Summer Photos at My Farm
It’s always fun to view the familiar through someone else’s lens.
Not long ago, Lucas Acuna, the grandson of my longtime housekeeper, Laura Acuna, visited my Bedford, New York farm and took a series of wonderful photos. He walked through the gardens, visited my horses, and even got to see a peachick hatch from its egg in my kitchen. Lucas is a very passionate photographer, drone pilot and entrepreneur. He is also the founder of Full Focus Media, a small business that allows him to create videos for special events and local company advertising.
Here are some of his photos - enjoy.
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- Many of my peacocks, turkeys and even some of my chickens are hatched right here in my Winter House Kitchen. I keep an egg incubator where the temperature and humidity can be controlled properly. An incubator like this one also turns the eggs several times a day which is crucial for growing embryos.
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- Each egg is labeled the day it is placed in the incubator, and then checked every day until – hopefully – it hatches. On this day, Lucas witnessed the hatching of a peachick. Peafowl take between 27 and 29 days to incubate.
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- The peachick stays in the incubator until it is completely out of its shell and dry.
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- This peachick is very alert and curious.
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- Here is Laura showing the baby peachick and the shell from which it hatched. These babies are very strong and hatch all by themselves.
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- Here you can already see the peachick trying to stand.
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- Once the peachick is ready, it moves from the incubator to a small bin in the kitchen, where it can be watched and kept warm. This chick will be kept under a special lamp set at 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature will be lowered as the peachick grows. In a few weeks, this baby will be running around with the others down in my coop. Welcome, little peachick.
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- Lucas also visited my Red Factor canaries – I just love their gorgeous bright feathering.
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- Here is a photo of the blooming Rose of Sharon – these flowers provide such a pretty show from summer to fall.
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- Lucas took this photo from one end of my long and winding pergola. I love the grid pattern of the pergola’s shadow on the grass below.
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- Here’s an interesting view looking up at my majestic pin oaks. They provide such a beautiful canopy of shade.
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- Another grand view is this one from the end of my Boxwood Allee looking toward the stable – it is a popular spot for photos.
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- I can’t wait to show you more photos of my growing orchard. We have so many, many fruits already – apples, peaches, Asian pears, plums and so many more! I will share more photos of them in an upcoming blog.
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- Lucas walked down to the stable and also captured this photo of the tropical plants out on the cobblestone courtyard. I always love to display these giant potted plants during summer. Fortunately, I am also able to store them away in a heated hoop house during winter, where they can be cared for until the next warm season.
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- A tour of Cantitoe Corners is not complete without a stop to see my friendly and playful Sicilian donkeys. Here is Rufus hoping for a pat on the head, or better yet, a treat.
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- Rufus is such a handsome donkey. All three donkeys are the best of friends, and are turned out into their paddock during the day and then brought in at night to sleep in their shared stall.
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- Lucas then went to visit my special homing pigeons. Fancy pigeons are domesticated varieties of the wild rock dove, bred by pigeon fanciers for size, shape, color, and behavior. This is an Egyptian Swift pigeon – known for its long tail, wings and neck and the short beak. I love its dark coloring and striking markings.
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- And here is my darling handsome Friesian, Rutger – newly groomed and ready to be turned out in his paddock with his brothers.
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- Lucas continued his farm tour at the vegetable garden. This garden has done so very well this season. Right now, all our tomato plants are just bursting with fruits – hundreds and hundreds of tomatoes. They are still maturing, but should be ready in another week! I can’t wait.
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- As many of you know, adjacent to the vegetable garden is my chicken yard – home for about 200-chickens, five-goslings, two Pomeranian guard geese, 10-Guinea hens, and a group of watchful roosters.
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- Lilies are blooming all around the farm. This is Orienpet lily ‘Anastasia’ with huge glistening white flowers, slightly recurved tips and deep rose-pink brush marks. These beauties are located in my sunken Summer House garden.
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- Also in this garden, rows of hostas, also known as plantain lilies and occasionally by the Japanese name giboshi. Hostas are widely cultivated as shade-tolerant foliage plants. I love their big leaves and lavender colored flowers.
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- Here is another lily in bright buttercup yellow. Remember, if using lilies as cut flowers, gently pull the anthers off as soon as the flowers open, so the pollen doesn’t stain your clothing.
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- And here is my beautiful Empress Qin. The Chow Chow is a dog breed originally from northern China, where it is referred to as Songshi Quan, which means “puffy-lion dog” or Tang Quan meaning “Dog of the Tang Empire” – it is fitting that all my Chows are named Emperor or Empress. Qin is a champion show dog and a favorite friend to all here at my farm. For more information on Lucas and his video storytelling business, Full Focus Media, go to his web site. https://fullfocus.media/
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