Of Roses and Catalpas

Note--I started this post weeks back, so while there are no more blooms on roses or catalpas, and it's hot, dry and dusty, still thought you might enjoy the pictures.



With the first flush of Spring--the lilacs, wild grapes, fruit trees and the early blooming flowers, I always think that it can't smell or look any prettier. Then along comes early June, and I remember that it can---or at least run a close tie with the earlier sensory flood of blossoms and fragrance.


When June rolls around the roses and the Catalpas put on their show. The lazy fat climbing roses spill their blossoms on the fence and the Catalpas look like snow drifts. The place smells like a French Boudoir (not that I've ever smelled one....) and every which way you look some bit of bright blossom is showing.




I used to try and keep 'regular' roses, but I found that they just did not thrive for me. The lovely pink roses that twine on either side of my driveway, are my "Jack Roses". They are old fashioned climbers that my mailman pulled starts of out of a ditch one day years and years ago. He gave me two, I stuck them in the ground and they took off and bloom every year with no care or maintenance (besides the occasional trimming of a dead or unruly cane). The bright red climber is a variety that I ordered years ago (and have since forgotten the name of) and planted along the front fence. If I remember correctly there were two of them, one on each side of the front gate, but only one lived. There is one other little rose besides these hardy climbers here. It's a small 'tea rose', yellow in color and so far very hardy. It often blooms all summer.

The view down my driveway this time of year is especially lovely and peaceful. The Catalpas hang over the tracks and the roses bloom on the gate posts.


In front of my house I have five large old Catalpa trees. I was told that they were planted in 1935 in the front yard of the old school. These old stately trees have already survived past their projected lifespan of 70 years and I hope they last many more years. They are always the last to leaf out in the winter and the first to lose their leaves in the fall. There is a moth (the Catalpa sphinx moth) that lays its larva in these trees and along about late summer the trees will become full of caterpillars. At times they can defoliate the entire tree. These caterpillars are very popular as fishing bait. The blossoms will produce a long thin 'green bean' looking seed pod that turns brown in the winter and eventually shatters and falls off. There are three more trees scattered around my place (one in the yard) that are the result of these seeds 'scattering to the wind'. The ice storm in 2007 took a heavy toll on the trees, but they seem to be recovering.

I'm glad those folks decided to plant these trees all those years ago. They also planted lilacs and Chinese Elm, although the old Elms are showing their age. The trees and bushes they have planted have been enjoyed over the years by many.

The Pretender...

And other flowering mysteries...

Does anyone know what this well tended, cultivated weed is? Last year I salvaged some very old seed from a "Sweet Annie" dried flower bundle. I carefully prepared a flower pot and tamped the seed in. Lo and behold in a few weeks this tiny feathery green plant came up! It worked! The seed was still viable. All summer I babied that thing along, and even convinced myself that the leaves when lightly crushed smell like Sweet Annie (it has a very pungent aroma). When winter came I made sure it was in a protected area and got occasional waterings if it was too dry. Lo and behold again, it survived the winter! I had Sweet Annie and this year it would produce seed and soon my fields would be white with Sweet Annie (sorry, got a little carried away there).

Then it put this big white flowery seed head on, and no matter how I tried to convince myself, it definitely didn't smell like Sweet Annie anymore. Nope. And strangely enough there seemed to be the same plant growing...wild.. in abundance in the fields. I can only assume it is a weed, probably chigger weed or something attractive like that. A well tended chigger weed.

Then there is this little pink flower that has emerged this Spring. I think it's from some wild flower seed I planted (far far away from the "Sweet Annie" impostor). It too has rather feathery leaves, and is a bit odd looking, but the blooms are very lovely. You can see the foliage of the plant in the bottom right hand of the photo. Any recognition on this one?

Lastly is a this flowering tree. I did find out what it is called though, after all these years. It is a Goldenrain Tree. It's quite a unique tree, with these flowing yellow blossoms and the seed pods that form in the fall. The seed pods look like tiny Japanese lanterns.

I planted this tree many years ago, when I used to get trees every year from the National Arbor Day Foundation. I never quite knew what I would get, but I grimly planted tree after tree. Most of them died. Those were the days when my yard had no trees and it was beastly hot in the house every summer. The days before my yard suddenly became a jungle of trees. I planted Redbuds and Dogwoods, a Red Maple, River Birch, Apples, and Cherries and this unknown tree. I'm sure there were more that I planted, that lived briefly and died. The Redbuds lived and thrived and made more Redbud children. The Red Maple is glorious in the fall and the River Birch makes an interesting addition to the yard (although it consistently and annoyingly drops small dead limbs). However the trees that grew the fastest and have been the hardiest have been the 'volunteers'--the Catalpas, Silver Maples, Elms, Hackberry and Mulberrys.

In the back where the Goldenrain is, it is overshadowed by a Silver Maple (that I did not plant), but gamely hangs on and grows, even if at a slight angle. Further in back of the house, in the sheep pasture, there are many Silver Populars. They are lovely trees but very invasive. However the sheep have eliminated that problem by grazing down all the new seedlings every year.


Everywhere I look right now there blooms and blossoms. I'll feature the Catalpas in another post, as they are glorious this year.

A Bloom With Spring

Unlike winter, Spring is rushing by in a blur. For awhile there was sensory overload--sight and smell--with fruit trees, lilacs, and redbuds in full bloom. The grass grows tall and raggedy while I work to get the sheep on areas to mow--I refuse to use the mower first and waste all that grazing. So far no killing frosts, so it looks as if we might have apples, plums and cherries this year.

The lilacs were magnificent, profusely filled with large blooms. The scent lay heavy in the air, reminding one why they try to bottle it up into poor replicas of "Lilac" perfume. I'm blessed here on the tiny farm to have three huge old lilac bushes, that I was told were planted in 1935. I also have several smaller ones about that I've transplanted from the old ones, so blooms were abundant.

The redbuds were also amazing this year. Someone said they literally glowed, and I agree. I have four of these beauties in my yard and never cease to enjoy their Spring riot.

The plum tree out by the garage was the first to bloom and I couldn't get a good photo that justified the extravagance of blooms it produced. It's been several years since I have had plums. I do know they make jam or jelly that is very tasty. Since it always blooms a few weeks before anything else, it usually succumbs to a hard freeze.

Back in the yard, the apple tree was the next to burst into bloom. I bought this tree years ago and it was suppose to be a 'crabapple' --ornamental only. However it regularly produces blooms and tasty apples.

Several years ago, a few wild violets showed up in the backyard. Since then they've run amok and taken over many corners and crevices of the yards. Who can begrudge them though? They produce these lovely flowers in the spring and lovely green growth in the summer (that doesn't have to be mown). Win/win in my book. There are lots of different varieties in the bloom colors as well. The more common ones are the light solid purples, but these variegated beauties introduced themselves as well.

And for a 'flower' of another sort these beautiful fungus were few and far between this year. Sadly only one small batch of morels were harvested and feasted upon. My Mom actually fixed these, and I was re-warming them in the cast iron skillet. Mighty fine eatin' they were. As a side note, I saw on CraigsList where someone had morels for-sale for $30.00 a pound. I have a feeling they sold every one they had too.


Today is rainy and humid. I think it was suppose to be sunny, but what do I know? We did need the rain and got several good showers over the past few days. The sheep were pretty sure they were going to melt so it was a struggle to encourage their dirty selves out to pasture this morning. (And amazingly, the last time I looked, not one has melted away!)

I planted some shade garden seed in the rain this morning, hoping the seeds take off and make a beautiful flower bed in the expanse of my old vegetable garden. The trees have provided too much shade the last few years to grow any vegetables so it was time to find a better use for it. I also planted some Coleus in another area, as I try and transition my yard from sunny to shade gardening (as the trees have matured...). I've boughten some ferns that I would like to get planted too.

Not sure my tiny tomato seedlings are going to mature in time, but I have them started out in my 'greenhouse' (also known as the suppose-to-be-kitty-trailer). I need to pot them up as they are a little leggy. A few cabbages will go in the shade garden to see if they will grow in those conditions.

The backyard will be a corn/bean patch this year, and I'll move the pumpkins and squash outside the yard to uncharted territory. The last few years the squash bugs have massacred them on the plot they were planted on, so different plan this year. Tomatoes (when they are big enough) will again be planted in the side yard garden. I'm also toying with using some old tires for planters here and there.

This last picture is a sideview of my house taken from the road.


Guess that's it for today. A whole post without mention of kitties or sheep! (oh..well if you don't count the melting in the rain & kitty trailer thing....)
Have a great week.

Could It Be?

....signs of Spring?

The welcome color of crocus. Do you see the hidden bonus?

There it is, a sluggish bee,
throwing off winter's lethargy.

This weekend has been just beautiful. At last Spring has escaped the grip of winter, peeling her icy fingers off one by one. At least I hope. The sun shone, the temperatures were in the 60s--even the mud was reasonable. Enough to make one wax rhapsodic, er, or something.

Maples budding out

Saturday I got quite a bit done. Never enough of course, as the list grows longer, but still it's a good start. I was able to get seven of the sheep 'worked' including all five of the possibly pregnant girls. The other two were Blue the old ram and Rouen, my old Shetland girl.

The girls wait nervously for their 'spa' treatment and (required) cookie treats that follow

Most of the Shetland's feet were in great shape, even with the wet winter. And there were only a few that did some half hearted thrashing around, which was nice for a change. All five girls seem to be preggers and have little udders developing. Only a week until the first possible due date!

Also barn cleaning is in full swing, as I do my usual down to the wire clean up of the lambing stalls. About eight loads out so far and much to go! Once the stalls are clean, I'll go ahead and set up a couple of lambing jugs. I've been assembling the panels and working on lamb proofing as I go.

Relaxed woolly sheep. Notice the giant sheep in front of the hay bale? That is Lanny Wilson who normally lives with Blue the ram.

When I wanted to do something that didn't involve lugging heavy loads of sheep muck or flipping sheep on their bums, I worked a tiny bit on the travel trailer (remember it?) It is a bit overwhelming as I haven't the slightest idea on how to do some of what should be done. After days of studying the door and looking on the nets AND finally in some books I had, I was able to figure out how to remove the old torn up screen from the door. Now it's all pulled out, and the doors are scrubbed down and it's ready to have the new screen installed. I'll let you know how that goes! I also took out the old plexi glass peep window in the door and bought a new piece for it. Still have to find something to remove the old adhesive and it'll be ready to put into place. Still am clueless on how in the world to get those torn screens off the inside windows....

Cats soaking up the sun--Noah

One of the nicest things about the weekend was that the hose unthawed and I was able to water the sheep without lugging buckets of water to them. I think there were maybe five days all winter long that I had the luxury of using the hose, so this was a much welcome break.

During 'break time' I sat out on the front porch in my Adirondack chair and soaked in the sunshine, sounds and smells of Spring.

Hot dog. Can we get my pool out yet? Boone asks.

Rain is suppose to move back in this week, and I'm sure we'll have some more cold spells, but this weekend restored hope. I'm taking a couple of vacation days Monday and Tuesday so I hope to get some more things marked off the list. Tomorrow it will be off to the big city to stock up on supplies, as once it commences lambing there won't be many opportunities to get out and about for a few weeks.

Hope you all have a great week!

Tired dogs. Snoopervising is hard work!

p.s. anyone who thinks cats are aloof and disdain attention, tell that to the cats. This post has taken twice as long as needed, due to the revolving door of needy cats.

Hot Summer Evening In The Garden

Busy Butterfly on Butterfly Bush

Black Eyed Susan Nods Gently Over the Path

Feverfew at the Garden's Edge

Apple Harvest
(A harvest of one apple!)

It's miserably hot here, and drying out fast. Tonight I spent some time in the yard and garden, weeding, watering and enjoying. I love to walk amongst the plants and turn their names over in my mind. Feverfew, Four O' Clocks, Black Eyed Susans, Snow on the Mountain. So descriptive and as lovely as the flowers themselves.

After working in the garden, I filled Boone's pool and we waded and cooled
off for a spell.

Early Morning After the Rain

Blue & Lanny Wilson Meet Me at the Gate

The early Morning Sun Reflects Gold & Green off the Dew

Hidden Surprises. Can you see her? Near the steps of the house, this lovely blue flower sits quietly amongst the rampant green of primrose and mint. Can you see her yet? In the middle at the bottom of the photo, is a tiny brown quail hiding. Her two chicks are safely tucked away out of sight. (okay, she isn't real...but she still delights my heart when I see her there)

The Bounty Of Friends

I am not a very social person, but I have a few good friends that mean the world to me. We don't get together every week, or sometimes we don't even talk for weeks at a time. But we know that if we need each other or just want to talk we are there. We pick up the mantle of conversation with ease when we do call or visit. We catch up with each other, we gossip, we giggle, we enjoy friendship. I have one dear friend --my 'best friend' who I've known since sometime in grade school. We can't quite remember when, but we vaguely remember how we first became friends. Over the years we have drifted in and out of keeping in touch. She married, and we both got involved in our lives. For several years we fell completely out of touch. Then we re-connected and our friendship continues. We have lunch often, and we never have enough time to talk, but we enjoy each other. She is an open, unaffected person, generous of heart and full of laughter. She gives the best and most heartfelt hugs. Why would I ever want to lose this friendship?

Through the years I've connected with other people and become friends. It always seems odd in retrospect that certain people will become your dear friends. Sometimes you have little in common, sometimes there is an age difference, but I can look back and know that these people touched my lives in real and rich ways and became a part of my being. Some of them have passed away, some have moved far away, even some I've never met in person!

Then there is friendship that goes beyond that simple word. Some people are just a part of you, forever and ever. My cousin and I grew up together --we were inseparable. There were only a few months difference in our ages and we lived within a mile or so walking distance. I can never remember a time when she wasn't in my life. Sometimes I think about how we must have lain together on a blanket and probably stared at each other, and maybe giggled little baby giggles. As we grew we explored, and played and swam and used our extraordinary imaginations to make the mundane exciting and brave. When you run pell-mell down a steep rock and shrub strewn ridge, fleeing from a bear (likely a fire blackened stump in a grown up mind) you are connected with that person forever. You shared the heart thumping fear, the screams and eventually the hysterical laughter. Together you built tadpole farms in the creek and felt minnows nibble at your legs. You raised imaginary horses on green fields, married imaginary ranchers and raised more imaginary horses. In reality you helped your cousin with her daily chores on a dairy farm. The work was hard and allot was expected from them, but between the chores there was always time to play and laugh and a never ending playground. As we matured our paths parted ---our lives became dis-injoined. She eventually moved away. Life has dealt her unimaginable tragedies. Sometimes out of the blue, I think of her and my heart aches for her, and I wonder how she is doing. We keep in touch, but not well. We meet at funerals and hug each other and sob and vow to do better. We love each other, but we are separated at this time in our lives. Not a day goes by when I don't think of her, or some silly thing we may have done. My childhood memories are so intertwined with her that there is no way to separate them out. We've decided that someday we will sit in our rockers---side by side----at the nursing home and once more relive our memories. I love you dear cousin, I surely do.

Yesterday I visited a friend who is one of those people you meet up with in life and feel connected to instantly. Sometimes her and I plan things to do or just visit and chat. Her husband goes on rendezvous sometimes so we often enjoy going places that wouldn't interest him. The other day she called and offered the bounty of her garden. I immediately said yes, and went over last night. I have a garden, but it's pretty pathetic at the worst of times, and small even in the best of times. She has a huge garden and plants enough for an army. We picked and loaded up sacks of tomatoes, cukes, squash, okra and zucchini. Then we visited. I got to see video of her first grand child, and her re-papered kitchen. We caught up on our lives, and had a wonderful time. She finally sent me home with a lovely bouquet of zinnias and the bouquet of friendship.

Treasure your friends, think of them often, and always realize God places these special people along your path as you travel the road of life. Some are there only briefly and others will walk with you the whole distance.