Happy May!!

It's easy to forget during those quiet, dark months of winter, just how busy Springtime can be.  To me, those months of relative rest are necessary - both for the land and for me.  This year, the arrival of Spring seems to have me busier than ever.  

That may be due, in part, to the fact that I planted so many flats of flowers in the greenhouse at the end of winter.  I showed you this photo last week...

I am pleased to tell you that as of this weekend, the greenhouse is empty!

I have spent the hours since our last chat planting, planting, planting!

Though the flower gardens are now filled, it will take a couple months of sunshine and watering before they become the glorious show of color that I envision.

Four flats of calendula (from seed) are now planted in the vegetable garden.  This box will produce orange blossoms that I will cut and dry - right up until the first frost.  Those dried calendula flowers are then soaked in almond oil to become the essential ingredient in my soap, salves, and lotion bars.

So many of the seeds that I, weeks ago, sowed in this garden are already turning into edible produce!

By the end of today, I should have peppers, tomatoes, herbs, and a few other veggies added to this garden.  At that point, my planting will be finished.  In a few weeks, I will give you the grand tour.

Several pots full of morning glory seedlings are now planted at the base of the trellis in front of the she-shed.  By summer's end, this trellis will be robed in morning glories.

Meanwhile, the allium bulbs that I planted last autumn are now blooming there as well.

The clusters of petunias that now dot our front garden, will, in time, transform into a wave of fuchsia.

I also added flowers to all of the wagons and containers around the farm.

You might remember that Jack spent the last two summers battling a nasty weed infestation in what was originally my perennial bed.  Thanks to him, I am able to re-plant this area this season. 

 I may eventually plant it full of perennials, however, for now, it will be a cutting bed.  Eventually, the obelisks will be covered with sweet peas (I hope) and morning glories.

I can hardly wait to show you all that will be blooming here as the summer months arrive.

First blossom... a cosmos....

I also added a few annuals to our memorial garden - just to cover some bare spots between the perennials.

Although my bones may complain a little, I can honestly say that I am happiest when I am working in the garden!  And we've been enjoying a bounty of asparagus these past couple of weeks.  The work always pays off!

The "help"

We were lucky enough to get a good amount of rain over the weekend, with more rain arriving this week.  I never mind a rainy day - instead, I consider it a gift... a day off from watering duties!

This past weekend, I had an off-farm adventure to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.  I did buy enough wool for two new projects... which I will share with you as I finish them.  I am almost finished with the intricate shawl that has consumed my evenings for the past couple of months.  I'll show you when it is off the needles (soon!). What I did want to share with you are a few photos from the festival.  We spent a bit of time enjoying the wonderful variety of sheep that were being shown.

These Black Nose Valais sheep are my absolute favorite!

Talk about horns!!

I just love Alpacas!!

First mushroom of the season... a morel!

So, yes, I promised to do a sustainability post... and it is coming.  It will take a little more time to get together than I have had in the last week.  (Thanks for your patience - those who contacted me regarding this.)

PS: all of the birds are back!  I have seen hummingbirds and Baltimore orioles at the feeders this week.  What a wondrous time of year!