Happy Earth Day!

We observe Earth Day by planting trees. This year: a standard apple and american persimmon, a gingko, elderberry, oregon grape, and willow down by the stream, and the Mirabelle plum in the flowering border. Also planted the mystery tree up by the street, where the fig didn't make it. The mystery tree came north with us but I have NO idea what it is... though the buds do look like those on the linden.

Today was very warm and sunny (and humid... after weeks of rain) so planting trees was mostly endurance. Especially the ones in the far pasture, since we have to ford the stream and cross soggy pasture with the wheelbarrows of dirt.

But when not planting trees in the hot sun, what a beautiful day! The bees are buzzing in the cherry tree,s maples, and kale (two of the three hives made it through the winter), birds are chirping and carrying on, everything is budding or blooming or growing.

The garden paths are built or cleared, and all are mulched. Planted potatoes, and mulched onions and other early plantings... the broccoli/cabbage was looking droopy but responded well to watering. Jay's working on a second door to the duck room, which will be used for the meat chickens that are now in the brooder (after the ducks move into the old coop). He's also working on fencing for the north-side pasture, but the grass is over knee-high so we'll have to get it mowed before sheep can deal with it. They will move out there sometime after the other two sheep give birth, which could be any day now.