HAPPY SUMMER

Lilacs, solar sunflower, lavender clump, yarrow, solar house, and small gooseberry bush

We’re back at the farm after almost two weeks in town. Bess and I staycated while Mike and a friend made a three-day motorcycle trip into Oregon (June 9-11). Then the weather turned cooler, especially at altitude, so we waited for warmer temps. In fact, it’s still on the chilly side – the low at 50 this morning.

I was a bit concerned about my raised beds, but the little bit of produce we get isn’t worth the worry. Anyway, we’re here now, and it’s a lovely day – warm in the sun with a cool breeze that smells like pine trees. Well, that’s better than the house! We removed three mice in traps first thing and opened windows.

I tell you what, though – it’s dry. The predicted rainfall must not have happened here. Of the vegetable plants, the tomatoes (Burpee's Summer Girl) fared better than anything. I can’t believe how much those little seedlings grew in ten days! 

Of the seeds I planted before we left, I see only a few beans. I will have to determine a course of action – to watch a while longer, replant, or just forget it. 

I picked a few ripe strawberries, from the raised bed, and I was glad to see that my strawberry pot was still alive.

Mike mowed the lawn, but the “grass” hadn’t grown as much as he expected. Given the lack of moisture, he wonders how much longer before it goes dormant.

I refilled the hummingbird feeders as soon as I could, and they visited at once. Obviously, they appreciate the easy nectar.

Mike and I toured the “orchard / meadow” to observe our plantings. It’s discouraging that so much of what we transplant doesn’t make it. We have lilacs, lavender, iris, and plenty of yarrow mixed with the occasional odd plant (weed) that pops up. The plants that seed themselves do better than the transplants. I love that the mule-ears (sunflowers) are finally spreading a bit. Well, we just have to keep at it and see what happens.

Speaking of discouraging, we discovered that the Lapins sweet cherry tree is afflicted with aphids. We trimmed off the affected leaves, sprayed it, and hope for the best. The tree wasn’t full of blossoms this year, so we won’t see an abundant cherry harvest this year.

We enjoy watching the volunteer hollyhocks and have a variety of colors, but they have been well-munched. Hollyhocks are supposed to be deer-resistant, but you can’t trust that they won’t eat even what they don’t like. It’s just that when you have acre upon acre of wheat for the taking, why would you eat the hollyhocks? Nothing is sacred here.

We see several small whitetail bucks in the evenings, and I suspect they are the yard nibblers. They seem quite small given the size of their antlers, but then, I don’t really know about these things. KW

[The bottles in the photos are plant nannies.]