Birds, Bees and Butterflies

Spring is in full swing at the farm now. Our early spring crops, chard, arugula, lettuce, onions, potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower, are all producing, or well on their way. Even the ultra-early Beaverlodge Slicer tomatoes are already setting fruit! Yesterday I set out lots of Mexican Tomatillos, Golden Nugget cherry tomatoes, early cherry tomatoes, and Beaverlodge Plum tomatoes, but silly head me didn’t bother to harden them off to the wind, which was blowing at a steady 20mph shortly after I got all these plants into the ground. Consequently, one of the tomatillos snapped off at ground level so we quickly constructed a wind wall by covering the tomato towers on the windward side with row cover cloth. This solution worked really well and we had only the one casualty, which was no big deal since we have more plants in the greenhouse. Today I will be planting eggplants, peppers, dill, cinnamon basil, lime basil, and parsley, and tomorrow we get our bees to start our beekeeping operation. Can’t wait to have fresh honey from our own hives!

Beaverlodge Slicer Ultra-Early Tomato

The buddleia alternifolia in the courtyard is attracting all manner of bees and butterflies. The plant is absolutely alive with activity. I got a nice photograph of a monarch feeding on it late in the afternoon.

Monarch on Buddleia

I love how the lavender color of the buddleia contrasts with the deep tangerine of the crossvine. This was exactly the effect I was after with these two plants. Add to that the fact that both of these plants are bee, butterfly or hummingbird magnets, and you have a really nice spring combination.

Buddleia and Tangerine Crossvine In the Evening

Hummingbird Feeding on Crossvine

I have been having a problem with an armadillo digging in the courtyard under the bird feeder every night. There aren’t any plants there since the variegated agave froze and the Texas sotol cactus succumbed to ants, overwatering and a nasty centipede grass infestation, so there wasn’t any plant destruction, just a big mess of dug up dirt everywhere every morning that I had to clean up since this is right in the middle of the courtyard. The solution I came up with was to move some large rocks into the area, along with a large pot full of lavender. So far there has been no more excavation in that area and I like the look of it. The rocks tie that area in with the rocky grotto area.

Courtyard Bird Feeder Bed

Rocks and Lavender in Bird Feeder Bed

With all of the roses coming into bloom in the courtyard I couldn’t resist taking some pictures of the area. This is the third year for many of the plantings in the courtyard, and the second year for others and the look and feeling that I was after is taking shape nicely. We absolutely love being in the space and it creates a nice view from inside the house.

Courtyard in Spring

Courtyard in Spring

Courtyard in Spring

Courtyard in Spring

Courtyard in Spring

Time to go check on the transplants in the garden!
Carol