RSS

Friday, May 1, 2015

Rose Bushes ~



Two of the Roses made it though the bitter winter winds.

One is on its own set of Roots.... and the other is snuggled against the house, later was a cheap $5.00 rose, to use as a test.

Is a major challenge to grow Roses here.

Have a climbing Rose I want to grow along the hen house fence... I think I am going to put it near the base of one of the Leylands... to help with winter protection. Will need to find some burlap, to put over the canes.




Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Hills ~


There are Hills, in this thar State. Have to go 2 hours away to see them...
But it was really nice.. both DH and I miss Hill Country.


Wish we could of taken some time to see more and explore. 
 However, we needed to 
pick up the baby chicks and get them home.




Baby Chicks, they are sooo fluffy ~



Baby Chicks are fluffed up and looking pretty good.

My Lavenders, are showing nice beards and muff, even with being less than a
day old.


Five of my Lavenders hatched, out of the six I had in the incubator.



I have 12 more eggs under a broody hen, will start checking for hatching chicks tomorrow.

Will bring them in to be raised with this group.




This one is a d'Anver , Millie Fleur color.
Its a Chick-Monk. ;O)



This batch of Lavenders are split for Porcelain.





DH and I went into the VA hills last Sunday to pick up 7 Quail d'Anvers from a well known breeder of quality bantams.
They are the darker ones.



Keep your fingers crossed, I break the Rooster streak I have been having the last two years, 
with the bantams!



Photo of one of my Lavenders, taken yesterday.

Monday, April 27, 2015

Saving the Hummingbird ~



Was a long day yesterday,  with the trip to pick up chicks. Normally I would have DS do the evening chores.

But last night, I felt the need to drag myself out and do them.
Just started walking to the sheds... and I look down, there is a tiny hummer on the ground.

Drop everything and pick it up, was so very cold.  So I ask DS to get some of the simple syrup I make for the chicks, and DH got down the hummingbird feeder, so I could try to get it to eat.
Asked DS to get one of the heat packs, as my hands are rarely warm.
Was uber gentle with him.

It finally got enough food into itself and warmed up enough to get feisty..
Once he was feeling better, he hovered next to me for a bit then flew into the Japanese Maple.

Hope he survives the night. Think the cooler than normal weather is getting to them.


Friday, April 24, 2015

We have chicks !


We Have chicks!    

At this point, wasn't expecting it, but it is a nice surprise. 
23 days until the first started to pip... 

First time using an incubator, instead of a broody hen.

First one about 9pm last night, with two other pipping...
This morning, have 3 chicks, all from my stock.

Two Lavenders and one that is lighter... kind'a threw me off... all healthy so far.  
The 2nd photo is the lighter one.  They haven't fluffed up yet.

Saw two of Aubrey's d'Anver Millies, starting to pip.  

Looks really humid, weird thing is, before the eggs hatched, it wasn't.






Was worried as a mother Hen they won't hatch......
Here's hoping the rest do, today!

Monday, April 20, 2015

The Garden and Spring~~


The Birch tree just starting to leaf out.





Front of the house,  bought a bright red geranium so the 
house finches can raise their family, and to let the
Hummingbirds know, the snack bar is open.


Is hard to see the Grape Vines yet, but they seemed to come through this winter
OK,  did cover them in hay to help insulated them from the harsh cold winds.
Put down some hardwood bark mulch, in hopes it will help keep the weeds down.
Planted some creeping thyme and strawberries under and near the Grapevines, to both utilize the space and also help suppress the weeds in time.




Small Strawberry plant, flowering already.





Peony plants all made it too. 

The ones I over wintered, also covered them with hay.
Seems to of done the trick.



First Peony is in the front of the photo.

 Can see where we have not weeded yet.

Farther back, we weeded and put hardwood mulch down.
Also planted some Dahlia's we bought from Coscto.
They are inter-planted with the Peonys, and should be quite pretty later in the season.



Rugosa Rose's I am growing as a hedge row. 
Really hard to see right now, so I drew little red arrows to point the way.

Have more on order to make a hedge row around the kitchen garden.
This will help save the plants from harsh winter winds.



Some point in the future, I plan on putting up a Pretty garden fence to keep the poultry out.
Right now... its a Redneck fence.

DS is doing his part of the morning chores.




The House~



First panoramic shot of the house and some of the buildings.

Figured I would get a photo of the place, while there
was sun this morning..

Has already clouded up and waiting for 
another Thunder storm later this 
afternoon.

This was taken at the far side of the small
Orchard I am setting up.
Plan on getting a photo from the road,
When we have better weather.