The most common email I get from our readers and customers says something like, “I so wish I could visit your farm.”
But that’s just not possible given we have readers all over the continent. And even some on other continents.
So, for the next couple of posts, as the farm wakes up and comes into full bloom, I’m not going use this spaces to “talk at” you.
Instead, though I am truly no photographer and won’t do the farm justice, I’ll attempt to show you how the farm looks and give you some color about each picture.
I hope you enjoy “The Tour.” If I’ve missed anything you really want to see, tell me and I’ll try to update the post.
I’m so happy to have you here with me.
Peonies thrive after Hard winter
For us, this past winter was a peony “worst-case” scenario.
It was a wet fall. Followed by a winter with at least 5 thaw -> freeze cycles. Followed by a wet spring.
Though I was entirely unsure how some of our 1st year divisions would fair, we are relieved to find them thriving.
Rows of first-year divisions, thriving in one of the new growing beds
Vanilla Schnapps 1st year division. A nice fat bud already loaded with ants.
And of course the older, established peonies look even more vigorous and lush.
I just love the early spring foliage and structure on the coral varieties
The view from the top of Coral Sunset
Then today, I found an extra surprise - a self-seeded peony poking right up through a weedy patch next to our seedling bed.
For once I feel slightly less guilty about those weeds I just can’t get to….
early spring flowers Foretell more beauty to come
We were lucky to inherit these daffodils from the lovely woman who owned this farm before us.
I know we resent rodents in our gardens. But it’s likely rodents who moved scores of daffodil bulbs and “planted” them across our lawn & forest. A pretty spring surprise…..
Vinca - with its delicate flowers fit for fairies.
Hardy sage. One of the first things to flower in our garden.
Cowslip growing plentifully in our marshes.
Even the Animals Celebrate the thaw
I don’t want to anthropomorphize but I swear the animals get spring fever too.
Last week our duck laying flock was finally able to return to one of their ponds. They started making a singing, cooing sound I had literally never heard before. It was like pure, water-fowl exuberance
And let’s not even talk about Cutie, our livestock dog. Now that our children are out in the fields more, she just can’t get enough of them.
ANd WE can Finally Hike our woods once again
Our favorite stream meanders through the back half of our farm.
Kids in the mud. Because it’s mud. And they’re kids.
This is also why I need a mudroom.
Naomi saw these leaves and kept saying, “Look Mommy, look at this.” Am glad she already sees the perfect, mundane magic all around us, all the time.