Iris---Slowly But Surely

Spring has definitely arrived, but is certainly taking it's time as I sit here writing wearing a long sleeved flannel shirt on May 14th! But the birds have returned, the bird houses are filled with new occupants, and the robins have started a new brood. Our dwarf bearded are in full bloom with our intermediates popping open each day, but the peonies are still in bud and should be opening with some additional sunshine, which may not be too forthcoming.Florentina-1500
Last fall we planted a number of iris that Presby Memorial Iris Gardens gave us to propagate and to serve as a back up in case their beds are vandalized as they were a few years back when a number of their historic iris were ripped from the ground and strewn about the property. A few of those iris have begun opening such as King Christian and Florentia and while they are interesting, they do not have the same impact that the newer varieties exhibit. But, as always, John and I are always excited to see a flower for the first time and each week a new surprise awaits us here at the farm.King Christian-Intermediate 1901
We did find Blue Boy to be an attractive early bloomer and are anxious to see what other surprises are in store.
Blue Boy-Intermediate 1913

Happy Gardening!
Cheryl

WhileThe Tractor Was Idle

There has been so much rain this spring that it has been impossible for John to take the tractor out to the field for fear of sinking it in the mud. He knew it had been ages since he had it parked in front of the barn, but was made acutely aware of that fact when he noticed something very unusual on the rear tire. Evidently, although the tractor was idle, one of our many robins was not. Don't worry, there were no eggs as yet and I removed the nest before Mama could settle in, for surely the sun will shine and the tractor will soon be put into service.
Happy Gardening!Cheryl

Two Bluebirds and a Butterfly

After the one-two (3,4,5,6,?) punch winter has given our country this year, all of us are longing for warmer, milder weather. We got a taste of that here this week when the sun came out and temperatures rose into the 60's here at Pittsgrove finally melting away most of the several inches of snow that had accumulated for weeks.
I spent a good part of the day collecting and breaking up the branches that have fallen from some of the extremely windy days that we have been experiencing. I wandered the property to get a guesstimate on how well our beds held up over the winter. Snow cover is actually quite beneficial for most plants in providing insulation from harsh temperatures, but it also means that deer, so prevalent in much of our area, are deprived of primary food sources in fields and woods. This year they ate a good portion of our Manhattan Euonymous that they have never touched in the 20 or so years of its existence next to our well. The rest of the gardens seem to have held up pretty well so far, but the truth will come out when spring finally arrives and we see what survived.
During the next spate of mild weather, get out and examine your gardens. Push back any plants that may have heaved, clean up any debris that you didn't get to in the fall, and you'll be a step ahead of the game.
The other day I saw two bluebirds and a butterfly. Can Spring be far behind?

Think Spring!
Cheryl

Happy Birthday, Pagan Dancer!!!

Cheryl and "The Pagan Dancer"


I'm dedicating today's post to my Uncle Graham/ AKA The Pagan Dancer who was first mentioned here on September 15, 2008. He is celebrating his birthday today---well actually tomorrow here in Jersey, but it will already be May 1 in Victoria, Australia when this posts (I think??? Not sure how the whole internet works with specific dates and time zones!) It gets very confusing at times when we speak on the phone and it is night here and the morning of the next day in Brighton!

The magpie is a daily visitor

Anyway, I am wishing my uncle the rainiest birthday ever!!! Some of you must be shocked. "Doesn't she like him? What an awful greeting---why not sunshine and cloudless skies?" Aha, because Uncle Graham would be thrilled with a good soaking rain to help relieve the ongoing drought that he and his fellow Victorians have suffered through for years. Yes, I said years with no exaggeration. The lack of rain added to the horrific fires I reported in the "Heartache in Oz" post. We complain in the summer if a drought of a few weeks comes along and God forbid we have to water our lawns on alternate days, or can't pull out the hose to wash the car in the driveway. The folks in Victoria are way ahead of us when it comes to water conservation and have been for a very long time. Crested pigeons in Uncle Graham's backyard

When John and I visited with my uncle and aunt a few years ago, we were amazed at the beauty of the plants that are able to bloom in such arid conditions, especially the Banksia also called bottle brush. And somehow the grass they have for their lawn manages to green up with just the least bit of moisture. Banksia-Bottle Brush

So, my Pagan Dancer, may the skies open up and drench you with giant raindrops and may you continue dancing for many years to come.

Love & hugs to all in OZ!!! Cheryl

Heartache in OZ

Earlier this month I was filled with a mixture of emotions---excitement over having our Washington family visit for a week along with fearful concern for our Australian family. Wild fires were raging in Victoria, the state where the "Pagan Dancer" and most of my family reside. As I watched US news reports and combed the Internet for more up to date reports, I prayed the winds would not shift and the brave firefighters would be able to put out the fires before they got anywhere near my uncles, aunts, and cousins. The fires were so furious and numerous, that my concern grew with each passing day. I searched maps looking to see how close the fires were to the various towns where they lived,wanting everyone to remain out of harm's way.

Fires in background

I received a photo from "Pagan Dancer" of fires burning in near Doncaster a mile from my Uncle Laurie's house in Nunawading and thankfully that was as far as they got. In 2005 Uncle Laurie had taken John & me to Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary where his daughter and her husband worked and the flames threatened nearby but thankfully spared them. The sanctuary is presently treating the animals who escaped, but are in need of care.

Kangaroos at Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary

While taking part in the Great Backyard Bird Count with my grandson and granddaughter, I was also praying for the citizens of Marysville whose town was totally destroyed by fire. The town was located in the Dandenong's that John and I visited and where wild rosellas, cockatoos and gallahs literally ate from our hands in Sherbrooke Forest. Who would want to destroy such beauty? It's inconceivable, but some of the fires had been deliberately set and now the death toll is over 200 and expected to rise as additional bodies are discovered.

Sherbrooke Forest

Feeding cockatoos and rosellas

Another cousin sent word that a magical spot of whimsical beauty Bruno's Art and Sculpture Garden was totally wiped out. Take time to be awed by what had amazed generations of visitors by clicking on the following link. While looking at these stunning photos, please say a short prayer for the brave citizens of Victoria who have suffered so much.

Great Backyard Bird Count

Let it not be said that the romance has gone out of the Gulish marriage! After reading my last post, John immediately went out and bought a new snow shovel for me---a red one at that! Other wives should be so lucky. And I have already put it to good use as the 1-2" predicted snowfall turned out to be 4-5" here at Pittsgrove Farms.

After clearing the driveway, it was time to refill the bird feeders which reminded me that February 13-16, marks the date of the Great Backyard Bird Count. Details on the website explain how you can take part in helping in the effort to track bird populations throughout the USA. The count is made possible through a cooperative effort between Audubon and Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The web site will also direct you to other sites with fun activities for kids and for expanding your own bird knowledge.


I will happily have two of my very favorite assistants with me for the first half of the count since our grand son and grand daughter will be with us for a week. They are already great naturalists, attend the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma on an almost weekly basis, feed the birds, and keep their squirrel buddy, Linus, in constant peanut supply.

I have recently received phone calls and emails asking about iris and peony plants that we will have for sale in the spring, so I know all of you plant lovers are anxious for winter to be over to enable you to trade your snow shovels for garden trowels. Let the bird count distract you for a few days and who knows---you may even see a robin!

Get those pads and pencils ready, and binoculars if you have them, although they won't really be needed since the count is as simple as looking out the window from the cozy confines of your home. Oh, and don't forget to put out some bird seed!

For the Birds

Yellow Finch Fever

Something John and I discovered when we ran the garden center and continued to realize with the new folks we met here at the farm is many gardeners are also avid birders who, like us, look for ways to attract as many birds as possible to their landscapes. We have done so with many of our plantings and are delighted to discover that something we put in the ground is likely to attract another song bird.

Rather than the jewelry or candy some of you may receive on your anniversary, this year much to my delight, John gave me three new birdhouses. Don't scoff--to me that was quite romantic and I have dear friends who recently admitted to the romantic side of washing dishes together! We will now have several birdhouses scattered throughout the property along with a number of bird feeders.

Baby Birds

Each year we watch our regulars-chickadees, cardinals, downy woodpeckers, etc., as they flit about the property. And each year we seem to have some new bird discover us, sometimes just passing through like the Harris hawk yesterday, or looking for a new home like the blue birds a couple of years ago, or escapees like the pheasants from a nearby gun club.

Over my morning coffee I read in today's Star Ledger that all of you can join me and fellow birders February 15-18 for The Great Backyard Bird Count sponsored by Cornell University. Go to http://www.birdcount.org/ or http://www.birdsource.org/ for details, but basically you are reporting on birds in your immediate area. You can be as ambitious or lazy as you please. You can don those hiking boots with binoculars, bird guide and pen and paper in hand, or lazily sip your coffee, tea or glass of Pinot as you take note of your feathered friends passing by your window then send your findings to the web site. Who knows, you may even be lucky enough to win one of the prizes they are offering. In any case you will have something to pass the time until spring arrives and we are all back again "playing in the dirt"!