I have shared with you many misty mornings at the farm and I think you’ll agree that there’s something very magical about these postings. The other morning, there was plenty of dampness in the air, which lingered well into the day. With spring, at long last upon us, the fresh new colors of nature looked so amazing against the neutral palette of the mist. Please enjoy these photos of the pure freshness of spring!
The crew from Luppino Landscaping & Masonry lifted and leveled many stones on my terrace.
After lifting out the stones, new stone dust was placed beneath each one. A two-by-four and a sledgehammer were used to pound the stones into a settled position.
The terrace is like one giant mosaic.
I also had this new path made connecting the terrace to the carriage road below.
Sasa happily grazing on fresh green grass
These are the two new gala apple trees that were planted earlier in the week. Shaun made certain that they were properly positioned and I really think they look great here.
I was planning on placing these boxwood here, but I think they’ll look better in another location. I’ll be sure to show you what I decide.
The herbaceous peony bed is growing beautifully.
The shoots are strong and healthy.
A dewy pure white magnolia flower
And then the bed was top dressed with the compost.
The dump truck filled with our own rich compost was parked next to the tree peony bed.
A sprinkling of fertilizer was place around each tree peony.
I’m also very happy with the way the tree peonies are filling out.
Chhewang and Purba were weeding and hoeing inside the boxwood garden behind the Summer House.
You may recall that I have plans for a formal garden here. I hope that will happen soon. It would be the perfect place for an outdoor summer party.
The spectacular daffodil border
Looking in the opposite direction with a weeping cherry tree
Another look at those hyacinths
In this corner of the cutting garden, we planted more than 400 lilies from The Lily Shop. http://thelilyshop.com/
With the gray sky and misty atmosphere, these weeping willows looked quite chartreuse.
These are flowers of the weeping willow, called catkins.
In the vegetable garden, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower plants have been set in the ground.
Across the way is the long pergola where an impressive allium border is planted.
I love lady’s mantle as a border plant and I really love how its leaves collect beads of water.
In the cutting garden, fragrant hyacinths offer splendid springtime cheer. Those are real geese, by the way, and not garden ornaments.
I decided to establish new beehives next to the cutting garden. The bees have been busy gathering nectar and pollen.
A view of a lower paddock with my house in the distance
This drive passes through the two-year-old Japanese maple grove, which has been mulched with seedless hay to help keep the weeds down.
The tiny new leaves of Japanese maple Acer Palmatum ‘Shindeshojo’
Hello Billy, Clive, and Rufus!
This machine belongs to Bruce Corbett Excavating, who has been repairing the carriage roads.
This specialized roller acts like a plane and eliminates high areas of the road surface.
In this area, I have a stand of American chestnut trees growing.
An opening bud of a chestnut tree
A view through the craggy old apple trees with my house beyond.