1st Fence garden – New England aster
On Tuesday morning I decided to not go to the gardens and stayed in to attempt to do some house cleaning. My helper and his family were coming for a tour of gardens and house and a picnic. His wife and 1 month old baby had never been to the farm. She was very intrigued by the stories and photos he’d bring home when out here helping.
He had not been out here in 6 weeks as his baby had a stroke in utero, a brain bleed. She had recovered well it seems, all checkups so far have been normal and she has put on 4 lbs since birth. I was excited to see them all!
I made deviled eggs first thing and decorated them with borage flowers, pink and blue. Then I set about cleaning up around the house, mostly focusing on the bathroom and pantry.
The carpenter had asked me to price up plywood for the attic floor. Well, it wasn’t to be found, what he wanted. Turns out he had asked for the wrong item and once we got that sorted, I found some locally along with the corbels he needed for the clean room shelves.
We decided, the wood situation being what it is, it would be prudent to get what we could while we could and store it in the barn. I stopped cleaning and headed out in the truck with him and we got 21 sheets of ⅝” plywood. We got it home and unloaded in the barn and I had 1 hour left to finish getting ready.
West of Steps garden - portulaca
I went out and picked greens, nasturtium flowers, chives, tomatoes, cukes, and garlic chive flowers for the salad and got them prepped. Then I resumed cleaning. Fortunately, they were late due to the baby needing to be fed before they left. I’d just finished when they arrived.
We toured the gardens quickly, after making sure the baby was well covered to protect from mosquitoes. My helper’s wife loved the gardens. Then we went inside and did the house tour. About that time the baby needed a diaper change and then fed, so while that was happening, we got the food on the table. The mosquitoes put the kibosh on a picnic. The baby had a nice meal and I got to hold her while her mom ate. She was fascinated with the movement and color in the house and fought taking a nap so she’d not miss anything of her first trip to the farm.
East of Steps garden – portulaca, maiden pink, dianthus
But all too soon it was time for them to bring her home so she could sleep. I do hope they come back often. The mom really loved the farm and it would be such a nice place for the baby, when there aren’t mosquitoes.
Monarch caterpillar
When the carpenter and I had gotten back to the barn to unload the truck, I found a half a dozen caterpillars on the milkweed by the door. I’d never seen so many there.
In the past my husband and I had found many of the lovely green and gold chrysalis on the barn.
We’d never seen so many monarch butterflies in a season as we have this year. So I guess I’m not surprised to find a lot of caterpillars.
Dennis the girl (front) and Lily
My husband went into the hospital on October 10th last year. He was the main person these 2 barn cats interacted with. He could pick Lily up and carry her around.
In the last week or so, they’ve taken to hanging out in the butchershop, apparently waiting for me morning and night. They are considered “spirit” cats, you know they are there but you don’t see them much. I guess they’ve finally decided I’m the one now and they will let me pat them 2 or 3 times before they get real nervous.
Little trees – 3. Goodbarn elderberries
I went up to get the mail and decided to get photos of the elderberries the birds have been enjoying this year. This is the little Goodbarn bush. It’s got a decent amount of berries for its size.
Little trees – 9. Contender peach
On my way down to the giant York at the far end I went by the peach tree and color caught my eye. Last time I looked they were little yellow balls. There had been 10 of them.
Now there were 9 and one had fallen off when small and was buggy. These 8 were perfect and just ripe. Not bad for a nearly 18 month old tree!
Little trees – 10. York elderberries
As expected the giant York was covered in berry clusters. Next year I MUST build an enclosure for these so I get some.
On Wednesday my intern and her sister will be here. It’s supposed to be cloudy and cool in the morning, so we can get those pea fence cleaned up, rolled up, and maybe even put away. If they get here early, and we get done quickly, I hope to start the perimeter of the New Herb garden.
Oh, the first photo of the New England aster? That flowers in autumn, a harbinger of things to come….