photo is public domain...will try to get some of our own photos in the near future.)

Hubby decided to retry our strawberry poles again this year. We tried them before with little success. This year he changed the operation a bit and placed an actual section of drip water hose in the middle of the PVC pipe for easier access for watering. They have survived the many recent frosts and also have blossoms! Thanks God!

Corny Strawberries a'Hummin

Today, Hubby, aka MisterSnowflake, put a fresh battery on the electric fence for the bee yard. He also planted two more furrows of corn (Early Vee and Sweet). Our 14-year old weeded the old strawberry bed. The green beans and the peas that were planted last week are up. He deep-watered all the berries and the veggies with the hand-wand. The shallots are 4 inches high! And the onions are about 3 inches high.

While they were out there, they refilled the hummingbird feeder and the local hummingbird stopped by! They also hung out another bird feeder. The resident squirrel has figured out how to get to the one out by the orchard. We had fun watching it a few days ago as it hopped from branch to branch trying to figure it out.

We're happy and thankful for progress as we're slowly changing the microclimate out there!

What's in a Name?

We know how important names are...we've had plenty of practice. Naming our children, all their stuffed animals, our bunnies, our fish, etc. We came across this guy from our past and wondered what you think his name should be? He's sure ready for gardening and farming with all those tools! Can you see them all? He's carrying:

* A burlap bagged tree
* A bare-root tree
* Rake
* Shovel
* Sprayer
* Saw
* Loppers
* Shears
* Trowel
* Wheelbarrow

I wonder what he's gonna put in that wheelbarrow since he decided to carry the trees?!?

Flowers Galore

On Saturday, Hubby and our 8 year old daughter planted a whole bunch of flowers at the farm.

* Bachelor Buttons (Cyanus Double Mixed & Blue Boy)
* Marigolds (French Dwarf Double Mixed)
* Cosmos (Single Sensation Mixed & Cosmos sulphureus)
* Statice (Sinuata Mixed)
* Flower Garden Mix (including Calendula officinalis, Clarkia elegans & Zinnia elegans)
* Red & Orange Poppy
* Perennial Mixed Wildflowers
* Rudbeckia Marmalade
* Alyssum
* Evening Scented Stock
* Tri-Color Daisy
* Blue Salvia

They also transplanted carnations, exotic lilies and hen and chicks from the house here over to the farm.


It was so nice to see these daffodils by the fenceline earlier this spring while I was out mowing. I had thought they were goners...turns out the grass/hay was probably too high!