The Return from The Dead of our Christmas Tree... with prayer flags in the distance, fluttering an affirmation of the beauty, bounty, the hope of the season...Below, Got Tomatoes? I only planted 6....seems like it was enough. Already I have 30 quarts of quartered tomatoes and about a dozen pints of salsa put up. Reminds me of my old homesteading days. History does repeat itself...
Last Sunny Sunflower Days...
PEARS... Want dependable? Plant a peartree. Pear Tea: 4-6 ripe pears, 2+ quarts of water and 1/4 cup honey. Simmer pears in water for 20-30 minutes, strain, sweeten to taste. This tea is a great way to deal with excess pears and to utilize your canned pears as well. Supposedly it is a lung strengthening brew. It is a delicious tonic.
Endless Raspberries...
Above, Butterfly atop the Sedum, which is very popular among all the flying insects. Below, Irony. As the One Persimmon we did get this year, dropped early (was knocked off by a blue jay?) and laid atop the ground ...reminding me of all that is given up, lost and ruined... in nature... and in our lives...sigh.
LEAF SHOW 2008...Some of them appear to change overnight...
The Hunted, and The Hunter...Pretty interesting natural moment, as a small garden snake stalked the honey bees that were visiting the statice. He was not successful in my observations. Below, Black Mission Figs...I am on a "spoil the figs" routine and it seems to be paying off. Maybe they do like regular water after all!
Wolf River, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious Apples are all in abundance...
Fall Greens: Cilantro and Spinach above, on September 1st... Below, on September 21st! Go green! Way below, Lettuce and Basil. I love fresh salads so much. Basil, especially, is so awesome fresh; I add it to everything! It has been a great year for greens as it wasn't too hot.
Cover Crop of Buckwheat which was planted in late August...It is blooming already and indeed, even setting grain. Buckwheat is a short season crop, obviously. The bees (and butterflies) also LOVE the blossoms....
Beautiful and Abundant Blooms of Snapdragon, Hollyhock, Cosmos, Marigold, Zinnia and the ever present Borage, grace the garden right now...Below, Thirsty Bees. Bees use water to cool the inside of the hive and it is crucial for the success of the young brood. Brood raising will cease or fail for lack of water~!~
Bees Bearding on a hot day last month...Screened bottom boards and opening the top lid some, both help to improve ventilation and encourage the bees to reenter the hive...Below, I have cracked the code to growing successful brassicas: Plant out
primo starts the
first week in August...keep
very moist and
covered most days
with a layer or two or remay.... Wallah! They are the biggest blooms in the garden come late September. YUM! Home grown broccolli!
Wow...Over one month since my last post. Virtually I am failing, yet literally life is full. The grapes, and nectarines of last month were ours to enjoy. Yea! victory! The past 4 weeks have been a flow of goodness from the garden. Dead camera battery for a while...sorry. We had our first significant rain, about 3". It really helps the spring flow, and what a relief to be off irrigation chores! Life otherwise is full with school primarily. We are homeschooling the girls for the 6th year. Truly one of the best decisions we have made as a family was to chose homeschooling over any other educational choice. We have returned to
Calvert and couldn't be happier. We've taken on Spanish, which is a bit of a tear jerker and I have started both girls with piano lessons. The investment my parents made in lessons for me, is paying off big time now. I am impressed with what they are capable of learning in a short time. I am so happy to be able to be home with them. We are blessed.
Crow Against a Dark Sky...Graveyard visitor. We were all just passing by... Below, Lady of the Dead.
Autumn is in Full Color. A wonderful winter storm is in our midst, and I am so grateful for the cooler temps and soon-to-come, abundant water's flow. More later...
-The End-
Early Morning Descending the Ridge...Life is sweeter above the fog.
Roses..Note the rose above: A Sprawling Newly Planted Rose with a ready made family, as Borage and Nasturtium have both volunteered everywhere nearby. Below, Still More Flowers.... This is the tail end of the colors of summer. I do love how intense the hues get as the temperatures drop. Calendula, Hollyhock, Mums, Cosmos, Snapdragon, both Perennial and Annual Sunflower, and Asters...all make an appearance for fall.
Sun Setting on Honey Bee's Life...Worker Bees live just 40 days. Perched on a perennial sunflower, this honey bee was nearly done for in the cool shadows of a fall evening. Perennial Sunflowers are a very rewarding, low care flower for late autumn color. They need little water, and will grow to over 6' tall. Impressive.
Figs, Cabbage, Raspberries and Tomatoes offering up PURPLES and REDS!
The Mustard Greens...They are too good in salad, soups or stir-fry! Below, Late Crop of Peas...coming on...
Art...and Poetry. The Mural is Floor Art, sort of a mock rug. Below, interesting Ring Neck Pheasant in the local Community Park..too shy for a close up. 
Below, oddly enhanced image of a house plant ...I love the unique contours/contrasts. 
It has been a beautiful Autumn with warm days, cool nights and not a lot of wind. My beehives have both built up wonderfully, and I am confident that they are heading into the winter well prepared. I still need to do a final inspection and erect a wind break. The apples and raspberries are all coming on strong, and we may even get some figs this year. I am doing a lot of bikejoring with the pups, and I do hope to update my mushing blog too...soon. We are all still very occupied with school. Cool mural above, huh? xxoo, jj
The Return from The Dead of our Christmas Tree... with prayer flags in the distance, fluttering an affirmation of the beauty, bounty, the hope of the season...Below, Got Tomatoes? I only planted 6....seems like it was enough. Already I have 30 quarts of quartered tomatoes and about a dozen pints of salsa put up. Reminds me of my old homesteading days. History does repeat itself...
Last Sunny Sunflower Days...
PEARS... Want dependable? Plant a peartree. Pear Tea: 4-6 ripe pears, 2+ quarts of water and 1/4 cup honey. Simmer pears in water for 20-30 minutes, strain, sweeten to taste. This tea is a great way to deal with excess pears and to utilize your canned pears as well. Supposedly it is a lung strengthening brew. It is a delicious tonic.
Endless Raspberries...
Above, Butterfly atop the Sedum, which is very popular among all the flying insects. Below, Irony. As the One Persimmon we did get this year, dropped early (was knocked off by a blue jay?) and laid atop the ground ...reminding me of all that is given up, lost and ruined... in nature... and in our lives...sigh.
LEAF SHOW 2008...Some of them appear to change overnight...
The Hunted, and The Hunter...Pretty interesting natural moment, as a small garden snake stalked the honey bees that were visiting the statice. He was not successful in my observations. Below, Black Mission Figs...I am on a "spoil the figs" routine and it seems to be paying off. Maybe they do like regular water after all!
Wolf River, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious Apples are all in abundance...
Fall Greens: Cilantro and Spinach above, on September 1st... Below, on September 21st! Go green! Way below, Lettuce and Basil. I love fresh salads so much. Basil, especially, is so awesome fresh; I add it to everything! It has been a great year for greens as it wasn't too hot.
Cover Crop of Buckwheat which was planted in late August...It is blooming already and indeed, even setting grain. Buckwheat is a short season crop, obviously. The bees (and butterflies) also LOVE the blossoms....
Beautiful and Abundant Blooms of Snapdragon, Hollyhock, Cosmos, Marigold, Zinnia and the ever present Borage, grace the garden right now...Below, Thirsty Bees. Bees use water to cool the inside of the hive and it is crucial for the success of the young brood. Brood raising will cease or fail for lack of water~!~
Bees Bearding on a hot day last month...Screened bottom boards and opening the top lid some, both help to improve ventilation and encourage the bees to reenter the hive...Below, I have cracked the code to growing successful brassicas: Plant out primo starts the first week in August...keep very moist and covered most days with a layer or two or remay.... Wallah! They are the biggest blooms in the garden come late September. YUM! Home grown broccolli!
Wow...Over one month since my last post. Virtually I am failing, yet literally life is full. The grapes, and nectarines of last month were ours to enjoy. Yea! victory! The past 4 weeks have been a flow of goodness from the garden. Dead camera battery for a while...sorry. We had our first significant rain, about 3". It really helps the spring flow, and what a relief to be off irrigation chores! Life otherwise is full with school primarily. We are homeschooling the girls for the 6th year. Truly one of the best decisions we have made as a family was to chose homeschooling over any other educational choice. We have returned to Calvert and couldn't be happier. We've taken on Spanish, which is a bit of a tear jerker and I have started both girls with piano lessons. The investment my parents made in lessons for me, is paying off big time now. I am impressed with what they are capable of learning in a short time. I am so happy to be able to be home with them. We are blessed.
