I don't know why they call it the dog days of summer. The dogs refuse to stay outside for longer than it takes to do their business and the poor Pyr is muddying his stock tank with frequent dips to cool off. We've been pulling ticks off them for weeks already. Even the chicks in their brooder barn seem tired of the heat. The heat lamps are now officially off. Lightning bugs appeared for the first time last night yet according to the calendar there are three more weeks of Spring.
Still, it is Hot, Hot, Hot...and Humid! The peppers and tomato plants are loving it and so is the basil. Yesterday I picked the very first Pinot Noir bell pepper. It is a new variety we are testing for flavor. This first pepper is on the small side but it smells sweet. It should look very pretty in a Seven Layer Mexican Bean Dip salad!
Basil is a few weeks away from the first harvest for Pesto but I can't wait for that very first taste of (Italian) summer! Hopefully tomatoes will be ready for the Fourth of July and a big ole Caprese Salad, not to mention the classic BLT! So hard to be patient when it FEELS like summer.
It's been so wet here the past few weeks, we're debating building an Ark.
Several of our hens have gone broody with a corresponding reduction in egg production. We are also gathering eggs for a bi-annual Avian Influenza testing. The chicks are adorable but it means we do not currently have eggs for sale. If you are interested in purchasing some chicks, stop by the Powhatan Tractor Supply event on July 13th.
The herb gardens are going well. Oregano and garlic chives are in bloom. The basil is bushing up while the thyme and sages are spreading. Spearmint is running rampant. And we have our first little "giant" pumpkin.
We've had some beautiful visitors to our wildflower gardens. Unfortunately, all of this rain has kept the bees from leaving their hives.
It doesn't look like we'll have tomatoes for the Fourth of July holiday but the bacon is ready and waiting in the freezer for those first BLT sandwiches! Hope you enjoy your celebrations!
