Firefly / Long Days' Time 2025

Nasturtiums

And just like that, Firefly/Long Days' Time is done. 

Summer has finally found us here with hot, humid weather and several sunny or partly sunny days.

The garden plants are picking up the pace.

Overall shot of the garden on 7/10

Potato plants are very happy.

Potato bed starting to bloom

So are the nasturtiums, which are used for pest control and pollinator attraction.

A bank of nasturtiums

As the season progresses, these flowers are enveloped with a constant buzzing from all of the pollinators at work.

Beans climbing their trellises

The pole beans are all climbing their supports and should start blossoming soon.

The kitchen has been busy. I've been freezing parsley and celery leaves.

Garlic scapes

 

Garlic scapes have been converted into pesto and that's been frozen.

First peas

The peas have come in and are just about finished. (Like me, they don't do well in the heat.) I froze a couple of quarts. That's enough for winter curries and stews.

Freezing Kale

I've begun freezing kale and chard.

Chopping chard to freeze

I'll continue freezing these greens into the autumn.

Dishpan full of calendula

I've picked two large dishpans full of calendula flowers and laid them out in the attic to dry.

Drying on screens

This is a major ingredient in our autumn and winter tea blend. I still need to dry a couple more pans full to have and adequate supply on hand.

Black raspberries and blueberries are coming on now. We really bulk up on our anthocyanins at this time of year.

The lettuce and spinach are done for now. The strawberries are finished. We gave several boxes away.

Garlic and shallots will be pulled soon and laid out to dry for winter use.

Apricot down

 

We lost nearly half of one of our apricot trees this month. It wasn't from a storm. Upon examination, we found a large area of decay in the juncture between trunks. These trees are short lived, so it was not a huge surprise. Now it's firewood.

"No Kings" rally in Ithaca

We've attended a couple of rallies and "honk and wave" events: two on "No Kings" Day and two on Independence Day.

Independence Day

We will continue to speak for Democracy and justice for as long as we can.

On the solstice, we walked at Watkins Glen State Park.

Solstice at Watkins Glen

It was a bit hot, even in the gorge, and very crowded.

The heat has prevented us from more outings. I'm photosensitive and get sick in the heat. We will have to get out more once cooler autumn weather arrives.

We finally sold our gas-powered car and the utility trailer we used with it. After Bob retired the second car has gotten little use. Now we'll save some money on insurance, maintenance and what not. If we find we need a truck, we'll rent one for a couple of hours.

That's about all that's keeping us busy and off of the streets. We hope you're all well and enjoying the summer.

Be safe, be strong, be courageous.

Till next time,

Kathleen and Bob

Spleenwort in Watkins gorge

 

Bright Time/Flowering Time 2025

 

Strawberries in bloom

We've been busy here in the last month. Our weather has continued to be mainly cool and wet. Two warm and sunny days in succession is still rather remarkable. 

The garden is about all planted. The cool weather plants are doing quite well.

Covered from the cold

We had a week and more of nights in the 40s, so we had to cover the plants that would be harmed.

This happens here from time to time. In Kindergarten, I told my classmates that my Grandma Wise grew coffee and orange juice in her garden. This I surmised from the juice cartons and coffee cans which she used to protect her tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. I think of this each time I have to cover my plants.

A nice selection of lettuce

We've been harvesting lettuce, tat soi, pac choi, spinach and herbs.

That's some BIG pac choi

Pac choi, tat soi and cilantro have all been put into the freezer.

Our potato plants look fine.

Bob hilling potatoes

Bob's got those all hilled up for greater yield.

Planting Aduki beans

The beans are all planted and coming up nicely.

Planting pole beans

My back and bum have almost recovered from that task.

Our corn bed, which is slow to dry out is half planted. I always plant in two phases so that we're not overrun with corn later on.

The small fruit are coming along.

Blueberry blossoms

Our blueberries were loaded with blossoms and seem to be setting quite a bit of fruit.

Strawberries begin

Right now we're in strawberry season. I've met my freezer quota and we've been enjoying plenty fresh. We had shortcake for breakfast this morning. Sometimes as a kid, I would have shortcake for breakfast at Grandma Neill's. They sold strawberries, so there was always a large shortcake in the refrigerator during June.

The weather has also been fine for Bob's transplanted seedlings. All but one survived. That one looks like it was dug up by a squirrel and dried out before we discovered it.

Hackberry

Sycamore

This year we finally dug out our only flower bed. This big job was necessitated by a very aggressive stowaway, which was taking over the bed.

Innocent looking Chameleon Flower

 

It came in undetected with a day lily. We spent three years trying to eradicate it unsuccessfully.

Digging out day lilies

Finally, we had to dig out everything and destroy it. The area is now seeded to grass and we'll have to dig out any Chameleon flower which may pop up.

Happier Clematis

We did save my three Clematis plants which were at the edge of the bed. We don't think the Chameleon flower had reached there yet, but we'll have to be watchful.

Now that they're getting more light the Clematis are doing better. Two, which I've never seen bloom, have blossomed for the first time.

Another happy Clematis

Waiting in line for books

We began the month by going to the semiannual book sale in Ithaca. We got in line about a half hour before opening on Senior Day. All books, CDs and DVDs are $.50-$1 on that day. 

Our stash this time

For $20 you can get enough entertainment to last at least until the next sale. Anything you decide not to keep you can redonate. Then, they can sell it again and make more money.

Snapper busy laying eggs

We have been out for a few walks. It's snapper egg laying season. We saw this one on a morning walk this week. Really, we saw three that morning. The shoulder of the road is a favorite spot to choose.

We've had leisurely walks in our own woods and Sapsucker Woods and Stewart Park in Ithaca. All were very relaxing.

D Day Protest

 

On the anniversary of D Day, we supported the Veterans by attending a protest in Canandaigua. (There's a large VA Hospital there.)

Of course, we will be involved in the national No Kings movement tomorrow.

I'll leave you now. Stay thoughtful, mindful and strong.

Till next time,

Kathleen and Bob

Oh, to be so relaxed

Shoots Show/Growing Time 2025

 

Mini Daffodils

The title of this installment could be "The Soggy Saga of Thistledown Gardens".

Our weather, with the exception of three days has been cool and wet. Granted, we haven't experienced any flooding, but there's nowhere you can walk without hearing "squish".

In spite of the weather, we've been busy with spring tasks.

Garden is open!

The garden season has begun!

The first harvest

We've had our first harvest! This is lettuce and chervil that self seeded last autumn. I always leave some to go to seed so we can have an early "free" harvest. We're still picking from this. It helps to bridge the vegetable gap we begin to experience at this time of year.

Planting begins

I've sown peas, lettuces and spinach already.

Peas coming up

 

The peas are up but not climbing yet. Some of the lettuce and spinach are up as well.

Chieftan seed potato 

Three types of potatoes have been planted.

Of course, expert help is always appreciated.

Cat acts in advisory capacity

Many of the potatoes are emerging now.

French Fingerling up

I've set out my cool weather starts: cabbage, Asian greens, chard, kale, lettuce, celery and parsley.

Ready for planting

Today I set out my tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and zinnias. If nights get cool next week, I'll have to cover them.

While I've been busy with the garden, Bob's been attending to his chores.

He sprayed the apple trees with clay to keep the insects off of the forming apples.

Shiitake logs ready to grow

His Shiitake logs are all stacked and ready for the season.

Sycamore seedlings

Two years ago, he sowed some seeds for Sycamore trees.

He has now transplanted six of the seedlings to various locations on our property.

Planted seedling

Currently, he's replenishing the cedar mulch around our back seating area.

Fresh mulch

We participated in a protest in a small neighboring village on May Day. We finished just before the daily rain came.

May Day rally in Ovid

We had three really nice days this month. On April 24th, we walked a portion of the Black Diamond Trail in Ithaca.

Along the Black Diamond Trail

The second beautiful day was Mother's Day. We decided to stay at home and walk on our own property.

Walking our property

We also just spent much of the day relaxing on our porch reading, listening to the birds and enjoying the fragrances of spring.

A good book and a lovely day

Our summer birds are returning. The Hummingbirds returned on May 1st. The Orioles are back and have already gone through two 32oz jars of grape jelly. The Towhees are back and the Wood Thrush are singing in the woods. We really enjoy the birds.

Within the next month the garden planting will be finished and hopefully the weather will be more consistently pleasant.

Happy Spring.

Until next time,

Kathleen and Bob

Red Currant in bloom

 

Jack in the Pulpit