Harvest
...
This past weekend, I did a bit of garden cleaning. I cut down the crocosmia stems, which had died back to a ratty tangle.
And, of course, I had an assistant. Smog is our Perpetual Kitten, and is always looking to turn any activity into a Ferocious Game. He was very helpful in subduing the jungle.
I climbed up the ladder and harvested two of our hops plants -- Nugget and Kent Golding (Sterling's cones are still a bit green). For whatever reason, our hops were not as vigorous as they have been in the past. Still, we got a nice harvest of cones for beer making.
The plants themselves are fascinating eco-systems, teeming with life. And thank goodness for over-the elbow beekeeping gloves! Had I felt the feet of all the spiders that ran across my arms, I would have surely jumped off the ladder.
We let the chickens free-range this weekend. We still need to finish fencing in our back yard, so that I'm not chasing chickens down the street.
Speaking of chickens, our persimmon tree has been dropping unripe fruit at a frightening pace. The chickens noticed some split fruit that had "bletted" (or sat long enough to get mushy) under the tree.
Squishy under-ripe persimmons are too insipid tasting for me or Robb, but the chickens love them. I'm delighted by this, since it means that the fruit isn't going to waste.
(If you're interested in reading what other gardeners are harvesting this week, mosey over to Daphne's excellent blog, where she hosts a weekly garden round-up.)
This past weekend, I did a bit of garden cleaning. I cut down the crocosmia stems, which had died back to a ratty tangle.
And, of course, I had an assistant. Smog is our Perpetual Kitten, and is always looking to turn any activity into a Ferocious Game. He was very helpful in subduing the jungle.
I climbed up the ladder and harvested two of our hops plants -- Nugget and Kent Golding (Sterling's cones are still a bit green). For whatever reason, our hops were not as vigorous as they have been in the past. Still, we got a nice harvest of cones for beer making.
The plants themselves are fascinating eco-systems, teeming with life. And thank goodness for over-the elbow beekeeping gloves! Had I felt the feet of all the spiders that ran across my arms, I would have surely jumped off the ladder.
We let the chickens free-range this weekend. We still need to finish fencing in our back yard, so that I'm not chasing chickens down the street.
Speaking of chickens, our persimmon tree has been dropping unripe fruit at a frightening pace. The chickens noticed some split fruit that had "bletted" (or sat long enough to get mushy) under the tree.
Squishy under-ripe persimmons are too insipid tasting for me or Robb, but the chickens love them. I'm delighted by this, since it means that the fruit isn't going to waste.
(If you're interested in reading what other gardeners are harvesting this week, mosey over to Daphne's excellent blog, where she hosts a weekly garden round-up.)
Comments
Hops are such pretty things. And so are your girls!
I have visions of you chasing your chickens down the street and am laughing out loudly at the sight.