CHICKEN COOPS, POTATO TOWERS AND CARROT BOXES

May 3, 2026May 2, 2026 / joseph elon lillie / Leave a comment

Aside from the burning and the fence building and the lawn mowing I am trying to get too, we have three projects which are time sensitive at the Vicarage and at least one of them is going to have to be a group project.

This is a rendering our new chicken run for the flock once the black austrolorps are ready to be out in the world. It stand about 7 feet tall so it is going to take a couple of us to get the roof up.

I am also thinking of repurposing the original chicken house we had for the old chickens the first year and then adding another small box to the mix.

BUT before that I have to plant the carrots in their boxes and get the potato towers built.

DO YOU HAVE A SPRING PROJECT YOU ARE WORKING ON?

THE FIRST DAFFODILS OF SPRING 2026

April 16, 2026April 16, 2026 / joseph elon lillie / 6 Comments

It’s officially Spring. This week has been up in the 70’s and even into the 80’s and that has caused everything to begin popping up.

The daffodils along the side of my sister’s driveway in the front garden are up.

The day lilies and even a few irises have started poking their heads through in the front garden, too.

the day lilies and the garlic are both pushing through in the circle garden by my driveway.

All that said our spate of good weather is almost over. By Saturday we are plunging back into the 30’s and 40’s and there is even a possibility of snow overnight, on Sunday, as the temperatures will once again plunge beneath freezing.

SPRING IN NEW ENGLAND!

WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE WHERE YOU LIVE?

PROJECT BURN IT UP

April 9, 2026 / joseph elon lillie / Leave a comment

Last week I posted about trying to burn brush in the rain and how frustrating that was.

This week, the weather has turned and I have been able to burn two days this week so far.

The three piles I have to burn will probably take me most of the summer to burn, but at least I have gotten a start

Spring cleaning has begun!

PLANNING THE SPRING CLEANING

March 23, 2026 / joseph elon lillie / Leave a comment

LATE WINTER PROJECTS AT THE VICARAGE 2026

March 5, 2026March 5, 2026 / joseph elon lillie / 2 Comments

There is no doubt that the end of winter is near. The air has become increasingly unstable. Our temperatures are fluctuating between 3 degrees Fahrenheit and 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Our New England atmosphere is full of small snowstorms that finish as bothersome ice storms making the shoveling this time of year rather nasty.

We have had two days of shoveling this week and I am thinking that by tomorrow morning we will have another five to seven inches of snow to shovel from the drive.

This is the time of year when I am itching to get out into the garden and yet all I can manage is to stay somewhat even with the everyday chores: Walking the dogs, feeding the chickens, mucking the chicken runs and coops, feeding the wild birds and wild rabbits.

This is the time of year when winter stores are running out for the forest critters and so bird seed and scraps for the bunnies and squirrels become essential for life.

Even our Cooper’s hawk is seeming a bit more desperate these days.

Still we all know Spring is just around the corner and the outside jobs will soon want doing. I am looking forward to the earth thawing out and getting my hands into garden soil again.

WHAT ABOUT SPRING MAKES EXCITES YOU?

WINTER RETURNS TO THE VICARAGE

April 14, 2025April 14, 2025 / joseph elon lillie / 4 Comments

It is good we got so many projects done on Wednesday and Thursday last week, because winter made a return this weekend.

We did have some damage from the heavy wet snow. Today starts the cleanup.

May 31, 2024 / joseph elon lillie / Leave a comment

Paintbrush

Photo by Unchalee Srirugsar on Pexels.com

Paintbrush

May 31, 2024 / joseph elon lillie / Leave a comment

I love the Indian Paintbrush that comes at the end of Spring. We have a little at The Vicarage, but my neighbor has it in everywhere!

Spring Festival 2024: Finale: Ready For Summer

May 30, 2024 / joseph elon lillie / 2 Comments

We may have another month until summer officially begins. The rains may have returned the temperatures here back to the 50’s, but the gardens know the Spring is almost past and the summer is upon us.

The lupine is fully in bloom.

The Korean lilac has fully blossomed.

The tomatoes and the summer squash are in. The garden beds are ready to begin producing.

The daisies are about to open.

Even the hostas are giving attention to the coming of the warmth. Yesterday I caught the fragrance of the black locust trees mixed in with the scent of basil and mint. That is a sure sign of the passing of Spring into summer.

Photo by Nikola Tomau0161iu0107 on Pexels.com

I found two large patches of wild oregano growing where I was weed whacking another sign of what is to come. As we close out this FESTIVAL OF SPRING CHALLENGE HOSTED BY DAWN, what does it look like in your part of the world when Spring passes into summer? SHARE A PICTURE!

Festival of Spring 2024 Week # 10

May 25, 2024 / joseph elon lillie / 2 Comments

I AM WRITING THIS POST IN RESPONSE TO DAWN’S FESTIVAL OF SPRING CHALLENGE.

Spring is about new things coming into the world. Today our new furniture arrives for the living room. My grandson, Sevy approved especially when he realized the seats went up with the push of a button.

We have been working on the gardens for weeks now, and they are really starting to come together. Today I pruned back this hydrangea so we could see the hostess.

I pulled up some of these daffodils so that we could plan them in a new space in the fall. Soon the lilies will be in bloom and this garden will be filled with color.