Poppies Dancing in the Gentle Breeze

After several days of hot and very humid weather, the air was crisp yesterday morning as I walked out to the garden. A breeze, crisp and almost cool seemed to make everything brighter and a deeper color. For the first time in weeks some of the garden chores did not seem overwhelming! The air was light, and not longer heavy on my shoulders. As I was cutting flowers for bouquets I noticed the leaves low to the ground had captured the heat and the humidity. There was a distinct change about 6 inches from the ground. (CLICK on the photo to make it bigger, and like you are here!)




The earth continually amazes me. The soil that sustains us, also filters the water, and along with diverse organisms decomposes and starts new life. Yesterday as I was digging a grave in the pasture for a hen who was victim of a hawk attack I was struck with the balance provided by the earth and the soil. So simple it seems, and taken for granted....yet complex and vital for our lives. Soil, a perfect creation.

Every year, I like to try a new type of flower or vegetable. This year one of my new trials is Poppies. I sowed about a cup of seeds in a new little field in the Kitchen Garden. After adding composed chicken manure, tilling it in well, and raking it smooth it looked perfect. I surround all my plots, and add thin string "guide lines" to row crops so Emmy will know not to walk on them. I call them Dog Lines. The string is old tobacco twine cotton string (I have no idea how I came to this huge spool of string...it was from one many parents things after they passed). After stopping Emmy a few times when she touches the string, she now understands, and will jump over the row, or go around the stringed plot. She is so smart.  BACK to the Poppies. They are beautiful dancing on delicately thin stems. Like wild flower plots the grass grows among the poppies, as the poppy plant is very delicate and weeding would destroy more than it would help....but they seem to be thriving. I hope next year the seeds will have scattered with the wind and volunteers will be all over the farm. I do love a volunteer.

Comments

Anonymous said…
hello from memphis jane. love the pics. sorry about your hen.
was wondering about the second pic.
what is it?? hope it is a veg. just don't know. have a wonderful day and wish i could be there!
Thank you Jane! The second pic is a wonderful herb called Borage. The foliage is kind of furry, and the blossoms are bluebells. The bee's absolutely love it! I have not tried it but have read it makes a delicious cucumber like tea!

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