Waking Up Worms

Hey, there's a rabbit on the table.

Can you believe that the year is half over? I am having a hard time accounting for what I have done so far, which is probably a symptom of retirement--the days seem to blend. In years past, my life had a predictable rhythm that ebbed and flowed with the academic year. The days still fly by, but now I have a harder time remembering what I did yesterday, let alone last week.

Sadie Jane Comes to Visit

We have sun this morning. Bright, golden, warm. We are so woefully behind in the garden. The Head Gardener ran the tiler through the beds late yesterday to dispense with the new crop of baby weeds. We decided late in the day to put the scrawny, home grown tomato sets in, but they looked so pathetic, and it was a bit breezy so we opted out, putting them in the barn to harden off.

The Week in Review

Meet Sadie Jane Anderson from Haxtun, CO, a French Bulldog, 12 weeks old. She took her first official road trip and sleep-over with her parents, our friends Dave and Sherry. She loved the Garden Spot.

She met Pop. Sundance isn't that social and was too busy eating to meet the guest.

Mom helped her feed Pop a cookie.

She had her first glamor photo shoot.

She discovered chickens. And she still wasn't tired--mom was.

We grow a healthy crop of chamomile each year and each year I pull it out. This year I got it pulled before it went to seed. The first 3 photos show the east side of the center circle that I tackled alone. I spent a couple of mornings pulling weeds, waking up worms as I worked. I remembered as a kid digging for worms to go fishing, but the worms are protected here, nearly as sacred as pollinators, living in a garden sanctuary where they do their job of aeration and amending the soil. The bottom photo shows the mess on the west side with a substantial crop of more chamomile and a hardy growth of cheat (tickle)grass that blows in. With help of the HG, we got that area cleared last night. With some prep work left , the area be with cover with fabric weed barrier and wood mulch.

New Voices in the Garden and Some Tiny Faces

Forget me Nots that I purchased last year the the Denver Botanical Plant Sale. They barely survived the winter.

Tiny Sea Thrift, one of several varieties in the garden.

Speedwell, a favorite ground cover, blooming early and if I am lucky later on in the summer, too. 

The iris are finally in full bloom, but they are rather disappointing this year. They took a big hit with cold weather, including a hard frost just as the early ones were beginning to bloom. 

A new color to bloom this year. This iris showed up practically on top of Shropshire Lad, the David Austin Rose. I will cut the iris back when it is done blooming.

My only lupin that I planted last year is finally blooming. Love the colors.

The ornamental strawberries will bloom only once in the summer. I love the carpet of little pink flowers in the fairy garden.

I happened to have my camera with me when I walked out to pick up the mail. I had to take these cloud shots: The Bear

And I thought of Denise over at  House at Forest Manor and her pup Duncan. Do you see the Scottie Dog prancing in the clouds? He even has a little tail.

We're All Mad

Every spring, Jen has a tea party for the little girls. This year's theme was Alice in Wonderland. I wish I had an image of her invitation to share. She makes decorations and bakes. The White Rabbit finally showed up. Late as the story goes. (You haven't met Peter, Ellie's pet rabbit. He lives in the house in a cage. He is a very sweet, gentle soul and I am thinking 5 years old. Is that old for a rabbit?)

She spent days rounding up odd ball chairs, mostly from our barn that had been my mom's.

I love her petit fours.  They turned out so perfect.

                                    The Queen of Hearts                           The Mad Hatter

My sweet boys with Lucy, the little ballerina. Her recital was yesterday. They boys will be up next week, so there will be more adventures to share.  (I wonder if Nathan's shirt is a hint about their summer vacation destination. And of course Jacob sports a Colorado State U ram shirt.)

I pulled the first of the rhubarb along with a bit asparagus. 

 I cooked a huge pot of rhubarb to make sauce. Some call it a compote; my mom just called it rhubarb sauce. I like compote. I saved the juice to make jelly. It's in the freezer now waiting for me to get inspired.

Don't the jars look pretty on the new counter top with a blinged-up backsplash? We have one more thing to add--outlet covers--before I give you the grand tour.

This week will be busy, too. I'll be visiting you all week, so thanks so much for stopping by. Happy June. 

Be sure to check out Monday Mosaics that Judith so gracious hosts at Lavender Cottage.