Thursday, April 30, 2009

WHAT A DIFFERENCE

Today was plant rescue day. We went to the edge of the woods where the bank restoration is taking place to dig some of the endangered wildflowers growing in the path of tractor tires. I got some Dog Tooth Violets, Jack in the Pulpit, and Mayapple which will move into a spot under my hydrangeas in the back. I have been adding lots of leaf mulch to the soil to get it ready to receive these wonderful little addition. I would never dig these little native if they were not threatened. When I lived in Michigan, a group of us formed our own little rescue organization, to dig natives that were in eminent danger from future construction. We had pretty good luck relocating Trilliums, Jack in the Pulpit, and Dog Tooth Violets, so I am hopeful about today's digs. I was struck by the change a week has made. The open light, is gone as the tall trees add on more foliage creating a lush shady stream bed, for the grasses along the waters edge have grown to a height of 2 feet in the abundant light of the spring.
The erosion has been severe in the past, as the land on the West side slopes down towards the glen. At some point, who ever was farming here decided to have tires dumped to slow the process. We are now pulling the tires out(hundreds of them), so that we can stabilize the hill side. Disposal of all those tires is going to be pretty costly, but we have decided to take this environmental disaster on. The destruction of the fauna is inevitable, but the plans include restoration on completion.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

ZERO TO NINTY IN 60 SECONDS


We had spring on Friday, summer followed on Saturday. The spring buds are not even open yet and they are being subjected to 90 degree heat.
The landscape of the mornings has changed. Instead of the walk around the edge, we all set off at 6 AM for the river, I'm driving the truck, Jake and Zoë trot along beside. My shell, the Mary Nicole, is atop the rack, and as I approach the river I see the mirrored surface waiting to take the boat. These are the carefree, warm mornings, where the river is a gift full of osprey, eagle, heron and peace. The fish jump, sometimes thumping the bottom of the boat or the oar. It is in this early morning light on the glassy water sometimes covered in mist that I have the world to myself.
There is the exuberant greeting as I am spotted coming up from the bridge, running, barking, jumping. Time to return to the dock, dogs, house and the rest of the day.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

FICKLE APRIL




Housebound because of rain for that past few days, I am now ready to take on the garden again. First thing this morning I am off to bring in a load of mulch. It is windy and cold with still wet ground from the rains, so today's activities will be mostly setting up trellises that just arrived, pruning some bushes that have become overgrown.
We have been seeing a few Warblers along the edge when we walk, and I saw a Palm Warbler in my birch tree this morning. Jack in the pulpit is flowering along the hedgerow, I will have to rescue some of them from the ditch bank restoration project that is occurring over there, for surely they will be smashed to oblivion by the tractor tires.
Jake and Zoë are considering my proposal that we adopt a new poodle puppy.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

EYES WIDE SHUT




I have been walking that hedgerow everyday, and I missed them entirely. True, there are many of them still closed up as they push through the ground, but just as many are unfurled. How could I have been so blind not to see the Mayapples, large swaths of them. On close inspection the basal leaves of the Spring Beauties as well as the mottled leaves of the Dog Tooth Violets are also sprouting.
On the eastern edge of the farm along the woods, the Serviceberries are in full bloom. Their white blossoms stand as a stark contrast to the still bare hardwoods.
The day is bright and sunny, as opposed to the constant rain and grey of yesterday, but the price is a drop in temperature. If I dress warm and find a protected place to work I should make progress on the mulching of the east gardens.

Friday, April 10, 2009

NEW BEGINNINGS


Plants get to start over every year. It doesn't matter that the aphids ate holes in their leaves or mildew consumed them, they reemerge, all new and perfect each spring.
The Amelanchiers are blooming. Each tree will become ladened with the small blue berries that are so alluring that red-headed woodpeckers, cardinals and orioles risk the exposure of leaving the hedgerows of the farm to consume them. Right now the bees are swarming around blossoms clamoring for the first of the season's nectar.
The fields are getting groomed. Tractors pull the disks and plows behind turning under the cover crop left on the field last winter, and exposing the underbelly of ground and root mass. It is dark and reddish brown and now so perfectly preened. The corn will soon be planted and start its procession to harvest. Poor Zoë has lost her mountains of chicken litter that she loved to climb.
We have had a Coopers Hawk(identification by my friend Nels) stalking prey in the yard close to the house. Some of the chased end up flying into our front window wall, ending the hunt, netting the hawk a catch. It is a brutal event, necessary for it's survival, but an amazing sight to witness.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

SEEDLINGS



Just briefly a reprieve from the bitter cold of the winds, then it comes back relentless. The sun is out, but the soil is saturated from yesterday's thunderstorms and the temperature is much colder. The wet cold penetrates to my bones as I kneel in the soft earth to get some seeds planted in the Kitchen garden.
How can little 1/2 inch high brussels sprouts make me feel so pleased as I peer at them in the protected cold frame? The pea, radish and lettuce shoots push strongly upward, too, and despite the unpleasant conditions I find enough pleasure here to make me continue my work. I mark out the rows for the artichoke, basil, and bulb fennel in the cold frame, carefully taking the seeds from the packets. So interesting how they vary, tiny black, elongated brown, these seeds will all need the protection of the glass to keep the soil warm enough for them to germinate. It was also a good day(at least for the seeds) to get some spinach, arugula, parsley, leeks and cilantro buried in the seed beds by the peas. Every one of them prefer the cool temperature of the soil as it is now. The beets will have to wait. The garden bed where I intended to get them started had to many small weeds sprouting, I cultivated the surface and will try agin in a few days.
Zoë comes to nose me, letting me know she is cold and bored, then she retreats to a spot under the dogwood to curl up hoping I come to my senses soon.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

SUNDAY


I hope that the furious winds of yesterday do not return. I hate the wind. I busied myself inside, protected, with chores after our return from Washington, DC. The cherry trees were in full bloom, really beautiful. I was amazed on the drive at the number of Bradford pear trees that have escaped into the natural landscape. Weeds. I hope that the ornamental pears I have chosen will not turn out to be the same problem. Right now they are opening, attracting every bee in the area, mason, honey and a few bumblebees. The spring weeds are also shooting up, hurrying to flower before it gets to hot. What a bother. In my parallel universe there would only be the plants I want and none of these pesky invaders.

Friday, April 3, 2009

GREY



Light grey, but definitely a grey day. There has been rain through the night, and it is off and on now. Doesn't seem to be bothering the Guinea Hens foraging about in the edges of the wheat field.
This morning's walk was uneventful until we were coming to the end of the hedge row about to cross over to the lane and back down to the house. I am not sure who became aware of them first, but there in the woods by the stream I spotted the albino Turkey hen, at about the same time Zoë threw herself over the ridge bounding down the ravine. As soon as my eye focused on her, the movement of other turkeys caught my attention. Zoë's chase sends them running, jakes, toms and hens alike, until she gets to close. This is the point they take to the air, sailing overhead and out into the field. Further ahead more emerge from the edge, traversing the field towards the pond, 12,16, no 20 trot gracefully, very unlike their fat domestic cousins.
There was a Red Tail Hawk, sitting in one of the Gingko that line the lane, perusing the fields for prey. He will be a permanent fixture on one or the other of these trees until winter comes again.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

1ST DAY HOME


They want to go walk now! No more coffee, or New York Times, right now. They poke their noses into my lap, under my fingers, sit in front of me and stare. Alright! Out the door they scramble when I finally manage to get all the shoes,socks, sweaters and coats arranged. It is raining, lightly. Grey but not to cold. We take off down the lane, scuffling back and forth with each other, Jake chasing Zoe, Zoe leaping to tackle Jake. I need to watch carefully that they do not hit me from behind as they have done so many times, sending my feet to the air and my backside to the ground.
The wheat fields, now verdant from the rains that came down while I was away, have grown inches.
I finish the walk with a look around the garden to see what has bloomed or broken ground. As I examine the Pinus densiformus "Dragon's Eye", a Downy Woodpecker is not more than 6 feet away pecking hardily on the stem of last season's cattail, odd he is so bold. The little purple and white violets on the south slope are opening. They will provide color there most of the year. The apricots are blooming too. Most like to early, they will surely be nipped by frost.