90 Trees!

That's how many we planted. I can't believe it. Let's see if I can remember all the varieties. Random peach (good luck, I know), Sandra Rose cherry, Kristin cherry, Ulster cherry (again sweet cherry, good luck I know), Bartlett pear, Golden Russet Bosc, Beurre D'Anjou, Satsuma plum, Fortune plum, Grimes Golden apple, Lady apple (actually pink lady apple is a cross between these two varieties), Liberty apple and Nova Spy apple.

Then there were the nuts: black walnut, hazelnut, heartnut and bur oak (for the moist valley bottom where they will perhaps thrive). Thanks for some friends for sending along a gift certificate for nut trees which helped greatly. You know who you are.


We had a funny last tree planting ceremony. Frances marked the last stake, though I'm sure sure how much the efforts of men will stand against the beaming, purging sun. Thanks to Jane, Frances and Amber who supported my back in this endeavour.


What's next?

Another nap.

Spring Garden

Here are some images from our spring garden. The orchard continues to grow with the efforts of Frances, Thom and Jane. It's difficult to get a picture of trees that are still dormant and are just now budding and waking up for the season. Thanks to Jane for coming down this weekend and just planting trees (plus bringing me chocolate and tahini). Frances is also working really hard helping plant and tie the trees to the stakes. And yes, it is still chilly here; I see lots of pictures of people in Ontario walking around in t-shirts but that's still a ways away.


Lots of things have overwintered in our garden: kale, spinach, chard, leeks, turnips and radish. So it means that we're not just eating dandelions and beans this spring. Frances and I pulled the radish and turnip and made them into kraut a few days ago. I decided to try something new and made kimchi out of the turnip tops and leeks. It's fermenting away in the kitchen. Might be an interesting taste, what do you think?


Oh and last but not least I planted 18 asparagus crowns. Two have come up already and it'll be three years before we harvest asparagus regularly but then we have 20+ years of asparagus. Can't complain about that. Go perennials!

Meet Kanellos

Last night on the National, there were images of protests in Greece. One image stuck out: a line of stone throwers and in the lead a tan dog barking at the police. Then today I saw this photo essay about the dog named Kanellos. Keep up the good work Greeks!

Beautiful Moment

I just experienced a lovely moment in the garden. I have been digging holes for the almost 100 fruit trees that are due to arrive (after a long and arduous journey) tomorrow. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with planting and then watering all these trees over the summer. And there have been no signs of wwoofers on their ways which means it's on me. I have been harbouring the thought that Dan and I went overboard buying all these trees.

Then walking back from the hole digging, I noticed a bald eagle slowly gliding over the field. I crouched down in the grass to observe his or her passage. Directly over the vegetable garden a dozen swallows (I'm not sure what species they are but they beat fast and then cruise and look like they are chasing bugs) were flying and playing. One had approached our smiling scarecrow and pecked him right in the face. It was comical.

Then the eagle passed over, happily not noticing Buddy who was with me but some distance away. As I went to stand up, a marsh hawk took off from the grass at the top of the hill and glided over the garden. It rapidly dove into the grass but alighted again and departed over the forest.

It was a lovely moment, that has temporarily driven away any blues and stress that I was feeling. I'm going to hold onto its memory as I continue to dig away all this afternoon.