Sheep are growing and happy...
/This year, we had 170% success—which means we did really well with our lambing. Everyone is healthy and well. We added the three Dorpers to the flock before lambing—and then 12 East Freshians after. Lovely crew. Our 12 lambs (born here this year) are all well and precious. Larry, our bottle fed and rejected little guy is happy as a lamb and well cared for. Ducks and chickens are also thriving in the lushishness of spring/summer.
Garden Progress—2014
/Most of the seedlings (started inside over February, March and April) did all right! The transition to the greenhouse was a good one. Transition to the garden was a little tough for some folk—lots of flea beetles and squash beetles. But... most is thriving now. Big variety of roots, leaves and flowers this year. A new medicinal garden behind. Shade gardens and cutting flowers.
Good Reading
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Fedco was introduced to me about 4 months ago. Great and fun catalogs. Also, please check out Nicko's tree farm: East Hill Tree Farm in Plainfield.
Horse Chestnut Tree (amazing and beautiful)
/The Horse Chestnut is one my most favorite trees. We have one on the corner of the property—next to the barn and between the house and the sheep pastures. I've watched it this spring. It's an amazing beauty—first creating tight, perfect, delicately-almost-oriental-type buds, opening up to soft and amazing florals (pictured below) which rise up in soft yellow cone-type forms (which attract the bees!), and finally...in just three to five days...morphing into these prickly, craggy, spiky homes for seeds. Such a lovely evolution. Such a contrast in textures, colors.... I will continue to watch this tree through the summer, fall and winter.
