Crocuses!

Finally!!!

Birds

Longing for Spring 2013

 Since we don't seem to be getting Spring this year, I'm going to post some pictures from last year, just to remind myself spring does exist.  May of 2012, my rare white Bleeding Heart, blooming in the fern and hosta bed.  I know I dug up and moved the bleeding heart, but cannot remember where I replanted her.  One of the joys of spring, all the surprises when the perennials start popping back up.

We are really looking forward to the gardening season this year.  Elijah is old enough now to play outside, or help us in the garden.   We didn't get any seeds started inside this year, but I plan to start a few flowers in my classroom in honor of Earth Day.  I'm going to use the empty egg shell method.

A sad "blast from the past."  Our lovely duck who was taken by a predator last year.

Our amazing red lupine, and Julie May 2012

Fern Dell Bees!

Honeybees are coming to the farm.   May 15th is our pickup date, in between now and then, I have some serious learning to do on honeybee husbandry, and I imagine pick up a few supplies.  I've been wanting to do this for a long time now, and have gotten some good information over the years from friends who have kept bees.  One suggested I purchase "The Complete Idiots Guide to Beekeeping" which sounds silly but is actually a really excellent resource.  She also said that it's not really necessary to go out and spend a ton of money "gearing up."  Any sort of one piece jumpsuit type clothing would work, like a mechanics zip up suit, which I have for when I do large oil painting.  A hat you can drape with a mosquito netting, gloves that can snugly fit over the sleeves of your shirt.  She said you do need a smoker, so that's on my list.

My mom and I are taking a beekeeping class on May 11th.

Here's some interesting honeybee info from National Geographic.