THE FOREST GARDEN IS IN FULL BLOOM HERE AT THE VICARAGE.
THE DAY LILLIES ARE EVERYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN BRINGING THEIT BEAUTY AND BRIGHTNESS.
AND THE HOSTAS ARE LOVING THE WARM RAINS WE HAVE BEEN HAVING.
THIS YUCCA WAS JUST A ROOT CUTTING WHEN I PLANTED IT A DECADE AGO. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR THINGS.
ABND FINALLY HERE IS THE ANTIQUE HYDRANGEA I PLANTED LAST YEAR. IT HAS GONE INTO BEAUTIFUL BLOOM.
If we were to walk around the Vicarage today you would see that the forest garden is coming into full bloom.
The lilies above are the first of the season and they are coming into bloom at the same time as the Lady’s mantle in the picture below.
I keep a good supply of clover growing throughout the garden. It helps keep the rabbits from eating the lettuces.
The bishop’s weed is springing up everywhere.
While the main fragrance is the Japan’s. This flowers may not be much to look at but they pack a powerful fragrance punch.
Strewn along the garden paths is copious amounts of Maryjane and creeping Jenny interspersed with wild daisies.
The summer squash is starting to blossom.
And I have to start using more Thai basil before it goes to seed.
Finally the sinking garden is starting to fill out nicely. I hope you enjoyed our walk.
Well as I said in yesterday’s video, Spring is almost here!
Of course it will be months before the tulips and daffodils poke their heads up through the ground. Like wise it will still be months before I can turn the ground in the garden beds and put the cold crops into the ground.
One thing I know though is that months go fast. So this week I will plan out the garden.
It won’t be that intricate, but you get the idea. Also this week I will be purchasing some of the plants I will be starting from seed or root. I have a whole space I set aside in the fall for Jerusalem artichoke.
I can’t wait to get started!
I went for coffee with my daughter the other day and we were talking about the forest garden at the Vicarage. Amanda said, “It’s like we live in Snowwhite’s Cottage, Dad.”
Today I was on a call with my sister and she commented, “You have let the gardens go for so long that what you have is a mature forest. You don’t need to make it into a forest garden you need to prune the forest and make it more usable.”
She is right, of course, Our little micro forest is severely overgrown. I do need to make it more productive as I practice permaculture.
I guess the questions I need to ask are “what do I really want my forest to do?” and “what do I want my forest to be?”
Honestly I love the gardening aspect. As I have turned back to it this year I have loved cultivating my own flowers and my own food. I want to do more of that next year.
But it is not just about the productivity of the gardens; I also love the wildlife and the domesticated life we have in the garden.
I love the animals. As I prune the garden I want to make it a more usable habitat for us as a family but also for the little creatures that live in the forest around us. I can’t imagine not having cardinals and woodpeckers and bluejays and grackles and squirrels and rabbits and chickens. I love that I have to leave the clover long for the rabbits to eat and I love that I have to buy birdseed and suet for my winged critters. I even love it when the squirrels and chipmunks come to steal the food from the birds for their midwinter snacks.
I love being able to cook a meal straight from the garden and I love being able to eat that meal while watching God’s creatures from my dining room windows. I realize that everyone had goals in gardening. These are mine.
IF YOU HAVE A GARDEN, WHAT ARE YOUR GARDENING GOALS?
It has been a very stressful week. Looking at the things are growing in my yard helps me keep my head on straight.
The St. John’s Wort is blooming.
These delicate little flowers are from the lemon balm.
The green beans are also flowering
A wall of hydrangeas
Bee Balm
African Daisy
The double helix daily
Torch Lily
The beginning of the giant phlox
The skies over the Vicarage were bright and sunny yesterday. Because my days have been so meeting heavy, I am trying to be intentional about taking in the beauty around me. Here is one of my attempts.
Today is my sabbath. I started the morning by drinking mint tea from my garden in the outdoor prayer chapel during Prime.
I have a pretty long to do list that I have compiled over the last week. I will probably get some of it done today, but it is Sabbath so a relaxed rhythm is in order.
The day lilies are in full bloom now.
So is the giant hosta.
I love the delicate flowers of the lady’s mantle.
The fleabane is also in full bloom. These tiny white flowers on 3 foot stocks attract lots of pollinators to the garden. So many people pull these out of their gardens considering them weeds, but I love how they fill out space around the yard and bring in the bees.
The whole yard is filled with the scent of honeysuckle. It is really strong this year. I can smell it no matter where I am on the property.
This year the forest garden is attracting a large number of birds.
I have to pick up more suet for the feeders today. We have five or six hungry woodpeckers that are hanging around.
I have also set up an extra hummingbird feeder. I have a larger than average population of hummingbirds and they are constantly warring over the one feeder I usually put up. The second feeder seems to have solved the problem.
My Sabbath day is going to be filled with prayer and gardening and cleaning.
How are you going to spend your day?
Notes From the Vicarage 