Planting Date has Changed - and some other stuff

Saturday, October 4th beginning at 9:00 am. That's the new and official date of the lavender planting party. 

Don't you hate it when life gets in the way of your plans? I do. Not that I'm a control freak. At least I don't think I'm a control freak. And I know I can roll with things when I get thrown a curveball. I just like it when events go as planned. It rarely happens. Anyhoo - the date for planting has changed because life got in the way. But we are going forward and other than a week later, we are good.

And now for some other stuff:

Do you see it?

How about now?

Now?

No, I can't see it either. Phooey. I scattered a 50 pound bag of buckwheat on this field about six weeks ago in preparation for planting the lavender. Buckwheat grows quickly (and the bees love the flowers). A month from throwing the seeds in the dirt and beginning to water is plenty of time for the plant to mature and bloom. After that The Lovey was going to mow the buckwheat down and till it into the soil. Our soil DESPERATELY needs organic matter added to it. 'Green manure' is a way to do this.

Did the seed sprout? Yes it did. Did it grow? Yes it did. We got the first set of leaves on little plants on the whole field! And then...... this is what happened:

Deer. And what the deer left...

The turkeys finished up. So now I am watering weeds where the rows will eventually be made. 

Weeds and very few wisps of buckwheat. :-(

Taking Advantage of the Open Spaces

We don't have a perimeter fence. To quote The Lovey recently "I've learned that a gapped, barbed wire fence is better than no fence at all".

So in the interim, between barbed and To-Be-Determined deer fence and a gate, I am admiring the wild life that hangs out on our gentle land.

There is the coyote that I have not been able to photograph. S/he is beautiful. And oh, so stealthy. I have only seen her a few times; she stops in her tracks, looks at me and then runs off without making a sound. So far, our chickens have not been bothered. I am hoping that good luck continues.

Then there are the deer - those beautiful, gentle, rats on long legs. They will eat the trees we will soon plant, in addition to those in the test orchard. Because this has been such a dry season, they have been coming closer and closer to the house, eating things that they usually don't eat (rhubarb to be specific!). Soon these beauties will be fenced out of the property. Sigh.

And then there are these gorgeous creatures. They come by multiple times every day. EVERY DAY!!! I love them and usually stop whatever I am doing when I see them. It's mating season and our bachelor turkey has gathered himself a few girls. I am hoping for many turkey chicks in the near future!

In the sun you can see the many colors in their feathers. Bronze, black, brown, green, white, and even a turquoise-y blue.

Two males discussing things

Oh Dear, What Can The Matter Be?

Sing it with me!

Dahlias. I've never grown them before

Oh Dear, What can the matter be

Close up of our 'raised beds' this year. The tomato plant is healthy!

Oh deer

Can you see it?

What can the matter be

They left the herbs alone

Deer, Deer

Those WERE hollyhocks

 That's what the matter be

They like kale, too

Johnny's so long at the fair

Who Are the People in your Neighborhood

In your neighborhood

In your neighborhood

In your neighborhood

Na-na-na-na-na-na

They're the people that you meet

Feral kitty checking out the chickens

Alice

When you're walking down the street

Mama Turkey

With baby turkeys not so far behind

They're the people that you meet

EACH

Vulture. Ugly, but wow- you should see them fly.

 DAY

Oliver the original, the head of the pride