Monday, May 01, 2006

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What a beautiful weekend it was.  We didn't get any fishing in, but the Shadbush was blooming everywhere.  I love seeing that tree.  You would think that with all the white of snow on the landscape over the winter that a white blossom wouldn't do much to excite the eye, but the shadbush flower has such long petals that flitter in the breeze, I can't help but admire it.  When I was up close to the tree- I pulled some branches over to take a whiff of the blooms.
Hummm...not so nice...a bit acrid.  They look much prettier than they smell.
 
This past weekend marked a milestone...and so we noted it as we do other milestones around the riverrim, with the planting of a tree....well actually two trees this time.  One is a nice tart cherry called Montmorancy.  Sour cherry trees are self-pollinating, and so do not require a second tree to produce fruit.
 
The other tree is a nice heirloom crabapple that goes by the name of Whitby.  Supposedly the blossom or the fruit resembles that of a sheep's nose, so it is nicknamed a "sheepnose crabapple".  The fruit will be an inch to inch and 1/2 around, and they are sweet enough to eat off of the tree.  I think they will make excellent sauce and jelly and glaze.
 
We planted both trees inside the garden so that they would be protected from the deer and the bear (of course the bear could just push down the fence if he really wants in, but so far he has left the blueberries alone...)
 
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I worked on the embossed leaves socks...finished one, turned the heal on the other.  Nothing accomplished on the loom, but have finished spinning half the Finn/Alpaca on the wheel.
 
Also, had the first harvest of the year from the garden!
 
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Managed to get half of the broccoli in the ground, as well as all the lettuce and the beetberry.  The peas are up, so are the shallots...beets are in the ground, but not showing.
The tomatoes in the greenhouse are getting big enough to transplant, so I might take a chance and put them in early. 
 
The towhee has arrived, but still no sign of the hummmers or the catbird.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

It sure looks like your garden is coming along just great!

Hope your trees do well and give you lots of fruit.

The sock looks great, cant wait to see the finished pair.

Anonymous said...

I envy you those gorgeous socks. Having just knit my first pair and, although they fit perfectly, I obviously haven't mastered the use of multiple needles and don't like the little gaping holes where I didn't pull the yarn tight enough. Our hummers arrived here in Pacific Northwest in late February and my feeding has been a hub of activity. Love your photos!

Anonymous said...

We've had some lovely bright days, although it's still a bit cold for the time of year. I've put in some peas up at the allotment and have sown broad beans, broccoli, kale and french beans in pots as an insurance. It's a little early to sew directly in the ground here. I saw a goldfinch in the garden yesterday, which was a first for me here in London. Just afterwards I found a new bird's nest on the ground. It was so beautifully made, even with with some wisps of white wool incorporated. I'm kicking myself for not photographing it (I pushed it up into a tree so that it can be recycled). I hope the two trees establish well and bring you many years of pleasure.

Elise said...

Be careful with your tomatos, I had one that I had started way back and is now huge (in a really big pot) and it was on the porch so couldn't get frost on it but it was getting brown spots from the cold last week. I brought it back in. Also those itty bitty impatients were on the porch and some died and none grew so those are in also. Hopefully, now that its MAY though it will stay this warm!! But you know PA! hee hee!

vanessa said...

i love gardening vicariously through your blog :-)
when i was a little girl, we would have huge family picnics in a forest preserve that had tons of crabapple trees. oh the crabapple fights we had! they stung!

Anonymous said...

The Shadbush is a tree I love seeing too. We only have one & I cherish it. What wonderful trees you have just planted! We had our first asparagus of the season. You'd chuckle at our very small asparagus patch--they were sooo good. No sign of hummers yet, that I have noticed--usually here the first week of May but I have been preoccupied w/honeybees swarming...I do enjoy your beautiful photos!

Leslie Shelor said...

I need to look up Shadbush; I don't think we have that here. We do have an early spring flowering tree we call sarvis.

Things are looking lovely!

Karen said...

Oh Cyndy! I miss you. It's the 11th now... pretty please to update. :)

My aspargus is coming up as well. Just as thickly!
Tomatoes and green peppers are the last things to go in... and I'll do it as soon as the rain stops.

Karen

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