![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ancientrails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/IMAG05711.jpg\" "\\"IMAG0571\\"")
<\/a>tomatoes are about to enter their bearing and ripening phase, maybe a week, maybe a little more, then Kate will have the stove filled with canning and the counters with canning equipment. \u00a0Later on the raspberries, which is a bulk harvest, too, and the leeks, even later, will also be a bulk harvest. \u00a0Around the time the leeks are ready, the apples should begin to ripen.<\/p>\nI’m especially pleased with my new lilies from the Northstar Lily society: \u00a0the dark purple, the trumpet of white with yellow, the cream colored vase shaped, bright yellows and pinks. Their colors are vibrant. \u00a0They pulsate. \u00a0Mid-July is my favorite flower season. \u00a0Well, mid-July and early spring. \u00a0I also love the spring ephemerals. \u00a0The rest I enjoy, but these flowers make my flower growing season.<\/p>\n
Sprayed again this morning, this one an oil based spray to strengthen the plants against insects. \u00a0It does seem to be the case, with the exception of the beets and the cabbage that insect predation is down from years past. \u00a0This has been such an odd year, especially compared to last year–hot and dry, that it’s a little hard to generalize. \u00a0It does seem to be the case that stronger plants equal better insect control, by the plant.<\/p>\n
While the Woollies were here, I commented on the amount of money we’ve put in the But, this kind of accounting leaves out the most significant parts of all this work. \u00a0It keeps us outside, using our bodies. \u00a0The whole grounds are a joint effort, in work, planning, and hiring. \u00a0It also allows us to produce a good part of our vegetables at quality we effect and flowers for our tables. \u00a0Fruits, too.<\/p>\n Best of all it keeps us focused on the rhythms of the earth. \u00a0Winter puts the garden to sleep and relieves us of its care (for the most part). \u00a0Spring sees our fall bulb planting rewarded and our earliest vegetables planted. \u00a0Summer finds us intensely involved with weeding, thinning, managing the various crops for the year. \u00a0Fall finishes the harvest and brings senescence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summer \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Moon of the First Harvests A light rain falling as I went out this morning. \u00a0The garden continues to look strong, the tomatoes are about … Continue reading The Arc of Summer Begins to Bend Toward Fall<\/span> <\/a>outdoors. \u00a0Initially, the landscaping by Otten Brothers. \u00a0Then clearing the land for the vegetable and orchard areas. (cost here mostly stump grinding and renting the industrial strength wood-chipper.) The raised beds. \u00a0Then the ecological gardens work with the orchard and some in the vegetable garden. \u00a0Fences around the orchard and the vegetable garden and the whole property. \u00a0Irrigation zones. \u00a0The fire pit. \u00a0Mulching the orchard and the vegetable garden. \u00a0Bulbs in the fall for many years. \u00a0We’re raising expensive tomatoes.<\/p>\n