We just had six inches of rain!
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011As if June wasn’t busy and we weren’t late enough with our projects (garden and barn), we just got dumped on all day by a torrential rain. All in all, it poured six to seven INCHES of rain on us! Will has been going mano a mano with the beavers, trying by hand to tear out just enough of their dam to reduce the water level in the creek in order to put his bridge in. The bridge frame is laying over the water next to the pilings but there has been too much water to finish putting backfill into the creek behind the pilings. So he has been going down to the dam every day — usually twice — with a hoe, pulling out branches, logs, and mud to let more water flow through. But beavers are very tenacious builders. They are working just as hard to patch up Will’s hole. They even cruise around while he works, slapping their tails at him. Spencer tries to chase them away but he can’t out-swim a beaver and they just laugh at him. We’ll see how this all plays out. So far the score is: Will-0, beavers 12!
And the rain washed gullies down the corn patch in the garden. The first corn is up nicely, but we’ll have to see how the second patch comes. One gully is right down a row! And it’s about 4 inches deep. I think I’ll have to replant that part of the row, for sure. And it’s getting late to plant early corn, up north.
But the potatoes and onions love the rain; we’ve got the makings of a great crop! Because of graduation and the wedding (and the preparation), I’m late doing everything in the garden. Just now, I’m pulling the Wallo’ Waters off my tomatoes. It should have been done two weeks ago, but oh well… The tomatoes look great though. Unfortunately, so do the weeds! Wow. The garden won’t be pristine this year! But we’ll sure have plenty of food from it. (After all, lamb’s quarter and pig weed make great cooked greens!)
After being planted for three years, my perennial flowers are just taking off. The peonies are wonderful! And my lupines and roses look great, too. For a couple of years, they looked pretty puny, trying to fight off weeds that I never had time to pull, it seemed. But I kept at it and this year the flowers are rewarding me. They are absolutely gorgeous and getting better! It goes to show you, our motto of “never quit” holds true in all things in life. Especially here in the backwoods! — Jackie
June 29th, 2011
Can you post a picture of the pigs weed and lamb quarter weeds so we can eat them too? We had that kind of rain in WI too. I like moisture but not that much! Thanks Cindy
June 29th, 2011
Your flowers are beautiful! I am so excited that my flowers, shasta daisies, cone flowers and blanket flowers, are finally going to bloom this year! I raised them from seed last Spring, planted them in June and they grew well but, no blooms last year. Having only grown veggies from seed before, I had no idea how long it would take the perennials to fully develop. I have a whole new respect for those 4″ pots at the nursery!
June 29th, 2011
Your peonies are beautiful. Mine are done blooming about 2 weeks ago here in lower Michigan, about 50 miles north of the Indiana border area 5. I remember when I wanted them to bloom about a week earlier in June so I could have a bouquet for the kids graduation parties but it never happened. Back then the graduation parties were usually held after the graduation exercises the first Thurs in June. Our veg gardens are late this year due to the weather. Mine was planted 3-4 weeks later than last year but it is now coming along and looking fairly good. I am having trouble with bugs this year though and had to spray them. I am expectantly waiting to see who wins the beaver contest. Keep us posted.
July 4th, 2011
Jackie, send some of that rain over to New Mexico! We are going through the largest fire in the state’s history, with the monsoon’s not coming yet. We sure could use some rain! Is the pig’s weed and lamb’s quarter weeds that grow? I sure would like to eat them instead of throwing them in the compost! Take care, and contragulations on the wedding!