So there we were at 9:48 p.m. last night, already settled into bed, being lulled into sleep by the slow, steady humm of the ceiling fan, when suddenly the air conditioner kicks in. Then it made a huge BOOM and the house started to shake. Did the furnace explode? No, wait, it was only thunder, the weather predicted thunderstorms for the evening, except it's not stopping and it's like, rolling westward, underground. No thunder this...it is an earthquake!
It wasn't a big one, nothing compared to the Louisa quake of 2011, and certainly not even a blip by California standards, only 3.2 on the Richter scale. Nothing even fell off the wall; but the epicenter was only a mile or two from our home. And it was LOUD. Like someone was rolling tanks through our crawl space. Particularly startling when you are just beginning to fall asleep.
Today we waited for the rain. And waited...and waited, while Richmond and points east were hammered with hail and tornadoes. The corn is still thirsty. Can we expect locusts tomorrow?
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Spring Fest 2014
I really meant to post about this a few weeks back, but somehow time just keeps getting away from me.
For those that don't already know, the Goochland and Powhatan Master Gardeners put on an annual Spring Fest of garden related classes and a fantastic plant sale at the Goochland campus of J.Sargeant Reynolds Community College. The day is divided into three sessions, each about an hour and a half long with several class choices during each session. I learned how to make a hypertufa container, how to select the right tomato for my needs and all about hydrangeas. I always learn something new and meet some great people. Of course I also purchased quite a few plants; some from private vendors and many more from the students in the college's Ag program. All in all it was a gorgeous day and I had lots of fun.
This big old cherry tree was in full bloom and every time a breeze came along, the pink petals rained down. It was beautiful.
I'll be making a series of 'Tufa troughs like the one below for growing root crop along our front walk where the half barrels are now. Can't wait to play!
Of course I went Hosta crazy. This is a really nice vendor --- PlantSmart It was a good thing the event has a holding area for all of our purchases while we are in class!
For those that don't already know, the Goochland and Powhatan Master Gardeners put on an annual Spring Fest of garden related classes and a fantastic plant sale at the Goochland campus of J.Sargeant Reynolds Community College. The day is divided into three sessions, each about an hour and a half long with several class choices during each session. I learned how to make a hypertufa container, how to select the right tomato for my needs and all about hydrangeas. I always learn something new and meet some great people. Of course I also purchased quite a few plants; some from private vendors and many more from the students in the college's Ag program. All in all it was a gorgeous day and I had lots of fun.
This big old cherry tree was in full bloom and every time a breeze came along, the pink petals rained down. It was beautiful.
I'll be making a series of 'Tufa troughs like the one below for growing root crop along our front walk where the half barrels are now. Can't wait to play!
Of course I went Hosta crazy. This is a really nice vendor --- PlantSmart It was a good thing the event has a holding area for all of our purchases while we are in class!
Monday, May 19, 2014
Plenty of Rain and Lots of Green
Now that the rains have ended and the floods receded everything is greening up.
This is a picture of what is normally dry ground in the woods along the Northeast property line. Definitely an area where we won't be doing any planting!
Of course the plants are all loving the extra moisture and blooming like mad.
The corn planted one month ago is already a foot tall. Looks like we may have fresh corn on the cob in time for July 4th. Corn ADORES chicken poop fertilizer!
And I am so happy to finally see the mulberry tree beginning to make fruit. Can't wait to test some recipes for preserves and maybe even wine!
The raspberries are making fruit too.
Looking forward to a productive summer!
This is a picture of what is normally dry ground in the woods along the Northeast property line. Definitely an area where we won't be doing any planting!
Of course the plants are all loving the extra moisture and blooming like mad.
The corn planted one month ago is already a foot tall. Looks like we may have fresh corn on the cob in time for July 4th. Corn ADORES chicken poop fertilizer!
And I am so happy to finally see the mulberry tree beginning to make fruit. Can't wait to test some recipes for preserves and maybe even wine!
The raspberries are making fruit too.
Looking forward to a productive summer!
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