Scion-wood from Enterprise, SunCrisp and Liberty cut for a side project.
Scion-wood from Drake Black Walnut cut for a different side project.
Three pear trees grafted to (I think) Highland pear. The mother tree came from the old Bear Creek Nursery in a dents-and-dings (and unlabeled) package at a price too good to resist. Keying out the tree from their offerings at the time it seems probable that it is Highland. Regardless, it is a late, high-quality European pear.
I mowed a little bit of grass.
Quicksilver is addicted to the swing. It appears that she would happily swing for an hour as long as somebody is pushing her. She comically slaps her bottom when she thinks I am slacking off. Precious!
Zeus, our 10-year-old German Shepherd surprised both of us when he ran down an adult Cottontail Rabbit. I bear partial responsibility. I told him a joke* and you know how Germans are with regard to humor.
AU Rosa (or maybe AU Rubrum) and P. nigra diploid plums are blooming. So are Seneca and Bluebyrd (European, hexaploid) plum. The "German Prune-plums" Pozegaca and Gras Romanesc are still in tight-bud stage.
Asian pears are approaching full-bloom. Pollinators are pretty scarce. The few I saw were mostly working Ground Ivy, dandelions, dead-nettles and the like.
As a public service, do you (my readers) have any opinions regarding "must have" herbs or spices in your kitchen garden?
We had a visit from the gentleman who fills our fuel-oil tank. Last winter was exceptionally mild. We burned about 440 gallons of fuel oil. We chit-chatted while he was filling our tank. He is very involved in his kids' athletics. There is no finer way to get "connected" in a community than to become active in coaching, reffing, fundraising or otherwise supporting their youth through athletics/scouting.4H/FFA programs.
*Did you know that rabbits are exceptionally musical. In fact, they invented a genre of music...hip-hop, of course.
Re. herbs: if you’re quietly fishing for story elements, people of German extraction are going to need caraway, Balkans and Slavs will need dill.
ReplyDeleteI have much more to say on the topic but I’m at work and typing on a phone.
LOL, GSDs can 'catch' things... :-)
ReplyDeleteGarlic is fairly easy to grow, enhances many things, and can lower your blood pressure.
ReplyDeleteBay laurel for bay leaves, there will be lots of soup made.
Borage is uncommon here, but can often be found in European gardens. It's an annual and easy to grow.
Marjoram and oregano would more often be potted plants, and put out in good weather.
As pig farmers, we eat a lot of pork, so rosemary and sage are mandatory. We also keep a large clump of chives just outside the kitchen door to chop and sprinkle on our eggs every morning.
ReplyDeleteSage, thyme, oregano, basil, garlic, onions, bay, mint. Dill if you like pickles. Chives sometimes, I seldom use them. We have a pile of walking onions growing wild, and they work just as well, for us, as bulb onions. No digging or planting required, they take care of themselves.
ReplyDeleteSouthern NH
Also mustard and caraway, maybe.
DeleteS NH
Parsely, sage, rosemary and thyme, of course.
ReplyDeleteAfter hearing that joke, I'm surprised the dog didn't bite you.
ReplyDelete