Peonies, Poppies, Chipping Cardboard and an Exploding Sun!
Some things just HAVE to be done in the springtime…. after a rain…. before it gets too hot, or too weedy, or too dry. No matter how hard we try to do projects before their time…. we can never do enough/save enough time, to do the rest. And that’s where we are today! Working in the office, but longing to be out in the garden!
The last weekend in April, the Senz Siblings arrived en masse (3), as per tradition, to impart positivity, levity….and tremendous energy… to Emandal. Joan, Margaret and Jim have been coming to the farm for over 60 years… longer than I’ve been around. With them, another generational stalwart, but a younger member, Anna, of the Harris Clan (another family still coming after decades) and her friend, Sarah. Together, they weeded the roses, spread manure, pulled weeds out of the raspberry patch….. and along with Casey, covered the Dahlia field with cardboard and 6 inches of wood chips throughout. The plants are extremely happy!
Margaret, Joan and Jim amongst the tall weeds.
The garden got more attention a week later, when all the second grades from Willits came to Emandal for their annual Field Trips (3 days of classes). Kashaya showed them the animals….. Steve took them to the river….. Tom helped them churn ice cream…. and I got them to spread compost on the pepper rows to be! Additional assistance was gleaned from the High School, as several members of the Willits F.F.A. (Future Farmers of America), came out to help, gaining community service points. Some even learned how to use a broadfork in a garden setting!
A broadforking race in progress….. Potatoes are in those rows now.
Two classes of 2nd Graders, heading for the bus to take them home.
Another wonderful tradition was upheld this spring, when members of the Peregrine Audubon Society came out for hot cinnamon rolls…. a meandering bird walk…. then ended with a brunch featuring our own asparagus, eggs and sausage.
Mother’s Day has come and gone…. we took bouquets into Mariposa Market on Wednesday…. and then again on Friday. Flowers are popular indeed for this Hallmark Holiday!
Presumably, many Bucket Lists were relieved of at least one item last weekend, when the Aurora Borealis became visible throughout most of the United States! Although our viewing to the north could have been better had we gone up to Inspiration Point, we did manage to see a glow, some green and some red. However, my friend Wendy, was up above Covelo, looking directly north, and got these images.
Summer is nearly upon us…. This weekend we have a 70th Birthday Celebration scheduled…. Her 94 year old Mom will be here! Memorial Day soon thereafter…… then the Mendocino County Bar Outing (over 60 years running…)…. and then the beginning of Family Camp! Whew! Will everything get done? Absolutely not!!! But we’ll give it a good go, and know that folks will have a grand time! Looking forward to seeing YOU!