And now into the garden!!!

 

This is a Romaine-type lettuce, an Austrian heirloom.  Its name is Forellenschluss.  :)  It is a delicious lettuce, it’s fun to say, and the best part is that forellen is the German word for Trout.  So we call this Trout Lettuce.

 

So, of course, I have to grow it in my garden.  We planted 6 of them, and they are truly beautiful right now.  We already harvested one, and made lettuce wraps with turkey salad.  Delish!!!

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We don’t really think about it, but holly trees bloom.  Of course they do!!!  That’s how they make those great red berries.

 

Well, we weren’t really thinking about it the other day when we walked the loop, but as we were walking down the hill toward the creek, a really sweet smell came up.  We didn’t see any roses, or Black Locust trees, so we looked around, and noticed that the holly trees are blooming. 

 

Not an overpowering smell, just soft and sweet:  inconspicuous you could say.  And very pleasant.  I hope you notice some on your springtime walks.

 

 

HAPPY HIKING!!!

 

Don’t you just love it when the Rhododendrons bloom?  Me too!!!

 

I hope you have some in your neighborhood.  We have lots here, and there are a bunch in the park blooming.

 

If you ever get over to Hiawassee, to the Georgia Mountain Fair Grounds, there is a little park there, and there are hundreds of rhododendrons.  Definitely worth the trip this time of year to see the Rhodies in bloom.  You might also see some trilliums and Jack-in-the-Pulpits.  Great park.  

 

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

I copied this from the Farmers Almanac.  It is a history of Mother’s Day.  I always like reading about the history.  Thought you might too.  

 

Sorry for all the ads, but here’s the link:  https://www.farmersalmanac.com/when-mothers-day

 

It’s nice to know the history, but even better to remember your mother.  Ours was the best!!!

 

 

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!

 

The mild winter seems to have been a real blessing for our orchard.  The peach trees are so loaded with peaches that I think we might be able to open a fruit stand.

 

The last couple winters have been a bit harsh, and the peach trees have really felt it.  We haven’t had any peaches for the last few years because the frost came about the same time that the flowers needed to be pollinated, or they got pollinated, then the frost came and all the baby fruits were frozen.  Either way:  no peaches.

 

Well, this last winter was so mild that the peaches, the pears, and even the cherry tree have all set fruit, LOTS of it.  

 

Every year is different at Crazybrook Farm.  We just roll with it, and are grateful for all that we get.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

The sage is blooming too.  It is the most beautiful purple.  And the smell is divine.

 

Sage is good for you, great in the kitchen, and so easy to grow.  And the good news is this:  the deer leave it alone.  Can’t beat all that.  

 

Our sage is planted just outside the front steps, so it’s close to the kitchen.  Easy access for happy hour cheese accompaniment, good base for chicken on the grill, and even pretty in a little vase.  We love it.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

And while you’re looking up, do notice the Tulip Poplars.  They are really easy to spot.

 

Even at 45 miles per hour, you can see the orange flowers covering the trees.  Spectacular!!!  The flowers are tulip shaped and they are green and orange.  

 

This one is just outside my kitchen window, so I get to see it every day.  I love it when they are in bloom.

 

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

The wild roses are in bloom.  And they are all around the neighborhood.

 

You can smell them even before you can see them.  So when you’re out for a walk, and you smell something beautiful, look around.  It could be roses, it could be Black Locust.  

 

Don’t you just love spring?  

 

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

 

Look UP!!!  The Black Locust trees are blooming everywhere.  They are all over our neighborhood.

 

If you can, get up close.  The flowers are pretty, and they smell so sweet.

 

Even if you can’t get up close, you can still appreciate how pretty they are in bloom.

 

 

HAPPY MAY!!!

 

I went out the other day to get a little rosemary for our chicken, and I thought the rosemary was blooming!!!  In May?  Not hardly.  Rosemary usually blooms later in the summer.

 

All these little purple “flowers” are dead flowers that have fallen off the Wisteria.  When the wind is blowing, it looks like it’s snowing!  Snowing Wisteria flowers.  There were so many blooms on the wisteria this year, that everything is covered in dead wisteria flowers.  

 

My world is covered in Wisteria flowers right now.  I guess it could be worse.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!