Quick the sun is shining!

After about another week and a half of rain, the sun peeked out this afternoon. I took advantage of this break in the weather to check the hives. Swarming weather is upon us and I want to make sure that they are happy.

Great Weather for....

DUCKS!
Its Raining AGAIN! We had to cancel the shearing for the Alpacas as they are wet from head to toe. We are now on a sunshine waiting list. At this point it may be fall before they are sheared. :(

These are the hummingbirds that visit our feeders. (photo was taken last week when we had sunshine)

Lily of the Valley is in bloom

Black Raspberry patch

Red Raspberry Patch

Fiber day 2011 at Agland

Agland in Canfield hosts a Friends of Fiber day. They have alpacas, and llamas on display and a shearer handy to shear sheep and goats. Inside the ladies sit and spin.
Enjoy the photos.

Swarm 2011

Emily and I try to catch our first swarm! Jim noticed it on a cherry tree behind our beehive when he was returning from hunting for turkeys. Luckily we had a nuc box ready. I asked Jim and Allison to hurry up and put some frames together and Emily and I suited up to "catch" the swarm. This swarm is so big it doesn't fit in the nuc box.

Hens and Chicks- gardening style

Today, I also ventured down to the Fellows Riverside Garden Plant sale. I've never been before,but thought I'd take a chance. What a lovely selection of plants,trees, shrubs, and containers. You name it, I'm sure they have it!
Now, something on my wishlist this year was to try to make a hen and chick wreath. And the Gardens had all the fixins ... wreath, liner and plants. So in pictures I take you from wire frame to soil, to plants to finished product. The "experts" at the Gardens informed me that it will take the entire season for this to fill out. And something else truly cool, I can hang it up. They also suggested in the winter that I can bring it in the house and use it as a centerpiece for the table, just add a candle to the center! What a neat idea. Enjoy.

Gardening

The spring has been really wet. However,God has given us a break the last few days. I have been out in the garden, planting everything I can get my hands on. My problem garden is with my herbs. It seems that I never quite find the right place. So this year... I'm using containers.

This container is thyme and the itty bitty sprouts next to it are beebee tree sprouts. I was given some beebee seeds at our last beekeepers meeting. These beebee trees are supposed to bloom during summer when little else is blooming. I hope they grow big and strong.




This is my basil and parsley container. No I didn't consult a companion planting guide, I'm winging it!


This is lavender and tri-colored sage.


This is my mint container. I have spearmint in the middle surrounded by apple mint, pineapple mint and chocolate mint! This smells heavenly.