Homestead Happenings

 

Greetings from the Piedmont of North Carolina!

Thank you for visiting our Homestead Happenings post.

We've had summer-like weather with warmer days

and a few afternoon thunderstorms.

We get out when we can and attend our garden chores.

Last weekend the garlic was harvested.

We ran out of room for the 2-week curing process,

so we are using the front porch as a secondary drying station.

Any visitors to our front porch get the aroma of a pizzeria!

A few red onions were pulled up too,

although I don't remember planting any!

Any success with growing onions is welcome,

as I have not had much luck in the past.

Chamomile was also picked,

with the help of Buttercup.

This is being dried for future use as a tea.

This plant for us has been prolific!

It is a wonderful splash of white

that breaks up the mostly blue/purple garden.

There are a few pumpkins starting to grow

on our mostly volunteer plants.

It's always exciting to see the gourds form,

and not being sure what you'll end up with.

This trellis is lined with pumpkins that were all

volunteers last year, and used for our fall decorating.

It's so easy to save seeds from these crops.

I may never need to buy pumpkins again!

The front porch bed is filling up with color!

Here we have calla lilies, salvia, sedum,

coneflowers, rudebekia, a sunflower,

and lamb's ear all living harmoniously.

The bees absolutely adore it!

The canna lily forest is sharing space with

the milkweed.

We have so many pollinators enjoying the blossoms,

and there is a constant hum of activity there.

The turmeric is rejuvenating itself

near the chook runs.

This plant lives in the garage during winter,

and then comes back to life 

when the heat of spring and summer hits.

lily

Some time was spent this week

examining the blooms on the elderberry.

These delicate white snowflake-type petals

are absolutely magical.

Another bee magnet, the comfrey

gets plenty of visitors daily.

What a blessing to have these amazing critters to watch.

Looks like something has been having its way 

with the red cabbage.

Most likely moths got underneath the netting

and laid eggs on the leaves.

Ah well, the leaves will be just fine for the girls.

With the ample rain we've enjoyed,

it was a great time to replant this border.

The lamb's ear was taking over the front porch bed,

spilling onto the sidewalk,

and so I transplanted it here along our woodland bed.

The last time I did this, it wasn't watered enough,

and most of the plants didn't make it.

With abundant rain expected over the next 10 days,

it should get just what it needs.

The garden is exploding in color right now,

and I have to say,

it makes the thought of the upcoming heat of summer

almost worthwhile.

Maybe I'll complain less about the temperature

if I have some lovely flowers to look at,

and bring into the house.

How's your spring garden coming along?