Maybe it should be called 'Let Sleeping Dogs Lie' Farm

After lunch the CEO and I decided that a siesta on the steps would be the best thing in the whole wide world. We had worked up quite an appetite that morning pulling stumps and stems for the new field (and of course me, chasing stick). Little did we know that RQ had the camera ready and waiting....what do you mean no nap afer lunch?

Here's to what lies ahead :-)

A celebration is in order.....the CEO (Chief Entertainment Officer) is leaving his day job to work full time at the Flower Farm. RQ is happy, I'm happy, and Daisy, the original Smiling Dog is happy (or at least we think so....she's deaf, and has taken to riverdancing. It's anybodys guess what's on her mind these days).

Another accomplishment, is the establishing of our new website http://www.smilingdogflowerfarm.com/ There will be additional photos, information, and updates about the farm and flowers and Farmer's Market reports as well.

Many new changes will be occuring on the farm, especially the infrastructure and addition of new fields. Spring is always a time of inspiration, and we are looking forward to having a banner crop of flowers this year in addition to having our huge vegetable garden back. At times it seems daunting, however accomplishments are made one thrown stick at a time.

What a Difference a Year Makes.......

This first photo (Courtesy of Nasa Observatory) is from March 2009. It may help to understand the sheer cold and locked in feeling we all had here in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan. Rarely does Lake Superior(being the 2nd largest fresh body of water on Earth) freeze over.

The second photo (also Lake Superior) is one of a cove of ice in mid-April 2009 located at "The Island" in Marquette city limits. I wish the camera could have captured the neon blue glow radiating from the ice. Supermans' lair from an older movie comes to mind. It was unworldly. You can also see how the ice stretches out to the horizon line in the background.

                                    
 This third photo was taken just this past week (March 2010), out by the oardocks, on the way to the Island.












A Polar Bear plunge was taking place. Now mind you, the average temperature of the lake is around 40F, however being March it is much more likely around the mid 30's. You can still see some chunks of ice (white) next to the oardock, and out past into the lake. And yes those are sand covered chunks of ice on the beach. Even if it was in the high 50's that day, you gotta give these guys some kudos for fortitude!

Our temperatures have been way above normal for pre-spring (March 21st), and most of our snow, which was quite plentiful this winter has melted. There is still snow in the woods, but that is also starting to diminish. At this time last year we were still locked in ice, windy and FREEZING cold. It just makes you want to go out and plant or start some seedlings in the greenhouse......but.....calmer minds must prevail. Even if it is an El Nino spring, the last hard frost moon is the last week of May. There's probably one good snow storm left out there somewhere. AND it is Marquette, where the weather can change 20 times a day. It just proves we need to get some heat in the little greenhouse & put up a hightunnel.

And.....we're back!

That probably had to be the longest commercial in blogging history. All kidding aside, no we aren't going to talk about planting peonies in this post. That sort of blew by as life hit the acceleration pedal this fall. Pictures will be posted of the planted peonies this summer.

The winter has been kind. Soft snow, not too bad temperatures, and lots of sun! It is only the not quite middle of February, but so far it appears that El nino has been working some mojo over the Upper Great Lakes area. Can Spring be far behind? (Don't answer that. A poodle can dream can't he?)

Pictured above is the last jar of pepper sauce used for a delicious dinner last evening. The peppers are picked fresh in the fall (a mixture of green/red bells, rista, and a few habernero), rinsed & cleaned, then heated in a large pot with a little water in the bottom. They are cooked long enough to be slightly past blanched, but not soggy, just so their color is vivid. Next they are placed into a blender with some of the reserve water from the pot & whirred until they become a thick sauce. Can them hot using the appropriate techniques. Walking into the house at this point one is almost overcome by the fragrance of spice and piquant aromas. Summer in a jar.....how I miss the earthy scent of the warm ground and the utter intoxication of being in a garden, wrapped & surrounded by the voluptuousness of nature in her ripeness.

The Work Continues.....

It is now September and the Cottage project is still going strong. Remaining is the wrap up of trim around the windows & a second coat of stain. Most of the gardens are weed free & only have edging to be put in next year. Whew!

Photo of new porch off the back, looking onto the back gardens and growing field areas. Next blog, planting peonies!

Remiss for a Reason

"About 14 hundred May Apple stems,

With their parasols up, marched down the hill.

And all the Spring Beauties turned up their pale, peaked noses

And said,

"Don't them May Apples Think they're somebody With their bumbershoots up!

"Oh, it was a grand day, a specially grand day."

"Beautiful Sunday"by Jake Falstaff, Ohio

The Red Queen apologises for being non-compliant...I have asked her time & again to post my ramblings on the garden & whatnot, however she''s been constantly under seige from weeds, planting schedules, and other various sundry projects (which she refers to as the carnage of Smiling Dog Farm....ie trench digging for more irrigation, electricity & a new 45 ft porch on the back of the cottage). She also keeps referring to the kitchen as the 'demilitarized zone'. Why I have to keep plunging my delicate feet in cold water & being subjected to toweling offs is completely beyond me. Who knew clay soil drives the woman mad????

Anyway, I digress....the above photo is a worm's eye view of the beautiful Podophyllum peltatum, oher wise known as American Mandrake or Mayapple. If you look closely you can view the bud of the single white flower which is attached on a short peduncle. The fruit, once ripe turns a pale yellow & is edible. It is suitable for a jam or relish, while the remainder of the plant is toxic. There are certain medicinal qualities, however those are best left to the people educated in herbal/pharmaceutical endeavors. There is a grand patch of them under the large flowering crab apple, along with jack in the pulpit, violets, smilacina, & other woodland dwellers. It is a small oasis in the front of the long rock wall in front of the cottage. Hopefully I can convince RQ to take some more photos of the other plants coming to life in all the gardens....along with the improvements to come....she does detest messes....I think she needs some minions (and I don't mean a small 17th century cannon).

It Ain't Easy Being Green (with apologies to Kermit)

Life in the Upper Pennisula of Michigan is not for the weak of heart.....or roots. This Alllium giganteum last Friday was basking in 70 degree sunny weather. While the weather here is akin to a wild child on a see-saw, we did have the luxury of our abundance of snow this year slowly soaking into the ground. The temps have been vassilating between WoW! it's really spring & how much more of this eternal damnation must I endure. The ground was becoming very dry, however our local weather hero said "Fear ye not proud Yoopers (that's our colloquial handle, en masse), There is not but a 10% chance of a snowstorm to besige us this late in the spring. AMEN".

Apparent-LY, Heiki Lunta, our Snow God in residence became a little irate. We were nailed with over 10" of the sloppy white stuff a week later.