Eureka!

Breathtakingly beautiful, blue-skied days are upon us now.
Summer has arrived on the farm
and each day is spent in a gardening marathon.


All of a sudden, there is so much to plant!


So far, I have planted sugar peas, onions, radishes, carrots, beets, leeks,
spinach, zucchini, yellow squash, pattypan squash, acorn squash, spaghetti squash,


cauliflower (Christmas tree and purple varieties),
kale, chard, lettuce, arugula, ground cherries, 40 hot pepper plants,
18 sweet peppers, a bazillion flowers,
and broccoli.


The broccoli is getting full and lush.
Examining the plants today, I realized that it won't be long until they are under attack
by cut-worms.

I thought it might be prudent to dust the plants with some diatomaceous earth
in order to thwart any predatory attacks.


This is the first year that I am using DE for insect pest control.
I have read that it is good to dust your plants when they are wet so that the DE sticks to the leaves.

I watered the leaves and thought about how I might go about dusting them.


You know how sometimes you get a sudden lightening bolt of inspiration?
EUREKA!
I thought of a great idea for dusting with the DE without having to get myself messy.


A flour sifter!


Since DE is about the consistency of flour, I thought this might be a way to dust the plants
and have more control over how much DE gets used.


I must say...
this sudden stroke of inspiration proved to be one of the most genius ideas that I have come up with to date...and so simple!
I might just have to patent this new DE applicator!
Feel free to steal my idea!


While I was weeding the aisles between the raised beds,
this little fellow hopped by.
I asked him to bring his friends to the garden...
as they can significantly decrease the insect population.

In addition to work on the vegetable garden,
I have been planting lots of containers and flower beds.


The wagon that I planted last week is filling in nicely.


I planted another vertical planter and hung it on the barn.


In keeping with the galvanized theme,
old buckets have become hanging planters.


I drill holes in the bottom of each and line the bottom with a piece of screen
to allow water to drain, but soil to be retained.


A flat-back bucket hangs on the post with the farm bell.


Last week's plantings are getting prettier each day...


Gardening is just a little sweeter this year with these three right next door...


Such adorable sweetness...
such a good addition to the farm!


The twins are filling out nicely...
even getting a little chubby!


Comments

colleen said…
What a great idea.....a sifter!! It is so much fun watching your garden and flowers growing. Have a great weekend and a Happy Mothers Day.
jaz@octoberfarm said…
you sure have been busy! a great idea for the DE too!!! your place looks so wonderful. by wedding time it will be so lush and perfect! i would hate to be your waterer!
This N That said…
You're not going to believe this but I thought of the sifter as I was reading the picture and comment before you presented it! Great minds! You have been a planting fool! Things are looking wonderful. Happy Mother's Day to you!
Anke said…
EVERYTHING just looks so beautiful!! Thanks for the great idea with the sifter, I am going to have to give that a try for sure. Happy Mother's Day!
Bee Haven Bev said…
Don't worry, I have a very reliable waterer......ME!!!
Junebug said…
Wow-look at your garden grow! The flores are looking beautiful. Enjoy your weekend. Hugs!!
Boni said…
Love the sifter idea!! You make me tired looking at all those plants! Beautiful.
Unknown said…
Summer? Wow, lucky you! Your plants look fantastic, so big. Won't be doing that for a few more weeks at least, as it is so cold at night. The girls are looking fantastic and so cuddly! I love all the galvanized stuff, I do it too but your collection rocks. Don't breathe in that DE...just be careful. I have read lots of conflicting things about it.
Carla said…
Gorgeous! I'm so jealous of all your food garden space. I have such a limited space despite having 4 acres. The deer are relentless in their attempts on food plots despite high fences.
Bee Haven Bev said…
DE can irritate mucous membranes....however broadcasting it in small quantities like I am....should be no problem at all. It is important to use food grade. It is not a chemical that is toxic....it is basically just silica (sand) that is tiny and causes the insects to desiccate.
daisy g said…
You are brilliant! Love your idea to use an old sifter!
Your blooms look lovely. It must be so motivating to go out into the garden and be surrounded by all those colors! I really must work on my flower beds.
Enjoy your weekend!
Lynne said…
So much to like and love in your posts . . .
abundant garden
green
farm
animals
lamb-a-kins . .
dedication
wall window frame plant hanger
and then there is the flour sifter . . . excellent . . .
(I use an old colander to do my grass seeding . . . works like a charm . . .)
Happy Spring . . . (and summery warmth . . . was a bit soon for me . . .)
so much . . .
Anonymous said…
Those little lambs are so dadblasted cute and their loving Mother tooooo..I envy your garden skills oh, how I wish we could live in the country like you do, even though I know the work is long and hard, tedious and one must be constant in the quest to feed the animals, watering and gardening..But even though it is a lot of work you look like you live in heaven, a big garden and lovely sweet animals..WOW WHEE, happy mothers day tomorrow, your animal children are lucky to have you tending and loving them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bee Haven Bev said…
Thank you! You are so right....we do live in a little slice of heaven. Every day I thank my lucky stars that I can spend my days doing this type of work. It's physically exhausting but mentally and emotionally exhilarating!
An American in Tokyo said…
Aww, so lovely! Thank you for sharing your beautiful farm with us!

I have no idea where you have all the ENERGY to do all those things, plus your regular chores?!?!
You are an AMAZING woman!! (I wish I could have half the energy you have...)
Sandy said…
I can't believe how beautiful your farm looks. All that hard work has paid off nicely. I didn't realize you have sheep and lambs now. How cute! At our new home in Ohio we now have a concrete driveway and sidewalk but just dirt, rocks and shale for a yard. I miss our beautiful PA home.