Category: Garden

Ribbit

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When we moved here there was grass, trees, and little else growing on our property.  Over time we have carved gardens out of the grass, stopped using chemicals, and let a few areas go a bit to the wild side.

Why?

To make room for the little guys who keep the Farmlet bug and rodent free. Birds, snakes, spiders, and toads all do their job to help me keep the Farmlet a poison free zone.

I think it is working, because I have been seeing a lot of these guys around…

My little friend here is a Fowler’s Toad.  It likes to burrow underground when it gets too cold in winter.  Apparently, we now have quite a few of these here because we have many little toad holes this spring.  I always wondered what came out of those holes.

Now your thoughts may differ, but I find him beautiful.

~*~

When life seems uncertain…

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Recently, I have been suffering numbness in the left side of my face and throat.  As time went by the numbness involved pain in my ear and jaw.  So being the bright person I am I went to the Doctor and told him about it.

The first words out of his mouth were:

“I guess you need an appointment with the Neurologist.”

His lovely office assistant made me an appointment for the very next day at 8:30am.

The Neurologist asked a million questions and then scheduled me for a CAT scan of my head, face and neck.  I had to wait a week for the results and this was frightening.  We always fear the worst in these situations don’t we?

Well, the week went by quickly as Bob was home for vacation.  We worked hard about the Farmlet cleaning up winter’s debris, mowing, and repairing.  We finished up the week by making the geese their very own Goose Chalet in the park side of the Farmlet.  They were not appreciative, but that is a story for another post.

As you might well imagine, the night before my second appointment with the Neurologist was a sleepless one.

In fear and trepidation I drove to the Neurologist’s office the next morning.  I waited for what seemed like hours and finally was led back to an examination room where, of course, I had to wait some more.  Then the Neuro came in, looked at my scans on the computer screen, and in less than two minutes said:

“There’s nothing here to indicate the cause of your symptoms.”

‘Scuse me?  You just made me squirm in nervous agony for a week and now you tell me there is nothing wrong?  You had the results instantly via the internet and you could have looked at them before my appointment and just given me the good news over the phone!

OK, I was missing the point, and it is an important one:

Neurologically there is nothing wrong.

On the way home I notice that spring is in full bloom. I pass my favorite nursery, Bennett’s, and make a U-Turn to go back.     Walking the isles I have time to think about how wonderful it is that I am OK.  I don’t have a brain tumor and my future is looking pretty bright and beautiful!  (Did I mention I was thinking the worst?)

So, in celebration of a clean bill of health,  I bought a peach tree for the orchard we have started here on the Farmlet. We planted it this past Sunday and now we will have to wait for a few years to see it fruit.  In the meantime, each time I see it I will remember  to have faith for tomorrow, and to be thankful for all the prayers my friends sent up for me.

 

Lovely, isn’t it?

~*~

NOTE:  For those of you wondering, I have an appointment with the Oral Surgeon tomorrow to see if my symptoms are TMJ  related. 

Spring Happenings: a mini tour

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Spring came early this year and I was prepared.  My tomatoes and peppers were started in the kitchen window, lots of them, and as soon as I could I was out planting peas, broccoli, spinach, lettuces, rutabagas, turnips, beets and more!  All this work attracted the attention and the admonishment of a neighbor that, “We could still have a cold snap as late as April…” but I am feeling fearless because I have frost blankets to keep their little roots warm!

I even bought myself a new little tractor to help me get the job done!  Last year when I gardened I cried.  Literally.  I have a herniated disk in my lower back and getting down to ground level was a not working for me.  Hence my garden was not what I wanted or usually have here on the Farmlet.  However, now I have Violet to help me get the job done!

What!?! 

You’re laughing? Well hey, if men can name their cars then I can name my lovely new tractor assistant.

Meet Violet!

In this photo I was under the shade of my pop up to keep the sun from scorching my skin while I worked…  I went in to eat lunch and when I returned the pop-up was in the neighbors fence with broken legs…

!!! 😦 !!!

But I kept the poles to be used as tomato stakes! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, right?

OK, so how about I just quit talking and show you spring on the Farmlet?

So, without further adieu…

Little Dorrit  and one of the Hueys assist with the weeding of the onions and garlic.

A gratuitous dog picture.  Gotta have a dog in this post, and so I introduce you to Buddy, our other wonderful dog.  Isn’t he beautiful?  (It was brought to my attention that I have a tendency to overlook him in favor of the Little Dog.    This one’s for you Pam 😉 )

Remember this little hen?  Can you believe she’s the same one I almost lost last year? (read about that HERE)

Iris in the morning light.

These grow with abandon all over our little acre, and in many colors too!

~*~

The following photographs are of the native plants I have growing here.  Growing what is native to the region in which I live is a passion of mine…

We have eight of these lovely trees here on the Farmlet.  We used to have more but we lost them to storms, age, and unfortunately, the new garage/barn.  We are loosing a couple more to termites as well.  I think I will replace them, but perhaps not in the same place.

You may also recall my visit to the Lovely Plant Lady last April?  (look HERE) Well, I was certain that the May Apples and Trillium hadn’t made it, but NO, here is the May Apple…

and here is the Trillium!  So glad I haven’t lost my native garden gardening skills. Can’t wait to see this garden in bloom this year!

These are Red Bud blossoms.  Roughly the size of a small pea, they pop out from the bark to cover the branches.  It is stunning to see them all throughout the woods here.

~*~

And finally…

These are Mystery Berries.  I have a whole patch of them in the front under the Pin Oak.  If you know what they are I would appreciate knowing so I can put them where they will be happy and productive.  (Currently, they are not.) The berries are the size of blueberries, the color of green grapes, with a bit of lighter striping from stem to blossom end.   Oh yes, and it is thornless!

The leaf and fruit form remind me of the RIBES family.  Anyone?

UPDATE:  The mystery plant has been identified as Clove Currant or Ribes Odoratum.   Thank you Lori at Day by Day the Farmgirl Way!

You can find out more here on Dave’s Garden:  http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/15424/

 

~*~

Thank you for visiting today and come back again soon!

~*~

NOTE:  Due to so many photos I kept them smaller to help with download time.   However, all photographs are clickable for a better view.   So, did it help?