Quiet Riot. First Day of Summer.

Quiet Riot is today's name for my garden/yard.

I'm going to start with this pic for a couple of reasons. I found that terracotta dove of peace medallion whilst thrift shopping this week and I bought it to remind me of the victims of the latest mass shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando where 49 were killed. It will be my reminder to be kinder. The placement is purposeful as well. It's at my front door (for viewing) and it's in a wooden box that once carried a weapon. 

 The New Native bed is essentially all planted for this season and has begun to bloom. It is still missing the Pale Purple Coneflower after being sent Purple Coneflower, but bareroots will be sent this fall and I filled in with annuals to make up for space/color while the perennials grow.

 One of the first in flower is this variety of coneflower, probably Cheyenne Spirit, which

comes in varying shades of orange and yellow. I like that I didn't

know what color I was getting and this one is a real surprise!

 Also starting to bloom is the first of 3 species of Liatris.

This is Liatris spicata.

 Just outside of the new bed is this riot of pots of annuals

in varying stages of bloom and death. 

 Orchard & Chicken yard
This coop is now a year old and holding well. The attachment to the right was built on this spring for Mattilda, the mother clucker. The black snake is a drain running from the down spout to the rain garden, which is enclosed in chicken wire (chicken proof) on the bottom right of the pic. The rain garden contains native species which I hope will bloom this year, being their second. The plum tree is loaded and the apple is dropping. The red and yellow raspberries have begun to fruit and it looks like the new Figs will even produce in their first year in the orchard. In the 3 pots below the window of the coop are a new variety of blueberry that are suppose to fruit twice, although there have been no blooms yet. It's still year one and it is in some shade.

New Pruning Technique: I just did my first summer prune based on the "Grow A Little Fruit Tree" method. You prune in late winter and again near the summer solstice. Below are 2 pics of the peach tree after solstice pruning.

 Notice the open nature of the center of the tree and

the foliage has been heavily whacked back to an outward 

facing bud. I still feel nervous when making big cuts, but

the professionals say - when in doubt, prune away.

Because.

 West gate. House Wren family with squeaky babies

in this house. 

 Still have a few things in the nursery (below).

 Black Raspberries are finishing. This was the 3rd year for this

new bed and it did very well.

 Scapes have formed on the garlic. I collected 

a couple, smashed and put in my 

first jar of the season of crock pickles.

This is a new pickle technique for me and so far

I'm really digging it. 

 More Quiet Riot

Sour gherkins at the back porch.

Rain barrel on the left. 

Back porch riot.

 Figs forming on the back porch

potted fig.

Food Stuff

Soaking Lamb's Quarter for Saag Tofu tonight.

Broccoli salad (from Scharf's), blue potato salad (from

Soulard market) and Pepper Broth. 

 Chickpea fritters, a cabbage slaw and roasted

red bell pepper salad shoved in a pita. 

Still using last year's maters. 

Going in tonight's Saag. 

Harvests Burgundy beans and cucumbers coming in. I have 1 pickable zucchini. 

Happy First Day of Summer. 

Spring Break

Spring break began Friday, March 11th with a high of 75F and ends today with snow (promptly melting of course). Expected freeze (30F) tonight. And today is the first day of Spring!

What is in bloom (that faces impending doom): Spicebush, Plum, Peach, Apricot, Honeyberry.
Also in bloom: Hellebores, Daffodils, Hyacinth

Varying Hellebores in the Northeastern Perimeter bed

 

Growing on 

Mache, Chinese Cabbage, Red Kale  and Perpetual Chard overwintered in coldframes (above)

 First Asparagus

Bitter Endive reseeds about the yard

Under lights

Little Lupine doing well (above)

All of the tomato plants are up (but the ground cherries are not) (below)

Began transplanting peppers this weekend.

 

Projects: New Upright Cold frame

I decided to build an upright cold frame inspired by one I saw on the internet. I plan to use it for storing nursery plants, overwintering, cold stratification, late summer starts (for the fall/winter garden), early spring starts and hardening off. It's like an unheated greenhouse, but cheaper and with a small footprint. I plan to build doors at some point (fall probably). It also now has walls on both sides (the one on the right is missing in this pic) Below with temporary plastic covering. 

 Will have 3 shelves. I think I already have them full.

I made need a second one. ; )

Projects: The Orchard Overhaul continues

Beds were topped with compost, conduit frames and bird nettting.

I discovered the chickens won't go near this stuff. Why hasn't anyone

written about this yet?! It's a game changer.

Ready for planting. 

 Pots were topped with compost and protective bird netting.

 Papi in foreground. Angry Mattilda was moved

into his new home just behind the blooming Plums.

 Going to plant a Fig in this double tire.

Hoping the tire will work as insulation for winter-keeping.

 The raspberry beds got new frames (below)

Squiggy supervising.

 Pots circle the south side of the hoophouse. 1 lavendar

was planted. Waiting for warm up!

And inside the hoop (below). Chard, Kale, Collards, 

Arugula, Mustard, leeks, Green onions

Hardy Kiwi leafing out (below)

Other Spring Break Activities:

Spent most of Friday burning at a coworker's place. 

I doubt there is better weather to end spring break than snow. It keeps me inside so my body can heal and I can get some grading done!       View from office window looking down into the orchard (aka beeyard. chickenyard).

It's been a gorgeous and productive week. Thankful for my awesome job.