Flowers on the Farm. And Bees, Too.

[You know you're becoming a farmer when you start every blog post with the word "Well" that sounds like you just leaned back in your chair on the porch, stretched your arms out, cracked your knuckles, then rested your hands behind your head, and settled in for a good tale. Oh, did I mention you'd also look like a 40 year old man in overalls, chewing on a bit of straw? Farming is a life-changer...]

Well, life on the farm has had its ups and downs lately, due primarily to wildlife. Though I'm happy to say for the moment that the cayenne pepper seems to be working. On the rabbits, and also on the yellow-striped cucumber beetles. With a respite from so much nibbling, the lettuce is growing back, and nearly everything has flowers or blooms. The tomato plants (which ended up totaling 9 (9!!)) each have more than a dozen flowers on them now, so I think we're going to be swimming in tomatoes. Maybe I'll start my own farmers(s') market stand if times get desperate.

After following some of the farm blogs of the internets, I was beginning to fear there would be many flowers and nothing to pollinate them since the only things flying around my farm were mosquitoes. Luckily, and as usual, my idea of timing was a little earlier than mother nature's. When the blossoms swelled until they were about to burst, but just before they opened, the pollinators heard/sniffed the bat signal. Several kinds of bees and many wasps have been checking out the garden, which is good news for plants, farmers, and consumers (I know it takes a shift to think of wasps as good news--see what I mean about the changes involved with being a farmer??), but terrible news for Rosa, who I saw this morning getting her epi-pen refilled at the pharmacy.

I have big plans for a portion of the farm that needs the revise-and-resubmit treatment, but this post is long already... More tomorrow.

Here are the beans for a bit of color to your morning.























Farm Vitals
Yesterday's high: 76F
Yesterday's low: 51F
Warnings: Fireworks alert
Mood of the farm: buzzing with patriotism
Reason to consider a new career: bee fears and other various ridiculousnesses