Tree and shrub planting

My order from Oikos Tree Crops arrived in good nick and managed to get them planted the weekend before last. The crabapple and sloes went in the orchard. The 6 persimmons I originally ordered turned out to be 9, so I was scrambling to find adequate housing for all of them. I hope the Wafer Ashes do well. I would so dearly love to have giant swallowtails in the yard. I also added a hybrid American Chestnut and an American Mountain Ash out in the yard. The American currants and spicebush went in my erstwhile herb garden until I can find the right spot.

Been ages...

Sheesh. Everything got busy and I've neglected this place. Just got back last Friday from a great trip to Scotland and Ireland.
So many cool fuchsias over there.
Tisn't fair!!!





And another-

Garlic

I harvested most of the garlic over the weekend. 25 bulbs are now drying in the house.

It's all Spanish Roja. We'll see how long it lasts me.













The ones that had scapes remaining also produced a nice crop of bulbils to plant on for the future. You can see them at the bottom of the photo next to the kohlrabi. I made a nice salad with the carrots, bunching onions and kohlrabi, mix with a little Asian influenced vinaigrette and yum...

Daylilies 2007

The daylilies have been doing well so far. My new one from the annual 4th of July Excursion was 'Etched Eyes' from 5 Acre Farm Daylilies.

Just an interesting unknown from Bonfield Gardens

'Sugar Cookie'

'Ed Murray'

Scape harvest

One of the best reasons to grow stiff-necked garlic is the annual scape harvest. I decided to chop a handful for a pseudo omelette last Saturday.

A whole egg plus another white with chopped scapes, cheddar cheese and dill.








As my dad might say "tasty fing!"

Gotta love the baby birds

I found this brown thrasher fledgling loitering about in front of the garage. He had that remarkably peeved looks of baby birds. I was afraid the Mr. would hit him with the car so I kept an eye out, but he hopped away into the yard. Mom or dad brought dinner shortly thereafter.

It's been so long...

The garden has expanded. The birds are very much in evidence. Life is pretty durn good at the moment.

This little Chipping Sparrow is one of a few hanging about in the flower bed. Between the Indigo Buntings, White Crowned Sparrows, Gold Finches, Thrashers, Robins, Cardinals and these guys the yard has been alive and loud. I even think there's been a Song Sparrow or two about.

The best performing plants in my veggie garden are the milkweeds. I've decided that I'll just whack off the ones that are competing and leave them alone otherwise. I keep hoping to have a good crop of Monarch butterflies. So far, at least one has found the patch.

'Tis spring

I saw snowdrops!

Almost haiku

Out
Ball hits Smith low on the pads.
The fielding side appeals in unison.
The Umpire raises the dreaded finger.

*A tribute to the Cricket World Cup. (I didn't write it, but it sounds good.)