This is it.
Our new little (?) chicks were moved to their outside dwelling a week or so ago. Since they had plenty of inside room to run around in, we kept them enclosed for several days. Then about three days ago, Papa Pea opened the door to the great, green pasture outside. It was a bit of a slow process, but they all eventually ventured out . . . and immediately began feasting on fresh, green grass. Figuring out how to get back into their secure shelter at night proved to be a challenge at first, but last night, for the first time, they were all inside at lock-down time.
The strawberries started blossoming about a week ago, right on time.
The apple trees? Well, another story. They are already about two weeks behind their usual blossoming time and, as you can see, have a ways to go yet. This pretty much assures us no apple harvest this year. In a good year when they are in full blossom a week or so before the end of May, we often have a hard time getting the apples to fully mature in the fall. This year I think we'd better start seeking out a winter's supply of good, organic apples to purchase. We're currently researching the options of putting in a bunch of dwarf trees which may do better in our climate.
The shell peas are very pleased with this cool weather. They have popped through the dirt and are happily marching down either side of their trellises. Good peas, happy peas.
This is what happens when the Head Gardener leaves a hot cap in the path of the Under Gardener who is on a mission to get all his weed whipping done. Ooops.
My tromp outside over the grounds this morning was wet and a bit buggy. No work outside yesterday at all since we had rain most of the day. With a temp this morning only in the 50s, it's gonna be wet out there for a while. Can I find something to occupy my time inside? Oh, yeah.
You can send me rain any day.
ReplyDeleteTombstone Livestock - Oh, don't do this to me! I ALWAYS feel guilty when I post about us getting rain. I know you would do anything for a solid day's rain. (Wanna move to Minnie-soda?)
DeleteMama Pea,
ReplyDeleteThis is not a pitiful post at all!!!
Your chicks are adorable foraging around in the big world of grass.
This years strawberries were plentiful for us. We had a very large harvest, enough for making jam and putting some up in the freezer. There are still more blossoms preparing for fruit. I may just get another harvest. Here's hoping to a hefty strawberry harvest for you this year!!!
I'm sorry to hear about your apples, maybe next year the apple harvest will be more than doubled?
I think you'll find plenty to do inside to occupy your time.
Sandy - Yay, for your great strawberry crop this year. I won't have to make jam this year because I kinda over-did it last year and have plenty for at least one more year. But I'm really looking forward to lots for fresh eating and, like you, some for the freezer for smoothies later on.
DeleteWe are having a cool day today too. Enjoy your time inside, and the garden looks great (the the chicks too).
ReplyDeleteKristina - Things dried out much faster than I had expected and I spent several hours out in the garden. Got the corn in which was a biggie.
DeleteSo how would you store your winter's supply of apples? Fridge or do you have a cellar?
ReplyDeleteNancy po - We finally have a root cellar which is proving out to be great. That's where we store our apples. When we get some. (!)
DeleteToday is "cool". Only a high of 80 today AND tomorrow & Tuesday in the SEVENTIES!! Whoo hoo!! Too bad it's raining the entire time. Hope your little chickies continue finding their way back home at night. I HATE when I have to go around chicken wrangling in the middle of the night.
ReplyDeleteWe're going to be apple-sparce this year too. I think there were seven or eight apples.....on six trees. Ugh.
Carolyn - Your temp is going to be in the SEVENTIES? Get out the long underwear! We should have nice weather until Thursday when more rain is forecast.
DeleteBummer about your apple harvest this year. What's going on?
We were anxious about the apple trees this spring when it froze during the blossom stage but it looks promising now. This should be our good year because last year we got nothing.
ReplyDeleteI want to get into the garden but it's absolutely saturated and, yes, has just started raining again.
tpals - Seems to be feast or famine when it comes to not enough rain or too much rain, doesn't it? Hoping you dry out soon. And that your apple harvest is a big one.
DeleteI think our apple crop is going to be few and far between. Such a hard winter on a lot of our trees. The little chicks sure are growing!
ReplyDeleteLiz - I don't think the snow (no matter how much there is) hurts the fruit trees because it actually insulates them from the cold. A few years ago we had a snowless, brutally cold winter and trees died, bushes died, bulbs died . . . it was not good. So far, this season I haven't heard of anyone who is anticipating a good apple harvest. Ugh.
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