phenological events May 2008

phenological events

May 2008

1st - Yellow warblers
2nd - Indigo Buntings
- wasps wake up
4th - Towhee
5th - hummingbirds
7th - scarlet tanager
8th - common yellowthroat
12th - green currants
14th - asparagus bugs
22nd - crabapple sets
26th - till garden
I have now kept at least a year of phenological events...and now on the side bar, I can reference the label for phenology, and compare events from month to month.

bearing fruit

Sometimes nature just needs a helping hand. I was very happy to discover that the crab apple flowers cross pollinated with the cut blossoms.

The tree has started to make fruit...some even have a blush to them already.

I found an old photo that I took of the garden last year during the first week of June. When I looked at it, I was surprised to see how much more had been accomplished last year - in comparison to this year. The weather, and other events, have set me far behind my goals. I still need to plant corn and beans and squash and a few other things, that by the looks of last years photo were already growing!

Some things do just fine without any help at all. The asparagus has been wonderful, and the herbs like chive, top setting onions...

.... thyme,

and sage....

have obviously enjoyed the mild winter we had. PS...so have the bugs....

taking time to notice

The canopy has opened...

the ferns are up and starting to unfurl.

The lilac blossoms tumble down the hillside, and release their perfume into the hills. They mix with the cold rain and smell wonderful.

The gooseberry drops it flower almost as soon as you notice that it has set. There is so much happening in the wood at once, if you don't make time to see it, it will be gone for another season.

I finished the lacy winged shawl and blocked it. It is the first lace shawl that I have ever knit. Here is a photo of the shawl in the midst blocking it.

I discovered this....

yes...it is a live stitch. I must have dropped it. I thought my count was off...I should pay closer attention to the numbers. I'm not sure what to do with it...where to go from here. I'll just think about it for awhile.

mentha

Mid spring, and the mint arrives. It is now tall enough to harvest.

Bergamot

It sprawls and reaches into places in my garden where it should not, and sneaks into areas unnoticed.

Orange Mint

It surprises and delights the nose when it's aroma is released. One looks down to realize they have walked on top of it, crushing the square stems, the decussated leaves.

Pineapple Mint

As a garnish, it enhances the plate and the palette.

It's oils can be rubbed, inhaled, or swallowed. A balm for body and soul.

Chocolate Mint

Lamiaceae (or Labiatae if you prefer), a family with over 200 genera and over 3000 species, of which only a few reside in my garden. And of all the characteristics they possess, the thing I love most about mint is that it refreshes, restores...revives.

...and whatever is clipped or ripped or pinched, can go right on the windowsill or kitchen counter, or bathroom sink...to be used in a number of ways...the stems will set root easily, and they can be replanted.

using the last of the Shetland Fleece

A few weeks ago, I was working on a project for a Cathy. She has been very generous in sharing her Shetland Fleece samples, and I wanted to make something for her to show my appreciation. I decided to use up the rest of the Shetland fleece...the bits that were cast off, not suitable for spinning. I decided to make some felt with them.

Cathy likes petroglyphs and pictographs. So do I. So I made a piece of felt with some petroglyphic designs that I had seen while reading about them. The pictographs are usually painted on rocks, and the petroglyphs are carved into the rocks. The symbols are found world wide. It is interesting to compare some of the symbols and shapes that are found in rock art from different places. I become amazed at how some symbols repeat themselves. I wonder about their meaning. I wonder about the person who made them, and why. I marvel at how old some of them are, and how they have survived all this time. I've never seen any in real life, but I have looked at some wonderful images online.

The project I made consisted of making a notebook to cover with the felt. There is a lot to learn about bookmaking..and there are lovely knots and different techniques to master. My first efforts, amateur at best, left me wanting to learn more. I did find some interesting videos on Youtube that were helpful.

I made several different buttons that I could choose from to work with a lashing to close the notebook, but I forgot to make a note of which one I finally selected.

walk with me wednesday, a world in bloom

A white pine floor and a low ceiled room, A wheel and a reel and a great brown loom, The windows out and the world in bloom.

I have never seen so many Orioles around the riverrim before. We have had up to 15 in one Quince bush at a time. There are Orchard Orioles as well as Baltimore Orioles. Their song is as delightful as their appearance.

My walk today had a purpose. The crabapple tree (that was given to me by my husband for my birthday a few years ago) is in bloom. I want to be sure to get some crabapples this fall. So- I walked down to the end of the road to the old apple trees, to snip a few branches of blossoms to hang in my tree.

The blossoms smell wonderful. I hung the branches in the tree, and stood and watched while the bees do what they do best. I don't think they noticed me. Now my tree has something to cross with...and I should see some fruit. My tree is an old heirloom variety, called Whitney. It should have palm sized apples. It is the only crabapple tree with apples sweet enough to eat right off the tree.

I have been knitting. This is Judy's sock yarn. Isn't it lovely? I keep thinking of moss when I knit with it.

It is soo soft and smooth to work with...a merino/nylon blend. The pattern is from Miriam Felton...Razor Shell Socks. I like it. Fun and fast.

Thank you to those who have inquired as to the lack of posting in these past few weeks. Life has been dealing out some....well... "challenges"...I'm just doing my best to keep up...and that requires my time and attention to things outside of the blogosphere. At the urging of a friend, I made certain to make some time today to walk (thanks, Robert).