Weeding in the Rain and a new Lawn Mower
This is a busy time around the farm and the crew has been doing a superb job getting things in order. We’ve been having considerable rain and with that comes considerable growth. Unfortunately, that also means the growth of weeds. On one such rainy day, the crew donned their rain slickers and set out to week the lily bed. Rain is actually a good time to pull weeds as their roots release from the soil quite easily. I’ve also included some photos that were taken when the rain ended and the sun came out. And, considering this is a farm blog, Dominick, my equipment manager, drove to White Plains, New York to pick up a new lawn mower from Argento & Sons.
1 These beds contain Asiatic lilies and lovely ferns.
2 Wilmer clad in his rain gear
3 Chhaweng doesn't mind a gentle rain.
4 Meanwhile, Chhiring uses the edger to cut a clean border.
5 Stretching a line as a guide ensures a perfect edge.
6 The lily foliage looks great this year.
7 Very green and healthy
8 The chive patch is blooming nicely. Chive flowers are edible and when pulled apart, they make a pretty garnish for spring soups and salads.
9 The chives are part of the herb garden in the stone terrace.
10 Also on the terrace are boxwood, golden barberry and teucrium.
11 And, of course, allium!
12 Looking down towards the stable, you can see that the herbaceous peonies are beginning to open. The deep pink blossoms hanging down belong to a black locust tree.
13 Beautiful black locust blooms.
14 Inside the herbaceous peony garden.
15 This is an unbelievably fragrant place to be when in full bloom.
16 A peony bud bursting
17 Ants are attracted to the sweet resin exuded on the flower buds. Some people believe that ants help the flowers to open, but, they would open regardless of the ants presence.
18 These are granite posts which will be used around the blueberry patch to support bird netting.
19 The painters have been busy working on all the buildings.
20 Meanwhile, Dominick, my equipment manager, went to White Plains, NY to Argento & Sons to pick up the new lawn mower.
21 A very tidy showroom
22 Argento is well-stocked with parts.
23 More parts
24 This is Jimmy Rourke - Parts manager.
25 Tony Dedonato standing with Tony
26 How cute! A little Gator - I think Francesca, Sharkey, and G.K. need one of these.
27 Eric Miller and Chris Anderson - mechanics
28 Larry Lawler - another mechanic
29 Our new mower - the G15
30 Louis Argento - owner
31 Louie is giving Dominic instructions on using the mower.
32 Chris Anderson likes this model.
I never thought of doing anything in the rain. Your right, the weeds would come up much easier in wet soil. The farm is coming along with lush new growth very impressive, just like verything you do! Thanks so much for this daily blog and all the ideas you inspire!
http://www.meandmartha.net
Dan Viger
Hollis center, Maine
Posted by: Dan Viger | May 14th, 2010 at 12:30 am
wow, this looks like a dollshouse. Such a pretty facade. We mainly have brick homes in australia, so this is something we enjoy seeing.
Posted by: deb | May 14th, 2010 at 1:01 am
We had a ton of rain all winter here in Southern California and the weeds loved it just as much as the flowers did. My allium should be blooming, too, in a few weeks -- they're an all-time favorite.
Posted by: Amanda | May 14th, 2010 at 2:46 am
It looks as though everyone is very busy on the farm. The plants all look great.
Gloria!!
Posted by: Gloria | May 14th, 2010 at 4:00 am
Hi Martha,
I really like your photography technique in picture #12 where you focused on the blossoms hanging down – really nice. I also like your new wide mower with the front wheels that turn. I could have my lawn done in a jiffy with that mower! I've seen some like that with platforms on the back for the operator to stand and ride. Many of the lawn services here have them. And there’s that ‘missing’ edger in pictures 4 and 5 that looks like the one I have. I notice you have the cutting line marked with red string which is a good idea.
~
Sometimes I feel so stupid when I see your farm pictures and in this case, the chives patch. I’ve never grown them and didn’t know they had flowers. Btw, that’s a lot of chive, like enough to supply McCormick. Lol. Thanks for this particular view of the stone wall too. I really like that wall. Trish
Posted by: Trish | May 14th, 2010 at 9:54 am
Lovely and green and so refreshing after the rain. Love the new lawn mower as i'm sure your gardeners will, too!
Posted by: sherey | May 14th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Hi Martha!
Speaking of weeding in the rain, how does someone get hired as one of your gardeners? I think working in your gardens would be the perfect job, and I think you would appreciate my combination of skills, experience, and natural talent (and passion for plants). This feels silly, but I just had to do it!
Posted by: Michele | May 14th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
SONG FOR MARTHA - PICK A TUNE
.
.
WEEDING IN THE RAIN,
JUST WEEDING IN THE RAIN;
THE WEEDS COME OUT EASY,
I'M HAPPY AGAIN
.
.
I WALK DOWN THE ROWS
WITH AN ARMLOAD OF HOES,
THAT'S HOW MY DAY GOES;
I'M WEEDING, JUST WEEDING, IN THE RAIN.
.
.
.
Sorry, just couldn't resist luv to all.
Posted by: celia stock | May 14th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Your plants looks beautiful! your crew doing a great job. Good luck!
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | May 14th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
John Deere loves you! I had wondered if you bought directly from JD or not. Everything looks beautiful and I especially love it when you showcase your equipment.
Posted by: Sonya W. | May 14th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
I really enjoy the photo's that show you what equipment and techniques are used in chronological order..I look forward to them!
Amy Dorval,
Whatley, MA
Posted by: amy Dorval | May 14th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
my favorite picture was #9!
Posted by: Wendy | May 14th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Martha, My husband has given me a gator for mother's day!! You should get one ----They are great! Very handy for getting around the ranch and you are able to carry gardening and feed supplies in the back.
Posted by: jill | May 14th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Things look great on your farm. Can you believe what will happen when the sun comes out !!! Please keep us posted on the flowering of the many plants that you have. It is such a pleasure to look at your beautiful farm. Those granite posts intrigue me. They must have quite a job to do!
Posted by: Libbygirl | May 14th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
I just had to share my blog post about your AMAZING, inspiring, informative and heart pitter-pattering episode about Lilies and all the new varieties. It was one of the best shows ever and I'm going to keep it saved on my tivo forever!
Looks like we got your sunshine and you got our rain. But just think of all the watering you don't have to do now!
http://wigglebuttdance.blogspot.com/2010/05/new-hybrid-lillies.html
Posted by: Sara Monzo | May 14th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Hi Martha, Thank you, Franny, Sharkey and Kevin for giving us all of the latest photos of your fantastic farm! I love seeing your crew smiling while weeding in the rain. Would love to help them. Watching F.& S., on The Daily Wag, help with the weeding was so much fun and we could tell they were having fun, also. Then along came Kevin with his tweetpics on Twitter To show us about a tour of the farm. I can't get enough of it Martha, it's so wonderful to see what goes on at the farm. I especially loved the #26 photo and agree F., S. & G.K. should have a cute little Gator! The photo of the schnauzer by the Gator reminded me of my beautiful schnauzer, Buttons back in the 1980's. Thanks again to all of you for making my day! Love, Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | May 14th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
Your blog is super. So are your photographies. They make me hungry. I have spent a nice moment when seeing them. Thanks a lot.
Posted by: Eleonora | May 15th, 2010 at 3:10 am
Dear Martha
Just been looking at your peonies and chives. Oh for some of your rain - it all looks lush and perfect, weeds or no weeds!
Posted by: Catharine Howard | May 15th, 2010 at 3:17 am
dear martha, your lovely gardens of flowers and vegetables.. i know you bring your eggs to everyone at mslo. do you do the same with all the flowers and vegetables or do you have a "roadside stand" for the excess? there just seems to be such a huge bounty! really interested in what you do with all. thanks for the lovely photos and information.
Posted by: denise rossier | May 15th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Have followed your advice for years but weeder beware, this is not a good tip to follow if you have any allergies.Rainy weather is so bad to be doing that, as is newly mowed grass.
Posted by: sherry | May 16th, 2010 at 10:34 am
Always love the photos of the farm and thought I'd share a photo I took of tulips/camessias in my own garden today - a glorious sunny May Monday. http://twitpic.com/1ombjn
Posted by: Tracey Rose | May 17th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
There are lovely flowers and beautiful trees in Bad Homburg, Germany http://www.stiftung-historischer-kurpark.de And flowers all around the spa. http://www.kur-royal.de Have you visited Martha? Thanks
Posted by: http://twitter.com/Geotravel | May 17th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
I planted garlic chive within close proximity to a flower bed and it took over the entire area. It is a mess. How can I remedy my mistake and rid my area of the intruding chive and return it to the original intent of flowers?
I did not research as I should have prior to the planting and learn that chive was such a spreader. Your chive patch is beautiful as are all your photos.
Thank you Martha if you find time to reply to my dilemma.
Posted by: Becky Kuchefski | May 18th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Dear Martha I think your the greatest, I really would love it if someone would start making those outdoor gazebos with a white fabric n maybe have a scalloped edging its all i see are tan n brown yuck, how pretty it would look in white with white mesh mosquito netting pulled to the corners I really enjoy my yard n maybe u would make these.
Posted by: Doris Serio | May 23rd, 2010 at 1:18 pm
I love to weed in the rain for just this reason..so easy ....when my kids were small they would help me .. we weeded in warm summer rain! thank you for exploring and explaining all the things you and your staff do ...its a treat to watch your lessons as i call them .. i also get a laugh watching your daughter tease about you~
Maureen Fagan
Posted by: maureen fagan | May 28th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
I lost the recipe you gave for black leaf. It was combination of soda and I don't recall the other ingredient but it worked on the roses. Would you please send it to me with correct measurments ? Is it soap ?
thanks. Nc
Posted by: Nadine | June 2nd, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Yeah love my John Deere tractor! I see you have one too
Posted by: Cindy | June 26th, 2010 at 1:44 pm