State of the Fields (July 18th)

 I am sure its much like most people, I have troubles drawing the lines between my work and the rest of my life.  I even tell people my job isn't a career its a lifestyle.  Even when I get a the occasional day of from the farm, if I don't leave town I'll end up there a couple times that day.  With the best intentions to focus on me and the things I would like to get accomplished in my yard, work beckons. 
Yesterday, started as a rain day, which can truly be glorious.  We received some much needed rain and I got a chance to sleep in.  Goals for the day were simple... write, garden and take some pictures in the yard.  Time allowing, go to the gym (didn't happen) and then dinner in the Cities.  I needed to tend to my tomato plants, they look the best that they've ever looked in my backyard.  Is it appropriate to look to plants with pride?  They've all been caged but needed some additional tomato clips to reign in some stray branches (this required a drive to the farm for supplies).  I also had to work on a "new" grape arbor that I just added to the yard (will share more details another time).  And through this process I brought along my stills camera to document the Joy in the Garden. 

Indigo Rose Tomato: Purple on the outside, will be red on the inside.
Bred for having the highest concentration of anthocyanins which have great antioxidant capabilities.

 

Red Zebra Tomatoes: Still green but looking pretty.

Striped Caverns: When the show some red, I'll be ready to stuff them for a delicious dinner.

More fruit to come.

 

 

 

 

 

Redbor Kale: Tasty and Beautiful.

Alma Paprika: I started growing this one for an appetizer dish involving cream cheese and bacon bits.... mmm.

Garlic: Hung out to dry, in a good way.

 This is where my walk around my back yard came to an end, and work blurs with play.  When your backyard over looks this, its hard not to take a stroll.  Through the deer gates, I continued my photo survey and decided to document it as a State of the Fields: July 18th.

Through the gates we can see low ground fields, a place mother spent most of her childhood summers and where we grow the best cucumbers for pickles around.

Kohlrabi: a tasty treat.  Hard to believe that his sister is a cabbage. 

There is dill in many stages timed out for season long pickling.

Bees can be found all throughout the farm, with thirty-six hives we know someone is always tending the crops.

One of our apiaries overlooking the a wildflower meadow and a cucumber patch,
I sure hope all that clover doesn't distract them from those cucumber blossoms.

 

Pumpkins growing for fall.

This one seems to be running a bit early?!

There is wagon-fulls of pumpkins out there!  Just beneath the green canopies.

Seems the 10 foot fence wasn't enough, this six inch one should keep them out. 
Electrified to keep the raccoons from harvesting the sweet corn before we can.

Four varieties of corn to ripen throughout the summer and fall.... I could eat it for every meal.

The rain has transitioned to overcast leaving a moist breeze in the air and lasting droplets on most everything. 

Squash.  Squash leaves, hope there's tasties beneath those.

This is a good sign, the curly-q marks the ripening melon.  Three dry pig tails and the right vibrations after a tap will let us know when to pick them.

Red hot chilli peppers: I hear they're hot and red.

Banana peppers can be both hot and sweet, both tasty.

Eggplant; blossoms present, and fruit coming along nicely.

A sea of peppers. 

Tomatoes. Staked and growing nicely.

Looks like a field of corn... but the Corn Maze is taking shape and is taller than me in places.

There is red and ripe tomatoes at the stand from the High Tunnel providing us all with delicious tomatoes. 

Many beautiful plants throughout the Garden Center.

Foliage plants can bring some of the tropics right to our Northern part of the world. 

The fresh rain has left it's mark in the soil.  And my day.

This concludes my State of the Fields walk, apparently the pull of the fields drew me out of my own yard once again.

A Spring is Loose.

 Spring inspires me. There is so much that happens in such a little seasonal window.  After a drab winter it can bring on a much needed revitalization. It is all about new beginnings, a yearly chance to start again. These trees and plants have saved up as much energy as they could last season to prevail through a winter which they didn't know for how long or when they'd get a chance to grow again.
Through this botanical patience they wait for signs of spring; and when it arrives, whether it is the warmer nights and soil temperatures or increased day length the plants begin their yearly adventure. Some bloom long before they break bud, ensuring the passing of their genes before consideration of their own needs. All this fresh foliage brightens my days, as I watch the transition from browns to reds, greens and yellows. it is hard to take a walk without a smile.   
 In life we are given opportunities to start again without knowing the outcome.  Much like a flower's growth each spring; if it knew of a frosty morning in the ten day forecast would that prevent it from trying?  How long do we put things off when we worry of the risks and outcomes, could we miss spring because we are worried of frost?

On Easter Sunday I took a walk with my family and  my camera.  We walked the whole farm, and ended up in my yard. Here is a bit of the signs of spring that I thought were note worthy.
 

The Tulips in my mom's yard had brought out the color for the start of the glorious morning. 

Plum blossoms on green canvas.  Note: Plum blossoms smell much better than pear blossoms.

'Goldheart' Bleeding Heart.  Yet to fully bloom but adding some great color to the yard.

Oak: huge tree, tiny blossoms. 

Maple seeds developing; from the edge of the low ground I saw this tree just speckled with red.  Closer inspection through the swamp revealed the red to be the samaras of the maple providing the glow of red.

Another Maple with its seeds on display. 

 

The garlic has made it through the winter swimmingly, and in no time they'll be adding much appreciated flavor to nearly every meal in my kitchen. 

Hot air balloon parade to finish off the walk. 

Thanks for joining me on this Spring walk.  I hope your days are full of just enough rain and plenty of sunshine.