~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
Bear with me while we look around the garden just a little bit more. It's nearly gone… things got dry here and sadly, that was the end of that, pretty much. Not the weeds, though. Dry, shmry. Weeds just keep going.
{pretty}
{happy}
A friend of a friend was getting rid of his bees, having found out that he's highly allergic, and so is his son.
He would have kept them if not for his son, and I believe that, because the Chief also found out that he's highly allergic, and yet he happily took possession of the hive.
He's taking shots to build up his resistance, and the epi-pen supply around here is solid.
You can risk anaphylactic shock over here.
But don't, okay? Keep it together, respiratory-wise.
The queen seems to be doing quite well. Lots of activity in both hives. I tried to get shots of the flying bees, but to no avail — if you think there are funny bright flecks in my photos, well, that's them. But just imagine thousands more.
The top-bar hive there on the left isn't inhabited yet. Maybe someday. But now we have two busy hives (and the observation hive as well, in his office — although they are acting funky and maybe dwindling).
{funny}
I planted several butternut squash plants. What I suspect is a woodchuck got into the ones in the raised beds, and we'll see how that goes.
But this one that was left over (you really have to plant those things far apart), I chucked onto the leach field hill — and it's doing amazingly, right there with all the weeds and vines. This is a small portion of what I will harvest (the wire was to indicate back in June that here was a little squash plant):
The vine is going so far into the grass that I didn't notice when I was mowing — whoops!
{real}
Just a few eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes coming along. I do “let the garlic chives grow” (haha not that I have much choice) — those white flowers — because the bees really love them.
But we did get one day at the beach. So lovely. Next year it's beach or bust.
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Anel says
🙂 Living in a warm country [South Africa – only snow on the highest slopes of some mountains, sometimes in winter], I am always ASTONISHED at how thick the snow can be over at your neck of the woods, and then how hot and like my neck of the woods it can look like in summer. And it always seems like such a short time! Wonderful..
Leila says
Yes, we have it all. And yes, summer was short this year, although it lingers now…
NY Mom says
Love the ferns under the hydrangeas in the first picture – so lush and elegant!
Is the ark-like box on the sawhorses one of the hives?
I start out in spring with visions of a cloister-style garden, weeded, orderly, and beautiful. Then summer brings all its attendant suffering (heat, drought, damaging storms, woodchucks) and by fall the flowers and veggies are a wanton, neglected mess. Thank goodness for supermarket mums and a few pumpkins to distract from the sad scene.
Leila says
NY Mom, so funny, I was thinking about how those ferns needed to be weeded out, and the hose needs to be wound up… but I’m just showing you how it is!
The ark-like box is the top-bar hive. It is empty right now, but it would be nice to have enough bees to fill it. Supposedly it allows the bees to make comb in a more natural way, and requires less work on the part of the beekeeper. I think.
Jennifer Hoots says
I totally understand his bee commitment. I have two cats, and am allergic. It is something you cannot help!
Mary says
I love your garden, so picturesque. Lots of work, I’m sure!
I am thinking about having bees, do you have a tutorial on your site? Do you just wait for a swarm with boxes ready?
Leila says
Mary, we don’t have a tutorial, but there is plenty of info out there for anyone who is interested — many are starting beekeeping these days! I will let the Chief give you some pointers. You could set the box out there and hope for a swarm but it might take a while 🙂
No, either someone gives them to you or you buy them.
Kristina B says
I think my gardening struggles and yours are polar opposites… up there on that beautiful fertile land you have to fight with the weeds and the foraging creatures, and down here on the desert clay I have to put all my effort into improving the soil enough to just get things to grow! It’s even a big deal when the weeds grow on their accord… There is a lot of satisfaction in creating a bit of an oasis in the desert and bringing some green into the city, though, so it’s worth the effort, even if sometimes I do pine a bit for the natural verdancy of places like yours.
Jennie Cooper says
I like your weedy garden. It makes me feel better about mine. 🙂 We plant one every year, but we’re terrible gardeners! We love to prep, and we love to plant, and I even enjoy cleaning it up at the end of the season, but we forget to weed and water, and even to harvest! Maybe we’ll do better next year. 😉
BridgetAnn says
Your bees made me think of “The Insect World of J. Henri Fabre”, though there isn’t an essay on honey bees. Fabre has such a delightful approach to natural science. Maybe a candidate for The Library Project?
Mary says
I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the top bar hive if it gets inhabited! We’re on our first season of beekeeping and there were so many options it was a little overwhelming so we just went with the basic tried and true standard hives. At some point when I’m a little more bold I’d like to get some closeups!
Maurisa says
Such a beautiful photo of the berries! Yum! Oh my, I would love to raise bees. How wonderful!
Mary Lou says
I read the link about Phil’s indoor hive … this is really probably after-the-need, but I wanted to say I have a large piece of wool felt that would be the color of the wood and would be happy to send it (it was going o.u.t.)! And please bear with me. My blog is on our web-site which is a home business. How do I get the hang of phfr … pictures and stories of home and send them on the only URL we have? Is this even allowed? …………….. Oh to be so ignorant of technology, but would love to join in sometimes. My only hope of a St. Greg’s pocket is virtual! Are home business/homeschooling blogs allowed. We’re not about bees & squirrels, but rabbits and more about children and family. It’s all holistic, isn’t it?
Leila says
Thanks, Mary Lou, the observation hive subsequently got a good cover, front and back.
Mary Lou says
Yikes, just saw that our comment took us to our web-site. See, I don’t know what I’m doing, it should have gone to the blog … can anyone help? Maybe I need to copy and paste blog URL?
Leila says
Mary Lou, just follow the directions on the link up. Use the URL of the site you want to link.
Kathryn says
Auntie Leila, you have answered my question i sent you, a few days ago, in this post in such a beautiful and memorable way. Thank you for your wisdom. You have been so helpful. Thank you so much!
Woman of the House says
Oh, the beach! It has been so long since I’ve been there! So glad you got to spend a day! As I mention in my {phfr}, our pumpkins in the garden were dismal, but those in the compost pile were abundant! Same for the butternut squash, though I didn’t mention that. Hurray for volunteers!
priest' wife @byzcathwife says
One kitchen activity to teach knife skills that doesn’t need a lot of supervision- cutting up mushrooms with a table (not steak) knife. It’s my 6 year old’s favorite thing to do!
priest' wife @byzcathwife says
that comment was for ‘bits and pieces’ 😉