An Early July Farm Update
Whenever I post a blog about my farm, I get so many wonderful comments, which I really enjoy reading. I’m proud and happy that the place I call home is so inspiring to so many. So far, it’s been a very good growing season, despite everything being about three weeks early. Many of the berries have been picked, turned into jams and jellies, and also bagged and frozen. The vegetable garden continues to thrive and there are also some new additions to my farm menagerie.
1 Another glorious sunrise at the farm
2 All of my animals love to venture outdoors in the cool of the morning.
3 Handsome Vivaldi, one of my Himalayan cats is a very spry fifteen years old!
4 Empress Tang, a dominant calico Persian, and her sister, Princess Peony, are always slinking about outside.
5 These two cats were born on May 1, 2009, and moved in with me exactly four months later.
6 This is the little corn crib on the farm. Francesca and Sharkey teach a lesson about it on their blog today. http://dailywag.marthastewart.com/ The corn crib hasn't been used for anything much, until now....
7 I decided to get a dozen guinea fowl chicks and they are being raised in the corn crib until they are old enough to wander around outside.
8 Guinea fowl are insect eaters and my purpose in raising them is to help free my gardens and grounds of harmful insects, like Japanese beetles and ticks.
9 A side entrance of the greenhouse with a lush shade garden - The vines growing up the trees are climbing hydrangea, which are growing amazingly well.
10 This is the summer home of my citrus plants.
11 Adjacent to the citrus trees is the shade pergola for many potted tropical plants.
12 Beneath the shade pergola, the hymenocallis, or spider lilies are blooming.
13 Hymenocallis is a genus of plants in the family Amaryllidaceae. It contains more than 60 species native to tropical and subtropical America.
14 A yellow variety of hymenocallis, which has a deep green center
15 Wilting clivia blooms, but pretty, non-the-less, covered with water droplets
16 The wall inside the driveway gate is adorned with painted iron urns, planted with various agaves and succulents.
17 This agave looks especially pretty with white and pink cotinus, or smoke bush, behind it.
18 A recent acquisition - a green-painted cement bird bath - I love its shape!
19 Another pretty urn
20 The fenced in vegetable garden is growing very well this season.
21 There are rows and rows of wonderful crops.
22 Many types of leaf lettuce is maturing well.
23 The tomato plants have been neatly staked with bamboo tripods.
24 There are many varieties of tomatoes, both heirloom and hybrid.
25 I hope it will be a good year for tomatoes.
26 There are also many types of peppers planted.
27 And eggplant, too
28 My gardener, Ryan, who is from California, has planted beautiful California poppies in the vegetable garden.
29 The fruit on all the apple trees continues to grow.
30 Another lush shade garden next to the Tenant House
31 Turning in the opposite direction, this large garden is filled with rows of lilies and ferns. The lilies are just beginning to bloom.
32 A lovely orange Asiatic lily
33 And a great yellow one
34 Fragrant Oriental lilies in the cutting garden
35 The baby chicks that arrived last April are strong and happy and will begin laying small eggs soon.
36 Beautiful white silkies
37 Every Friday, the hen houses get a thorough cleaning. All of the wood shavings are swept up and replaced.
38 The used shavings are taken to the compost yard.
39 Pomeranian geese were bred by Northern German farmers in Pomerania in 1500 to guard their livestock. These geese are very protective of the chickens.
40 The corn in the new corn field is growing very quickly.
41 Rufus, Clive, and Billie are happy in their new paddock.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Everything looks so great. I'm looking forward to seeing how the tomatoes and the corn do this year. I've seen some great looking fields of corn around here.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | July 2nd, 2012 at 12:26 am
I love love love your farm blogs!
It's so fantastic that you are working with nature to address balance on your farm. I love that instead of using chemicals you use the fowl to deal with ticks, the geese to deal with predators etc. It's brilliant!
I am using the same bamboo technique on my tomatoes (learned it from you!) and it works well. I'm really looking forward to seeing the corn field. Will you be drying them in your corn crib?? I'd love to see how a corn crib is actually used. The fowl should have moved out by then right?
Are you growing pumpkins this year?
Your blog is such an inspiration. I am still very upset I won't visit with you 5 hours a week via your extraordinary TV show. Will you ever release all those shows from your prior incarnation (the one filmed in CT with no audience)? Those shows were perfection and while some parts are available on video on your webcite - I'd love a library of your shows.
Posted by: stephanie | July 2nd, 2012 at 1:30 am
July is just a continuation of glorious growth at your beautiful Bedford farm.
Heat and drought at our ranch is unbearable when so dry that fire starts easily and goes wild. Getting tiresome watching pastures dry up and hay not worth cutting but watering and moving cattle to better grazing means we will survive..
Posted by: ann | July 2nd, 2012 at 5:37 am
Hooray the donks made an appearance!
Ooh, I didn't know the donks had a new hang out!
Your new feathered friends are adorable!
Thank you for continuing to share your wonderful house and all the critters that truly make it a 'home'...
gail
Posted by: gail pierson | July 2nd, 2012 at 5:50 am
Hi Martha,
Although we are north and south of the equator I enjoy reading your blog each day especially the farm update.I am a 3 english cocker spaniel owner,a total dog lover. I followed G.K's win in New York with great pride.I have guests who come to stay twice a year with 2 chows, which are the the most wonderful dog guests.
I live in the Hunter Valley 2 1/4 hours from Sydney ,after having escaped the city some years ago.Maybe when you are next in australia you may wish to visit the Hunter Valley.
Take Care
Lorraine
Posted by: Lorraine Shields | July 2nd, 2012 at 6:20 am
Good morning Marrha,
As always, I love seeing pictures of the farm. Today was a mix of plants, buildings and animals. In the one picture you mentioned a smoke bush. They look like they are very graceful looking. Very pretty. The donks look great as usual. How old are they now? Thank you again for taking us on a fascinating tour of your farm. I do not have a green thumb so getting to see all the beautiful flowers at your place makes up for my lack of gardening skills cause I get to see all your flowers and I can pretend they are mine. lol
Karen
Posted by: Karen Tracy | July 2nd, 2012 at 7:29 am
I am always amazed to see how summer vegetable gardens grow in the different planting zones. I live in zone 7 and we are well along with our tomato plants, which are just beginning to ripen, and our corn, which has tassled. Your garden looks like ours did over a month ago!
Posted by: Evelyn | July 2nd, 2012 at 7:34 am
Thanks for the update on your farm Martha, it really does inspire us and makes me, anyway want to make my surroundings more beautiful! How practical to have guineas on the farm, we have considered getting some as a natural solution to insect control. I like seeing the different urns on your properties, they give me good ideas as to what plants to choose, like the agaves and succulants, they are very pretty! Lovely new bird bath, it looks like a sun dial to me. Good luck on your tomatoes, I haven't had as good of a crop this year as I had last year. Thanks for pictures of the shade gardens, my favorite!
Posted by: Cindy F | July 2nd, 2012 at 7:55 am
Hi Martha,
It’s always great to get an update on the farm. On top of seeing your plants and gardens, I especially like glimpses of your critters and reading the way you speak about them like the protective geese and the happy donkeys, dominant Empress Tang and how she and Princess Peony are always slinking about. It just makes me smile. Animals are so entertaining and just like humans, no two are alike. We used to have a ‘bad boy’ black poodle and a ‘sweetheart’ tan poodle and a ‘most lovable, smart’ white poodle that we called rabbit because he ran fast like a rabbit and leaped in the air. I had plenty of nicknames for all of them.
~
Your planters and urns look so nice all painted the same color. I should try that. I also notice that you have stakes for your peppers. I didn’t know the first thing about planting those when I put some seeds in a pot this year but they are all coming up and now I’m beginning to think the pots might be too small. I don’t believe I’ve ever paid attention to pepper plants so I didn’t know they got so big. Oh well, if one plant shows promising with tiny peppers, I’ll stake the plant like you have yours.
~
I enjoyed your speech at the University of Phoenix over the weekend that I listened to live online. Very inspiring but you mentioned you might blog about it so I’ll save additional comments until then. Trish
Posted by: Trish | July 2nd, 2012 at 8:00 am
When will Your Daughter have her Blog up again..I plan so many meals from her Blog...Enjoy and look forward to all things she posts...
Posted by: MiMi | July 2nd, 2012 at 8:56 am
Just love your farm blogs. When I start my day with your beautiful
farm pictures I always have a better day. Absolutely breathtaking!!!!
Posted by: Kathy Peterson | July 2nd, 2012 at 9:05 am
LOVE seeing the kitties! I too have a persian and a himalayan
Posted by: CJ VanDafaf-Zondervan | July 2nd, 2012 at 9:30 am
Hi Martha, First of all, I want to thank you so much for letting us view and listen to your fantastic speeches to the University of Phoenix Graduates on Friday and Saturday! I had never heard or seen any of your speeches and I was absolutely thrilled to hear both of these! Your inspiration for those happy grads was 'out of this world' and certainly will help them all have great lives! Can't wait to see your blog about that wonderful trip to Phoenix and your superb speeches! This latest blog is absolutely great and I am always thrilled and inspired to learn something new everyday from your farm, your homes, your animals, your trips, etc.! These latest photos and comments about your Bedford farm are so wonderful! Absolutely love seeing the sunrise, handsome Vivaldi, Empress Tang, the dozen Guinea fowl chicks, the grown baby chicks, the Pomeranian geese, and Rufus, Clive, and Billie!!!!!! How great that the Guinea fowl chicks and the Pomeranian geese will protect other animals!! It's also great to see how everything at your farm is growing so well and your new corn garden looks great, too! You have the best farm I have ever seen and I love viewing it at all times of the year! Thank you so much for sharing again! Hope you have another great day! Off to see F&S checking out "What's in the Corn Crib"? on the Daily Wag!
Posted by: Jan Erickson | July 2nd, 2012 at 9:31 am
It's very pleasant reading about your farm on early Monday. I love it. That must be a lovely place to live. Thank you for sharing the update of your farm with us. I live so far from you and live different seaons too. Now it's winter here.
Posted by: Maria Lúcia | July 2nd, 2012 at 9:34 am
How beautiful! I love all of the variety that you have. It's been so dry around here that everything is suffering right now. I hope that the forecasted rain for this week will help a lot!
Your silkie chickens are so precious. They make me miss our little farm in Alabama. The home owners association just won't allow for chickens here. =)
Thanks for sharing your beautiful home and gardens!
Posted by: Jennifer | July 2nd, 2012 at 9:38 am
I love learning about the workings and management of your farm and look forward to these posts!
Posted by: Andrea | July 2nd, 2012 at 10:09 am
Hi Martha,
My daughter volunteers at a Theraputic Riding Center (see website). She and many girls do, wondered if you would ever want to vist and/or give them a cooking lesson. These gals work tirelessly on the farm and the owner is nice enough to let them use the horses for 4h.
Thanks
Karen
Posted by: Karen Powell | July 2nd, 2012 at 10:12 am
It is an amazing growing season..despite the early start and even through these heat waves. I am curious if the California poppies are for beauty and for a specific gardening purpose in the veggie garden. I do love the color.
Posted by: Teresa Touey | July 2nd, 2012 at 10:13 am
I just adore the daily posts. I love seeing all of the animals and the gardens. I get inspired by what is done by you and nature all by itself. I know a great deal of work goes into keeping everything maintained and as a loyal reader, I appreciate the work of everyone involved because where I live...it's a one woman show! Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Jonet P White | July 2nd, 2012 at 10:40 am
Whenever I see a farm update I am always so inspired to go out and pretty up my little place of 3 acres. I also have chickens as well as goats, dogs, cats, and parakeets. I used to have guineas, and boy they were loud! I love the country life.
Posted by: Regina | July 2nd, 2012 at 10:46 am
You will have a love/hate relationship with those sweet guineas. They are very beneficial and so fun to watch. They are also like the patrol-fowl brigade and have the "sirens" to match - and they can be loud! But very worth the noise - enjoy!
Posted by: Cathy | July 2nd, 2012 at 11:22 am
Hi Martha,
Always appreciate your farm blogs. I live in Vancouver British Columbia and we are yet to experience summer.
The plants are out and trying to come forth with sun here and there but I think they are confused.
Your new Pomeranian geese are lovely! Do they make quite a noise?
They are really gorgeous with their orange faces!
Do you have tours of your home in Bedford?
Have a great day.
Posted by: susie | July 2nd, 2012 at 11:31 am
Good Morning Martha!.. I love to see all the New Addition Of Animals On the Farm. Love The Geese/New Chicks.Your Kitty's Are Beautiful.
Posted by: darlene Martinez | July 2nd, 2012 at 11:31 am
Hi Martha!
I was glad to see you have guineas on your farm now. You will also find that they make good guard "dogs" so to speak. They will sound off when they see or hear anything that is foreign to their or your world and they will let you know about it. They are such lovely creatures. Thanks for getting them.
Ruth =-)
Posted by: Ruth Newland | July 2nd, 2012 at 1:17 pm
Wow, you have such a beautiful farm! I love seeing your chickens!
Posted by: Olivia D. | July 2nd, 2012 at 1:32 pm
I do love these posts, with the beautiful photos of the farm. As a Californian, I was very happy to see the state flower growing there! And the silkies are adorable. Might we see a "Year on the Farm" book someday? The transformations from month-to-month are truly fascinating. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: BG in SF | July 2nd, 2012 at 2:08 pm
the picture of the geese is so great! glad to hear the donkeys are doing well too. have you ever heard of the Donkey sanctuary in Puslinch Ontario? http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.ca
Posted by: darrell white | July 2nd, 2012 at 5:11 pm
I would like to request that Martha's leather sofa at Macys be available in the gorgeous aqua leather they have but it's only for ottomans??? What a waste of a beautiful color. I ordered the cream colored sofa but if you could make this in the aqua I would buy one!!! PLEASE!!!!!
thanks
Please email me if this is something we can do
Patty
Posted by: Patty Ramos | July 2nd, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Martha,
More pictures of your chickens please.
Thank you!
Posted by: Chris Fowler | July 2nd, 2012 at 8:32 pm
Really loved seeing the climbing Hydrangea growing on the trees. I have been very reluctant to do so, even though it's been suggested to me more than once. I know that Martha does nothing without having thoroughly researched it so now, I will look into trying it out here in Illinois and try to learn which trees best cope. Thanks for always teaching me something of value, even in photos!
Henry
Posted by: Henry Stollard | July 2nd, 2012 at 8:40 pm
Martha,
I enjoyed to tour of the farm. Glad to see everthing blooming so well. Enjoying vacay in Portland OR. Thanks for sharing this blog,
Trish,
I'd like to hear the speech at the Univerisity of Phoenix, do you happen to have the link? If so, I really appreciate it. Thanks.
Posted by: KLBrown | July 2nd, 2012 at 10:20 pm
Loving all of the photos in this series of your blog today Martha. I look forward to each one every day. They are just wonderful. Thank you so much for these journeys.
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Posted by: Amelia Figueroa | July 2nd, 2012 at 11:16 pm
Such beauty! I love the photos...the shade garden pricked my interest. A significant portion of our lawn is shaded and while I love the look of densely planted foliage, I am too fearful of snakes to implement that type growth in my own yard. Our home and other properties are situated close to a lake so we have to be very cautious about cotton mouths as well as rattlesnakes. Are there natural plant deterrents to snakes?
Posted by: Kim | July 3rd, 2012 at 12:27 am
Your gardens look wonderful. Everything is remarkably early this year. Perhaps we will get to replant a bit...which is usually unheard of her in Massachusetts and Connecticut. How are your tomatoes?
Posted by: Nantucket Daffodil at Prince Snow Farm | July 3rd, 2012 at 12:01 pm
I really enjoyed the pictures of the urns today. They communicated such serenity. Will you please show us pictures of the climbing hydrangeas when they bloom in a future post? I've never seen a climbing hydrangea before.
Posted by: Karen | July 3rd, 2012 at 10:47 pm
What beautiful photos. I love the diversity you have on your farm; plants, birds and animals. It must be a terrific place to decompress and unwind. I bet a morning walk sure lifts the spirit, I know these photos helped me. Thanks for sharing with us.
Posted by: Nicole | July 4th, 2012 at 12:25 am
Martha,
I love seeing photos of your farm. You continue to inspire me. I was one of your earliest fans when you first had your show in Turkey Hill Road. I used to take 3 shows per video tape. I have a collection of well over 100 video tapes which I hope to convert to DVDs. Do you sell your earlier shows that you taped at Turkey Hill?
Dan
Posted by: Dan | July 5th, 2012 at 7:35 pm
Martha i am big fun of yours
Posted by: guy | December 18th, 2012 at 10:47 am