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Category Archives: The land

Late summer

Saturday, August 21, 2021

Abelia Those of us who live in southern climates are usually glad to see cooler weather return after a hot summer. But there’s also something melancholy about the idea of summer’s end. As Shakespeare wrote (sonnet 18), “… summer’s lease hath all too short a date.” The abelia bush is in full bloom. The bush […]

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It’s day lily time again

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Click here for high-resolution version. The photo was shot with an iPhone 12 Max Pro. The day lilies are about a week late this year, because of the cool spring. I have some day lilies in the front ditch by the road, but most of my day lilies are on a bank above the driveway. […]

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Frost, on Earth Day

Sunday, April 25, 2021

Wild persimmon Most of the country had unusually cold weather on April 21 and 22. Ironically, April 22 was Earth Day. Here in the South, spring was far enough along that there was considerable damage. Native species are hardy and came through pretty well, with the odd exception of wild persimmon. Most of my persimmon […]

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Almost April

Monday, March 22, 2021

The gate from the garden into the orchard It’s a bit of a tradition to post this poem each year. The Goose Girl Spring rides no horses down the hill, But comes on foot, a goose-girl still. And all the loveliest things there be Come simply, so, it seems to me. If ever I said, […]

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The neighbors in the woods

Friday, August 21, 2020

The three sets of neighbors who own land contiguous to mine have sworn to leave the deer alone. One neighbor has spoiled them by feeding them and taming them. There are two bucks in this group. Bucks usually stay deep in hiding during daylight. If you have deer for neighbors, you can forget about such […]

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What’s blooming at the abbey, July 6

Monday, July 6, 2020

By the time summer leaves us, most of us are tired of summer. But would we ever tire of summer mornings? I think not. These are iPhone XR photos. The XR camera is so good, and so handy, that I think I will trade it this fall for an iPhone 12, partly to get an […]

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Why I can’t have apple pie

Monday, June 22, 2020

The squirrels have been stealing peaches from the orchard for at least a couple of weeks. Now they are stealing apples. This morning, I saw Mrs. Squirrel in the backyard, coming down from the orchard with an apple in her mouth. I knew where she was going, so I had time to go get the […]

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June 6, 8:30 a.m.

Saturday, June 6, 2020

First day lilies First cabbage to go to the kitchen

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What’s happening, May 13

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Who will ever be able to forget the spring of 2020 — the Pandemic Spring? Here in this little corner of the world, the strange weather continues. An arctic incursion brought two late frosts. The tomatoes, basil, and squash are hating it (we covered them), but they survived. The cool-weather crops are flourishing. Mustard and […]

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Crimson clover

Friday, May 1, 2020

Click here for high-resolution version. Last October, I sowed 10 pounds of crimson clover seed in the yard, bought from Amazon for $34.99. Now I can’t bring myself to mow the yard. Next October, I’ll sow at least twice as much.

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