Mid-November Around the Farm
As you all know, the weather has been challenging to so many. My crew has been very busy constructing the new greenhouse, which I showed you in yesterday’s blog. And there is still so much to clean up after the devastating late October snowstorm. In years past, I shared many beautiful images with you of autumn foliage and I keep saying that this year just isn’t that spectacular. But here are some photos taken around the farm, some of which are actually quite lovely and dramatic, none-the-less.
1 On this particular afternoon last week, the skies, looking east, suddenly became quite dramatic, casting a wonderful glow across the farm. This is my 'great lawn' with the giant cast iron fire pot.
2 In certain light situations, the mottled exfoliating bark of the American sycamore tree looks bright white, like this old beauty with its outstretched limbs.
3 So does the roof and finials of the equipment shed.
4 The allee of pin oak looks great against this painterly gray sky.
5 Turning 180-degrees - the sky is blue and the stable is aglow.
6 The glossy dark green leaves of the pin oak turn russet, bronze, or red in the autumn and stay on the tree for quite awhile.
7 Another look at the sycamore, which, by the way, lost another big limb in the late October snowstorm. The trees in the foreground are red maple, which put on a great fall display.
8 The wetlands and the hayfield beyond
9 A vibrant yellow maple
10 Looking towards my house with the russet feathery foliage of the bald cypress grove. Those trees, by the way, were also quite beaten up by the snowfall.
11 We've been decorating the house for Thanksgiving. I love how pumpkins and gourds look all lined up along the wall near the driveway.
12 And also upon the cast iron tree attached to the side of the house.
13 My friend, Ralph Robbins, from SavATree, http://www.savatree.com/ drove around the farm assessing the storm damage. Tying green tape around a tree indicates that there is some pruning to be done.
14 This tall maple, for example, has a hanging broken branch, which can be hazardous, when it eventually crashes to earth.
15 He also took a good look at the two Chinese elms by the summer house, which really took the brunt of the heavy snow.
16 He felt that this one could benefit with a good pruning.
17 However, he was uncertain if pruning would benefit this one.
18 The giant ginkgo biloba will need, yet another limb removed.
19 The ginkgo drops its leaves and fruit in the autumn. The flesh of the plum-like fruit smells unpleasantly pungent, but the starchy nuts inside are used extensively in Asian cooking.
20 On another recent day, Ralph conducted a class at my Maple Avenue house to a group of arborists from surrounding SavATree locations.
21 Ralph played the role of the home owner, while Tom, the arborist, pointed out landscaping issues and what should be done to improve things around the house.
22 Tom suggested that these river birch be feather pruned to allow for more light on the ground.
23 This sugar maple could use open pruning to get the branches away from the roof.
24 The class took notes about what was being discussed.
25 After the role playing, the group was required to work up their own list of suggestions and estimates.
26 This valuable sargent hemlock was badly damaged in the storm and needs heavy pruning.
27 And this crabapple also needs heavy pruning to keep it off the roof.
28 The tree is laden with fruit.
29 When this part of the class was over, the group returned to the SavATree office where the students' estimates were turned into a PowerPoint presentation for critique.
30 Yesterday, SavATree was back at the farm pruning for real. This area was once all beautiful yellow magnolias and golden rain trees. So much has been removed.
31 You can see the newly pruned, badly damaged Chinese elm.
32 The crew was pruning the other Chinese elm. I still haven't decided what to do about these trees.
33 Meanwhile, Chhewang was pounding wooden stakes along the roadways using a special pounding tool.
34 This tool fits over the stakes and pounds down without splitting the end as a mallet may.
35 The Japanese maple grove has finally become colorful.
36 Acer Palmatum 'Garnet'
37 Acer Palmatum 'Winter Flame'
38 A view through the grove and the new greenhouse
39 Acer Palmatum 'Karasugawa'
40 Acer Palmatum 'Asaka Suki'
41 Carlos and I decided that the bee hives should be moved to this sheltered location where they will be out of the wind and warmed by the sun for most of the day during the winter. Two were already moved into position.
42 To move the hive, Carlos first secured it with locking straps.
43 It was late afternoon and most of the bees were back in the hive. He used a grass plug to close the hive entrance, keeping the bees inside.
44 Fernando assisted him in lifting the heavy hive onto the back of the Kawasaki.
45 All set to go!
46 Carefully unloading
47 Getting the hive into position
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Martha, it seems that everytime I see that pot, it is in a different location. Is it really, or am I imagining things?
I think that is the largest gingko tree I've ever seen.
I like photos 6, 9, and 11. (Actually, I like all of them.) And I really like that cast iron tree with the pumpkins. I would suggest you market those, but...I think it has been suggested before, and I couldn't afford one if you did market them.:=(
Thanks for another tour of the farm...it is still beautiful.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | November 15th, 2011 at 2:22 am
Dakota weather has been perfect this year just as our economy none-the-less there are many that may not agree. we are snuggled under a white blanket and will be shoveling the same snow around for five months as that old wind moves it where it will. Thanks for sharing your life and trees with us. Your book tour is amazing.
Posted by: ann | November 15th, 2011 at 8:43 am
I enjoyed seeing fresh new angles of the farm. Photos taken from locations not seen before. Thanks!
Posted by: darrell white | November 15th, 2011 at 8:54 am
Martha, thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | November 15th, 2011 at 9:51 am
The Japanese maple grove looks lovely. The light on the "Asaka Suki" in picture #40 is my favorite. And can I tell you I am obsessing about the cast iron tree! I love it decorated with pumpkins. Maybe you can create one for your Home Depot garden line? Thanks for updating us on the ongoing work on your farm Martha. You know we love it!
Posted by: Cindy F | November 15th, 2011 at 9:51 am
Hi Martha, Even though there was a great deal of distruction from that late October snowstorm, most of your fabulous Bedford farm is still beautiful. Your terrific crew has done a great job improving as much as they can and having Ralph Robbins of SavATree there certainly will improve it all. How great that Ralph had a class for his arborists to learn more about how to improve damaged trees. These photos are absolutely stunning and the fall colors are magnificent! Your comments are superb and it helps us realize how to trim and improve damaged trees to save them! Love seeing the improved Japanese maple grove! Photo #38 of the new greenhouse is beautiful! What a terrific new place to put your beehives to give them better protection during the coming winter time! Carlos certainly has learned more and more about caring for those honeybees. The Daily Wag is great again today with F&S helping take care of not only the farm animals, but the honeybees, too! Have another great day today, Martha! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | November 15th, 2011 at 10:00 am
Hi Martha,
As a former northerner who moved south many moons ago, I don’t think much anymore about the changes of the seasons since we have green all of the time. Therefore, it is a wonder and a great thing of beauty for me when all of that bareness on your property revives itself in the spring. If I had toured your property now, I’d have been thinking that most of the trees were dead. Of course I know they aren’t; I lived up there once. I think we form a different mindset after living in Florida for awhile and start to think things such as why do people up north do all of that work for only a few months of enjoyment. I could ask myself also, ‘why did I do it!’ But actually, we have change down here too, just not as noticeable because we continue to plant so that we have growth all year round. I don’t plan to ever be in the snow again or watch the leaves change colors so I guess I’m saying thanks for sharing all of that through your very vivid blog. You make me think I’m there and in the process, I’m truly enjoying almost being a northerner again. Everyone should read your blog! Trish
Posted by: Trish | November 15th, 2011 at 11:37 am
Hi Martha, I always enjoy looking at your photographs, but this set of photos is really beautiful...especially the first 10. I love the dark puffy clouds against your farm and the foliage with some sunlight highlighting everything. And...the pumpkins! Those are my favorite, also. I like the variety lined up along your patio and on the iron tree. As someone previously mentioned, it would be nice if you added an iron tree to your line of merchandise..that would be great! I know I would buy one! I've noticed that the foliage has been very pretty here, in NJ, this year. I've seen more reds and bright yellows during the past two weeks. Everything is pretty much fallen now. I'm sorry for the damage to the trees and plantings on your farm, but it still looks very beautiful. Have a great day!
Posted by: Judy | November 15th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
Hi, Martha,
There, you've done it again ~ turned a negative into a positive by working through your heartbreak and then allowing the instructor and his class on your property to assess the damage and to start fixing it. What an opportunity for them to be exposed to so many wonderful varieties they may have not otherwise been exposed to, help you meet your goals, then take their new knowlege and experience out into the community. Thank you!
Posted by: Bobbie | November 15th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
Even the destructive forces of nature can offer learning experiences and new opportunities for gardeners. We are all fortunate that Martha Stewart has preserved this property and chooses to share its evolution with her readers/viewers. The Bedford farm will recover or emerge anwew with lessons learned. The damage to the gardens and woodlands from October's terrible "freak snowstorm" offers an interesting parallel with events from Martha's own life. After her devastating prosecution and incarceration for alleged "insider trading", she has regrouped and is recovering from that "storm". Just like the many areas that were spared the damages of October's snowstorm, our elected representatives in Congress, the men and woman who make the laws for the rest of us, have "exempted" themselves from the very laws to which the rest of us are subject. They are free to amass great fortunes through their influence and non-public knowlege. It is nice to see someone like Msrtha Stewart who succeeds with hard work and single-minded pragmatism and who overcomes adversity to make her mark in the world and to make life better, prettier and more interesting for a lot of people.
Posted by: M. Goldsmith | November 15th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
The bee hive project brought back memories of the farm in Wheatfield Indiana. Mmmm great clover honey. Hooray for bees, but outch if they become annoyed.
Ray
Posted by: Ray Unseitig | November 15th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
Wow, Martha! The views of your farm set against the steel gray sky are just beautiful. I particularly liked the sicamore with it's outstretched limbs. These are the fall days when you can really marvel at nature's beauty. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Isobel | November 15th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
Dear Martha, I enjoy all your posts from the farm. Do you really take all those photos yourself? They are all really lovely, and many are just downright beautiful and breathtaking (yet another talent of yours). I know you have help, but I still believe that running such a large farm is a feat. Not only do you have the greatest job in the world (it's a calling, really), but your Bedford is such an awe-inspiring place, and you are such an awe-inspiring woman!
Do you ever just stay home in your PJs and watch movies all day long? What I mean is, you seem to bend time, stretch it. Seeing all that you do, I can't imagine how you get the time to walk around Bedford, let alone take such an active part in managing it.
As if...
My favorite photos are those of Bedford covered in snow, or on misty mornings, but fall is my favorite season so Bedford in the fall is just delightful. It's got to be so inspiring living in a place like that. I love the change of seasons and thank you for sharing with us all those photos of your farm throughout a year. I'm sure you don't get to enjoy it as much as you would like, but maybe when you retire?
Posted by: Ellerdine | November 16th, 2011 at 4:45 am
Your place is so beautiful and peaceful looking.Just looking at that pictures are calming
Posted by: Marion Shadduck | November 16th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Martha,
I enjoy pictures of your farm so much. I would love a painting
of that first slide. If only I could paint!!!!!
Posted by: Kathy Peterson | November 16th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
Martha - I can't get enough pictures of your farm. They are aspirational and so lovely to see.
We need a blog on the "houses" of the farm. I know there is your house, the little one you fixed up (with the blog post on carpet) for Alexis and baby Jude - and then this one "maple" in today's blog... then there is another one for the blog people and working out? How many houses do you have?
This has been an ugly fall (hurricane, humid September, snow in October, leaves never turned color) it's been so odd - but your farm alwasy looks spectacular!
Posted by: elle | November 16th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
The mid November around the farm will give a different scenery according to the labour of a farmer in his land...
Farm Equipment
Posted by: Farm Equipment | November 17th, 2011 at 6:23 am
Nice cauldron. Was it pressed into service during Halloween?
Posted by: r. steven page | November 17th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
Your farm is sooo beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
I have loved trees all my life ,even as a little girl. The changing of the seasons have always been my favorite.
Posted by: Rhonda Hunter | November 17th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
Hi Martha
You got so much ginkgo there. Do you harvest them and use for cooking? Chinese has a variety of uses for them, stir fry with other veg, stew, an addition to dessert, stuffings. It is expensive so we limit to special occassions only.
Posted by: Rosa | November 18th, 2011 at 1:31 am
Wow, Martha, we love seeing the photos and learning from you. I miss upstate New York. I am in San Antonio, TX now but I grew up in Poughkeepsie, NY. Please keep on sharing. You are awesome! Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Juanita Schulze | November 20th, 2011 at 9:52 pm
Martha,
You have a beautiful home. Thank you for sharing the gorgeous pictures. My passion is to take amazing images. Your program and everithing Martha is an inspiration for all your viewers.
Posted by: Diego Molina | November 26th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
Hi,
Where can I buy the giant fire pot??
Posted by: Lucinda Bernstein | June 4th, 2012 at 12:22 pm