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Rain...and a bit of anything new!

Lori

By Lori

8 comments


“Ray ay ay, ay-ay-aynnnn… I don’t mind.” L.&McC.

We’ve had some much needed rain, at last. Not enough, once again, and I’ve been busy digging at the pond while it was dry…sooo the size of the pond has expanded into a large mudhole.

I have mapped out the location for the transplants, some this fall…most next spring. The little stream down the hill is not running, however.

Weather anomalies bring complications… we suddenly have a lot of tiny snails, which I’ve never seen before. The leaves of the 50-60 ft. sugar maples are folded into webby nests around their seed keys. (looking into this.)

I have 6, ten foot sections of tree trunks… (young poplar) that I need help bringing out to the lumber storage. Hopefully they will form the frame of my goat barn…next spring. I dream… but you know how that goes! I’ve persuaded my oldest son to take a web course on how to construct a barn frame with unfinished lumber (logs)… it’s promises to be an interesting project.


Three batches of tomato sauce done. I plan to use any green tomatoes with a the new flush of tomatillos for a salsa verde.
Yesterday I saw a lovely little fox and took a long walk down the stream by the road… new road work and Hydro cutting trees along the line have made some changes to the area. I still have a lot of cleaning to do…really could use a wood chipper to take away the branches that litter the field and woods. After taking out the undergrowth the large juniper (that I forbade them to remove) is growing again…lush and bushy, with berries!

I have started transplanting propagated lilac cuttings and offshoots, have grown two young oaks from acorns, a small spruce that was trying to start out in the wrong spot has been relocated near the stream, and three small cedars (from seed) growing in the flower bed will have new spots down near the road. There was a very diseased and ant infested pussywillow growing beside the stream and I reluctantly had to remove it. Beside it I have a 6 yr old white cedar from my cousin in Prince Edward County…and it’ has been topped and sheared because when I fell the pussywillow some of the branches caused some damage to it. I like the shape of it now..it reminds me of a globe cedar that I had in town. Thanks to the squirrels there is a new black walnut starting… I think I’ll move it next season.

When I took down the poplar that was shading the crab apple it took about 2 weeks to see a difference in the tree. Perhaps it’s wishful thinking but I fancy it seems to be growing straighter! In the effort to bring it back to even greater yields I’m going to give it a cutback. It has taken five years but I’m seeing more girth to the trunk and an increase in fruiting spurs on the horizontal branching. It’s vigor has increased and that’s very encouraging. The smaller tree beside it was feeling crowded and has been thinned and is now fruiting as it never had before. I have found six small apple trees growing around the margin of the forest so I’ve cleared away all the ash saplings that were crowding them and next spring I hope to see blossoming trees ringing the valley!

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Comments

 

Lori, you have a dream garden and location. Always lots to do!

23 Sep, 2016

 

Lori, when hubby and I 1st thought about moving from Kent a couple of years ago we did think about moving to Canada. We even looked up on the net to see what we could afford and found some dream houses. We then came back down to earth. Reading this blog, your property would have made it to our dream list.

24 Sep, 2016

 

Thanks Dawnsaunt.. ALWAYS. Sometimes I think I should have stayed in town, but...nahhh. Never a dull moment.
The valley of the Madawaska River is quite rugged, ringed by hill country and that's where we are. Lots of huge rock promontories and lookouts with tall fir and white pine. it's heaven in the summers with all the little lakes but it is very cold in the winters and to an extent, it's a bit isolated. If that's your cup of tea, Jen, you'd love it!

24 Sep, 2016

 

Sounds perfect Lori, enjoy!

24 Sep, 2016

 

You have been busy! Looking back at the progress you've made is so satisfying and your progress is evident.
I'm exited about your goat barn, looking forward to seeing it going up and goats moving in, unfortunately my space doesnt run to barns, with or without goats, but I'm planning chickens, just a few, hopefully next spring.
Your stream wont be long now before it runs again and you can start seeing your pond come alive. It'll be interesting to see it planted up.

24 Sep, 2016

 

Great pictures. I am loving the rain at the moment, as I have just turfed a part of my garden.

25 Sep, 2016

 

How long is your growing season? Also, as a practical matter how long would it take you to get to the hospital for a medical emergency or for EMS to get to you? Best Regards

25 Sep, 2016

 

Love the goat shed plan Lori...your mud hole looks promising... Love the image of u finding apple trees in your garden...bet you are rushing to get everything done before your temps drop and I'm so glad you finally have rain .

26 Sep, 2016

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