Meet the Peeps.

It's official. My sanity flew the coop.

Six teeny, tiny, fluff-balls of joy joined the craziness of our lives.

Yes, our Animal Whisperer prevailed. After months of pleading, pouting, and persuading, Kiki is now Mama Hen to six pullets. For those of you non-chicken-obsessed people, a pullet is a female chicken.

Somehow, I thought a rooster would not earn us a “good neighbor” award.

Anyway....

...after months of reading...

...research...

...and even a course in backyard chicken-keeping...

...we are ready. 

I think.

I was unprepared, however, for the sight of sleeping chicks. Do you know that when chicks sleep, they look like dead chicks? I went downstairs to check on the babes, saw them sprawled out in the pine shavings, thought the heat lamp had cooked them, and frantically shook the box. They popped up and began peeping at me.

It's like new mother syndrome. You pray your baby will sleep—but then need to wake her to make certain she's breathing.

I just thought you should know.

So, without further ado, allow me to introduce the girls:

Roxanne ~ Ameraucana

 

  Risa ~ Buff Orpington

 

Salt ~ Barred Plymouth Rock

Pepper ~ Barred Plymouth Rock

Meggy ~ White Leghorn

Clue ~ Ameraucana

Tomorrow, or sometime soon, I'll write about the preparation needed for backyard chicken keeping.

Right now, though, I need to wake the babies.

XO,
Julie

Birthday Tree.

My girl is double digits. 

Ten years ago, on April Fool's Day, I went into labor while Peter, Tyler, and I were browsing in a now defunct pet store. Actually, my water broke in the pet store. I know that was more information than you care to know about me, but it explains a lot.

Like how our girlie, who is so incredibly animal-obsessed, tried to enter this world surrounded by furry friends. I swear, her animal love began in utero.

And it continues to grow each year.

(Did I mention we're soon adding chickens to our suburban micro-farm? But that's a story for another day.)

Not only is Kristen animal-obsessed, she's an avid tree climber. I'm the tree-hugger, she's the climber.

Once, when she was three, she climbed the Japanese Maple in front of our office. 


"Mommy! Come look! Isn't it beautiful?"


My pigtailed princess was nose-to-nose with a black rat snake.

Did you know that black rat snakes are excellent climbers? 

Did you know that, while black rat snakes are completely harmless and are wonderful at controlling pesky voles, they can cause a near-fatal panic attack when viewed by an on-the-ground mother who watches in horror as her three-year-old tries to play with said snake?

These are things you should know.

But this isn't a story about snakes, or snake-induced hyperventilation.

This is a story about a tree.

A birthday tree.

Kristen's tree.

Once upon a time, we planted a tree to celebrate Kristen.

It's an ornamental cherry tree. Today, I'd probably choose something more politically correct--perhaps a cherry tree that actually bears fruit or an ancient heirloom apple tree. But back then, I simply wanted a tree that would bloom on Kristen's birthday.

A pretty tree. 

A picture-perfect tree.

A tree that would co-star in annual birthday photos, charting the growth of both girl and her tree.

So, in an act of sheer indulgence and sentimentality, I thought I'd share with you Kristen and her tree, in the hopes that you, too, will plant a tree for your favorite babe. (Fall is the best time to plant trees, but if you are careful to water well and don't wait too late--you can also plant in the spring. The Arbor Day Foundation provides excellent videos on planting and caring for trees.)

1st Birthday

2 years

3 years

5 years

6 years

7 years
(Wow...Kristen's tree on non-organic, chemical-laden fertilizer?)

8 years
(OK, I know it's not a tree...but I thought you should know that I'm serious about the snake-thing.)

10 years

I'm shocked when I look at my long-legged girl--it seems like two weeks ago that she was an itty bitty thing, shaking the stick-trunk of her tree. 

I hope that she'll always find joy in her birthday tree.

Happy Birthday, my double digit sweet-pea!

XO, Mommy
 

Spring Treats.

It's official. It's spring—tra la! 

The tulips are popping! The cherry trees are bursting! The peas are poking their little first leaves out of the soil!

I'm using too many exclamation marks!

I'm sorry, my northern friends—I know it's still chilly up in your part of the world. But, it's spring, and I know your hands are getting itchy...

...to play in the dirt. Ahhhh....

Now, we all know the rules...

No planting tender annuals until after the last frost date for your zone.

(Repeat after me: I will not plant too early, I will not plant too early.)

As tempting as it is, you'll be wasting your time and money by planting your garden full of gorgeous tomato babies and basil this weekend—if your last frost date is May 15. Here's the ultimate resource for when you can plant tender veggies and flowers in your zone.

It's hard. I know. You want to plant. You need to plant. You look at your forlorn, bare garden, and the tease of spring makes you crave soil under your nails. Soon, soon...just be patient.

OK, I'm also impatient. That's why I'm sharing the perfect project to give you a spring gardening fix.

It's easy.

It's quick.

It's pretty.

It's EDIBLE!

And you can plant it RIGHT NOW!

It's a Berry Ball.

Hmmm. That sounds a bit like a poorly organized southern cotillion.

Strawberries herald spring. They're one of the first fruits to show off their adorable little blooms, quickly followed by deliciousness. Who can resist that sweet, sun-warmed berry, picked fresh from the field?

Wait—who needs a field when you can grow them in a container right outside your front door? (That's where our berry balls currently reside.)

And what's a more perfect snack for the kids than strawberries dangling within reach—while they ride scooters in the driveway or climb trees? What's more refreshing than savoring a strawberry snack as you toil away in the garden? It's a perfect reward for your labor.

Plus, this is a really fun project to do with your kids.

Here's what you'll need:

• 12” round hanging container with removable coconut fiber liner.
• Organic potting soil.
• Scissors.
• 10-12 small strawberry plants, ever-bearing variety. 

First, remove the liner from the hanging basket.

Using scissors, make a total of six small, evenly spaced holes around the lower and mid portion of the liner circumference. (I staggered the height of the holes a bit.) Do not make the holes too large or your plants will fall through and soil will spill.

Next, take a strawberry plant and insert the plant into the hole. 

Carefully pull the flowers and stems through the hole to avoid breakage.  

(Holy cow. Where did all of those wrinkles come from?)

You can use standard strawberry varieties, or you can try something a little special--Fraise des Bois. These are tiny, trés sweet, adorable alpine strawberries that produce fruit all summer until the first hard frost. I grow both Red Wonder and Yellow Wonder varieties--and I think the yellow berries are even sweeter than the red.

Fill in the lower holes first.

Add soil to the liner to help support the roots. The plants will be hanging somewhat upside down.

Now, fill in the next tier of holes with strawberry plants. These plants' roots will be placed horizontally in the basket. Add additional soil to cover the roots, and firm the soil to prevent plants from slipping out of place.

It's time to move to the top--you know, the place where we normally plant flowers in hanging baskets. Place one plant in the top center of the basket and evenly space four additional strawberry plant along the edge of the basket. Add additional soil to cover the roots and firm it into place. These plants will fill in the top of the container and spill over the sides as they grow.

Next, retrieve the metal basket from your son...

...who turned it into the Death Star and declared war on the rebel strawberries.

Carefully, lift the liner with the soil and plants into the basket. Gently insert the plants through the metal design of the basket to ensure they hang freely. 

Untangle the chain from the hanging basket. (This was, in my experience, the hardest part of the entire project, because I somehow managed to twist the chain. Lovely.) Make certain the chain's placement won't break any of the plants.

Hang the basket in a spot that receives six to eight hours of sun. This is, normally, a pretty sunny location...just not at 9 p.m. when I finished both baskets. (Friday nights are very exciting around here.) Water well.

Remember, containers need consistent watering. Check your container daily—and when it's hot, you may need to water twice a day. A good rule of thumb is to insert your finger one inch into the soil. If it's moist, you're all set. If it's dry, water your babies. Strawberries, especially, need adequate water. (Hmmm. I guess that's a “rule of finger” instead of a “rule of thumb,” huh? HA! Sorry.)

Now, don't you feel better? A little garden therapy always helps chase away the winter blues. Soon, your strawberries will begin growing and spreading and filling in the gaps so that your container will be one, big blooming ball...and your pretty little flowers will turn into delicious, tasty treats.

Mmmm...are they ready yet?

Enjoy!

XO ~

Julie

Eye candy.

Today...

...because I'm beyond overwhelmed with a greenhouse that doesn't want to go up...

...because there are thousands of tomato babies languishing in the basement, begging for natural light...

....because my poor girl is home, sick (and it's the kind of sick that translates to many, many loads of laundry. Sigh...)

...I'm playing along with May Dreams Gardens very lovely Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. If you, too, need a respite from your daily dose of stress, click on over to this site and check out the lovely virtual March blooms of gardens in different zones throughout the country.

It's such a nice escape from reality.

Yesterday, while my ickie sickie girl watched the very relaxing and probably highly-inappropriate-for-a-9-year-old Pirates of the Caribean 3: At World's End, I took a much needed stroll outside. It's supposed to rain today, so I cheated a bit. Here's what's blooming on March 14 in our garden and woods:

Daffodils galore.

When I was hugely pregnant with our now 5-year-old, I spent many days planting hundreds of bulbs. Mommies-to-be tend to nest, but mostly they ready the nest inside--scrubbing floors, walls, anything scrubable. I, however, moved mountains of mulch and worked in the garden every day until dark. And then, I would turn on all of the outside lights and keep working. My neighbors thought I was nuts. 

They were right.


But during March, when our yard is blazing with cheerfulness, I'm glad I nested outside.

Forsythia...

Cherry blossoms. Truly, is there anything prettier than cherry trees in bloom? 

From our tiny little weeping cherry...

...to the tree we planted when our now almost 10-year-old was born. Cherry trees just make me happy. Trite, I know, but true.
 

Pieris Japonica. The only time of year I feel affection for this shrub...

...and bulbs. Hyacinth...

...Muscari Grape Hyacinth...

...huh. No idea what this is. I suppose I could look it up, but I'm a little time-pressed this morning. It's cute, though, don't you think?

...tulips about to pop.

Then, of course, the camellias are showing off like prom queens--perfect, blemish-free, absolutely unreal in their loveliness.

But my favorite bloom of all isn't showy, doesn't flaunt its looks, and actually is a bit shy...but it heralds spring...

Soon, soon...spring will arrive, and our winter hibernation will be just a far off memory.

Happy bloom day!

XO ~

Julie