Yard - June

Fun May/June bird activity

Quail nest and eggs by the strawberry bed



New in 2009 - started seeing Black Chinned Hummingbirds in late May

Melon experiments

Red Seeded Citron - must cook it to eat it. (Watermelon) - 90-100 days

Queen Anne's Pocket Melon - only smells good. (Dudaim)

Prescott Fond Blanc (Cantalupensis) - 85-95 days

Van Doren Moon and Stars - probably won't work, needs 100-120 days (Watermelon)

Minnesota Midget (Reticulatus) - 60-75 days

Golden Midget (Watermelon) - 70 days

Charentais (Cantalupensis) - 90 days

Delice de Table (Cantalupensis) - 85-90 days

Yacon or Bolivian Sunroot

Mother Earth News yacon article

Will we see Yellow Lilac flowers this year?

Lots of blossoms! But plant is five years old and has yet to display flowers...the frost always get them.

"The yard" May 2009

Asclepias speciosa (Showy milkweed)

Asceplias speciosa or tuberosa, May 2009.

Big compost pile

Compost pile contents 3 weeks after construction - February 20th

January 31, 2009
68 degrees (scary!) but if we can't have snow we'll play in the yard! Two loader buckets of horse manure; 10-12 bags of leaves

Belle does the final inspection




2 1/2 feet high x 10-12 feet long x 5 feet deep

Red heritage raspberries - a gift from Jen

Received 3 dormant Red Heritage plants from Jen on January 29, 2009.

Unknown variety from Betsy on March 4, 2009

Plant 2 ft apart in sunny location with little wind. Trellis.

Everbearer.

Planted March 14, 2009

Cut canes back to the ground after harvest to get one bigger fall crop. Will produce two smaller seasonal crops if canes if allowed to fruit on second year canes (summer crop).

Fert in late winter if necessary.