Homestead Happenings

Welcome back to Homestead Happenings,

where we share what's going on here

on our Piedmont homestead.

We've been visited by many yellow swallowtail butterflies,

and I learned that this is a male because there are no

blue markings on the bottom of the wings.

These critters love our butterfly bush.

I'm excited to announce that the first monarch

was spotted this week,

so we look forward to a multitude of caterpillars

performing their magic on the milkweed!

The pumpkins continue to sprawl

every which way.

So far, it seems we are lacking proper flower

development, but there are signs of hope.

Several of the Seminole pumpkin vines

are sporting little gems,

as seen here next to the arrow.

I'm hoping to be able to store some

through winter, as these make fantastic soup!

There are turnips coming up nicely.

These are mostly grown for the chooks,

as this variety is grown for the greens,

rather than the root underneath the soil.

Another bed of mixed salad greens was sown.

It took only a few days to germinate.

There are other beds where lettuce seeds will be sown,

so that we can have a succession crop deep into fall.

Carrots are also getting established,

and I even remembered to thin them out!

This bed shares space with onions and lettuce.

Recently, beets and snap peas were also sown,

and kale is next on the list to be planted.

Then the fall garden will be complete!

The green beans are beginning to scale up the bamboo poles.

These are Jade green beans,

which I have heard from other homesteaders

are quite prolific.

It would be so wonderful to have home grown

green beans on the Thanksgiving table.

Jade green bean pods

For the first time, I am attempting to grow

chick peas, or garbanzos.

I'm not really sure what to expect here,

as I've never seen anyone grow them.

We'll just continue to monitor them 

and see what develops.

I eat chick peas so often that

this would be one crop well worth growing.

These are rattlesnake beans,

which are grown to use as a dried bean.

In the next few years, I would like to

continue to experiment with growing a larger variety

of drying beans.

As I don't eat meat, beans are an important part of my diet.

They're also great for sprouting!

The ginger has been blooming for the past week,

and I've enjoyed the tropical look it gives to this corner.

We have been enjoying bringing in small bouquets

of zinnias, mixed with other treasures we are finding in the garden.

Summer is my least favorite season,

but the flowers help to get me through it.

I asked for a retractable hose reel for my birthday,

and Big K came through!

A neighbor installed it for us,

and it's been working quite well.

Sure is easier than dragging a hose

all around the garden.

The only thing I don't like about it,

is that it is mostly plastic.

On the front part of the yard, under the maple tree,

another hose is handy for watering and

cleaning the chooks' coops.

This metal hose has so far worked well.

It's flexible, lightweight, and doesn't kink.

Summer seems to be winding down here, 

even though next week is predicted to have 

high temperatures in the 90s again.

It won't last long.

Everyone here is ready for autumn and its cool mornings,

absence of mosquitos and less humidity.

I hope you are counting your blessings,

 no matter the season.

"We cannot direct the wind,

but we can adjust the sails."

~Dolly Parton

Garden Friday

 

Welcome to Garden Friday,

where we share what's happening on our Piedmont Homestead.

We had a spectacular sunset this past week

and it made me so grateful for my working eyes.

 

In the garden, we are gearing up for fall planting.

There is some lettuce growing,

which was started earlier this summer,

but I've left it mostly for the chooks,

as it quickly turned bitter.

Thankfully, they don't seem to mind.

Several lettuce varieties will soon be started from seed.

 

The red ripper beans are coming on.

These are left on the vines to dry and use for cooking.

It never ceases to amaze me what comes from planting one seed.

 

The Piggot peas and cukes are nestled in their bed,

where they will remain covered to dissuade squirrels 

from digging them up.

This is the first time I've grown these peas,

but I'm always willing to try something new.

 

The Seminole pumpkins were transplanted this week.

This is the first time I've tried this crop as well,

and I'm not sure I have the timing quite right.

I haven't had much success growing squash

and have pretty much given up on it,

but this variety is supposed to be resistant 

to the squash vine borer.

new to me caterpillar

 

The elderberries are here,

and although there probably won't be enough to harvest,

I'm happy to share them with the birds.

 

The morning glory seems quite content 

growing on the fencing of the compost  pile.

 

The loofah is climbing our trellis in the chook run,

providing them with needed shade.

We have flowers, but no fruit yet,

but with the ongoing heat and humidity,

it won't be long.

 

 If you've read this blog for any length of time,

you know I enjoy thrifting materials

and repurposing them for other uses.

These bundt pans have been used for feeding,

turned right-side up,

but this week I tried something new.

I stuck cabbage and corn in the hole on the bottom.

 

It was a hit!

Jubilee

 

Amazing work

 

The baby wrens fledged this week 

under the most horrendous of conditions!

This was the first lil' one out of the birdhouse on the porch.

Its siblings took the rest of the day to emerge.

 

We had a tremendous wind and rain event,

and that's when they decided it was time to venture out.

It must mean they are going to be very hearty birds!

 

The butterflies have been increasing in numbers

 

and types.

No monarchs yet, but with August rolling around,

it should be soon.

 Some of the girls are molting,

which I think is great timing on their part!

Poor Ruby looks a sight,

but I'll bet she is a bit cooler than some of the others.

No doubt she will look brand new in a few weeks' time.

Summer is waning and we are getting a bit more rain,

for which I'm grateful.

It means less time watering,

and more time enjoying the beautiful cut flowers inside.

Gardening is a blessing.

 

 

Garden Friday

 

 

Welcome back to Garden Friday!

We have been blessed with gorgeous weather this week!

It's the perfect time to garden and get some outdoor projects done.

 

It's been a busy week for the caterpillars around the homestead.

We've had close to a dozen Monarchs hatch out of their chrysali.

 

These creatures never cease to amaze me,

and even Big K is mesmerized by the transformation.

 

We still have many more to come over the weekend.

It's quite an exciting time and I'm grateful I'll be home to see it!

 

In the garden, we are still awaiting a few of the Kajari melons to ripen.

This one's the closest, so I'll check it everyday.

 

There are even new flowers on the melon plants.

 

The melons share a bed with the sweet potatoes.

I'll be harvesting the sweet taters this weekend.

Can't wait to see what we get!

 

In another bed, the carrots and beets are holding their own.

In most of the other beds, germination was poor,

so I'll be reseeding this weekend as well.

 

I've been so happy with the lantana,

which I planted in old lawn mower tires.

They don't look like they are slowing down at all.

 

Some time has been spent picking seed pods,

so that I can have some of these hyacinth beans next year.

I also collected morning glory, moonflower and nasturtium seeds.

 

A mess of pesto was made this week

with some of the basil that was picked.

I've used it on my weekend pizza,

as it seems that I may have developed a sensitivity

to tomatoes.

 

All the beds have now been topped off with compost

and are ready for the fall/winter season.

This bed will be planted with garlic.

The first project this morning will be

to unload this trailer of woodchips.

I'll need a couple of more loads to complete the walkways

in the veggie garden.

So grateful to have found this close by for only $20 a yard.

 

 

The weather is absolutely picture perfect

and I'm hoping that it motivates me to 

consistently get things crossed off my list.

 

Here's hoping you are enjoying some beautiful autumn weather!

Garden Friday

 

 

Welcome to Garden Friday!

Today, it's all about the Monarchs!

 

As you can see here, our milkweed has been stripped bare.

Most of it has been left in ruins, eaten until there is nothing left.

 

I couldn't be happier about it.

We grow milkweed specifically to support the Monarch caterpillars.

We are a certified Monarch Way Station,

which means that we provide all the resources necessary

to enable these critters to proliferate.

 

With an ample food source, they found our homestead

and decided to stay a while.

 

Some time last week,

the count of cats stood at 23.

Thankfully, we had enough plants to feed them all.

Milkweed is the host plant for Monarchs.

It is the only thing they eat.

 

This was the first time I'd ever seen one 

trying to get into the house!

This is the space between the screen door and the jamb.

No doubt this lil' one was ready to form its chrysalis,

and was looking for a safe and protected spot.

It was relocated to

 

the front window.

I left it to roam on the window sill,

where it is sheltered under the porch overhang.

It must have decided the spot would do,

and went about attaching itself to the top of the sill.

That "J" shape means it's getting ready to spin its covering.

 A few hours later I checked back, 

and this is what I saw.

The Monarch chrysalis is unique in that 

it has tiny gold specks adorning the emerald green casing.

 

 

 By the end of the week, we found quite a few 

underneath our front porch table, 

as well as several in other spots near the porch.

It amazes me that they know just where the chrysalis

will be the safest and most likely to complete its transformation.

It should be quite a show!

 

 

We'll do a follow up as soon as there is anything to report.

 

 

Here's hoping that you find something absolutely breathtaking on your homestead!

 

Here are some other caterpillar and butterfly posts:

 

Home to Monarchs

Native Milkweed 

Nurturing Caterpillars and Butterflies