That's right, my flock of fancy pigeons is growing - there are about four baby pigeons now with more eggs waiting to hatch. I keep a small group of these beautiful birds - Homers, Tipplers, Tumblers, Owl pigeons, as well as one of the oldest breeds, the Syrian Damascene. They live in a pen adjacent to my peafowl yard and across from my stable. Pigeons have been domesticated for thousands of years and have been kept by people worldwide for their companionship, their sport, and their loyal service. Caring for these birds is a nice way to pay tribute to these fascinating and intelligent creatures.
Enjoy these photos.
Temperatures this weekend are in the high 40s to low 50s – almost spring like, which means it’s mating season for many birds and other animals. This is my dovecote at the farm. It is adjacent to the peafowl pen and just outside my stable. I stopped in yesterday morning to visit some very special new residents.
Here are some of my pigeons on the roof. My Bedford flock started with 10-pairs of birds, which included breeds such as Dunn Tipplers, Egyptian Swifts, Damascenes, and Isabella Tipplers. Pigeons come in a wide range of colors and markings. An adult pigeon is about 13 inches in length and can weigh up to 20 ounces.
Birds always need places to roost – I always provide all my birds with multiple places to perch, such as this dead tree “transplanted” here in the pigeon pen. Pigeons can fly at altitudes of 6000-feet or more. Pigeons can also fly at average speeds of up to 77-miles per hour, but have been recorded flying at about 90-miles per hour.
An adult female pigeon is called a hen and the adult male is called the cock. Bonded pairs usually mate for life.
And both parents share in caring for their young.
There are several eggs waiting to hatch inside the dovecote. The incubation period lasts about 18 days. The mother hen will do most of the incubating, but if she leaves the nest, the male will help. Here is a dark Egyptian Swift sitting on two eggs in the nesting box.
Once a hen lays one egg, she will usually lay the second one two days later.
This is one of my newer pigeons. It is an Old German Owl pigeon – a breed of fancy pigeon, and the originator of the short faced German Shield Owls. It was the first breed in Germany to be called Mövchen or “Little Gull” due to its resemblance to the silver gull in color and markings. Under this bird are two hatchlings.
And under this Owl pigeon are two more eggs just waiting to hatch. Usually, the male will sit over the eggs during the day and the female takes over at night. The egg must be kept warm at 102 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit for the embryo to develop properly.
Hatchlings are very helpless at first, but pigeons develop very quickly and this baby will be learning to fly in a little over a month.
This bird is also sitting on another egg. This is a Dunn Tippler – a very hardy and active breed.
Pigeons are very docile, gentle, and sweet-natured birds – everyone at the farm loves visiting them.
The hatchling is covered with long yellowish down when it first emerges from the egg. This one is about a week old – its eyes are already open. Both parents will feed their young a special substance called pigeon milk, helping them to double in size over the course of days. Pigeon milk is a special secretion from the lining of the crop which both sexes can produce.
Along the back wall is a series of nesting boxes for the hens. We keep these shelters very dry to prevent bacteria and disease from developing. Water and moisture are the enemies. Pigeons can be messy, but it is important to keep their enclosures clean.
Pigeons breed all year round with peak breeding periods in spring and summer. This pigeon is a Damascene. Two of the most striking features of these beautiful birds are the dark plum eye ceres and the big bright eyes.
After about 30-days, the youngsters are weaned and they are able to eat grains and seeds from the feeder.
The water is changed often, so they always have fresh water to drink. It is also kept on a special warmer to keep it from freezing.
Here is an Owl pigeon watching from its perch on the ladder. Pigeons are very observant and one of the most intelligent of all the bird species. These birds also have a remarkable capacity to recognize and remember many things.
Do you know… a group of pigeons is called a flight, a baby pigeon is called a squab, and a young bird who is learning to eat and drink on its own is called a squeak. Once it is ready to fly, it is called a fledgling. A pigeon is fully mature at about four to six months of age.
Pigeons have excellent hearing. They can detect sounds at far lower frequencies than humans, and can hear distant storms and volcanoes. This is an Isabella Tippler. The tippler is a breed of domestic pigeon bred for endurance. Some of them have been known to fly for up to 22-hours non-stop.
The pigeons are free to be inside or outside during the day, and then kept indoors overnight to protect them from predators. The dovecote is also fully enclosed for safety.
It’s a busy time for my pigeons. I am glad the babies and their parents are doing so well here at the farm. I’ll check on you again tomorrow, my dear birds.
Here in Bedford, New York, temperatures are on the rise - mid 40s to low 50s are expected for at least the next several days. Spring weather is definitely on its way.
Yesterday, the weather was warm enough to open my tropical greenhouse for just a bit to let in some fresh air. This large hoop house is where I store most of my tropical plants over the winter months. The structure is heated and the humidity levels are closely monitored and adjusted when necessary. On my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48 a couple weeks ago, I shared photos of some of the camellia blooms that had flowered inside. Camellias are highly prized for their exquisite blooms, splendid evergreen foliage, and compact habit. These shrubs blossom prodigiously for weeks, showing off beautiful shades of white, cream, pink, and red.
Here are more images of these stunning plants and a look at what else is thriving in this greenhouse, enjoy.
In all, I have five different greenhouses. This one is designated the tropical greenhouse. It works by heating and circulating air to create an artificial tropical environment. The entire structure is built using heavy gauge American made, triple-galvanized steel tubing. To simulate the best subtropical environment, we try to keep the temperature in this house between 50 and 85-degrees Fahrenheit with some humidity.
Fans are strategically placed around the greenhouse to help circulate the air. When temperatures hit 50-degrees Fahrenheit outside, we open the doors just a little for some fresh air.
The plants grow a little more each year, so the placement of these specimens changes every time they are stored. Beaucarnea recurvata, the elephant’s foot or ponytail palm, is a species of plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to the states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz and San Luis Potosí in eastern Mexico. Despite its common name, it is not closely related to the true palms. In fact, it is a member of the Agave family and is actually a succulent. It has a bulbous trunk, which is used to store water, and its long, hair-like leaves that grow from the top of the trunk like a ponytail, giving the plant its renowned name.
This is a monkey puzzle tree, Araucaria araucana. It is an evergreen tree native to central and southern Chile and western Argentina. It has strange leaves, a distinctive trunk and branches that emerge from the trunk in whorls. Mature trees may reach 150-feet in height and have a trunk diameter of up to seven-feet.
The leaves of the monkey puzzle tree are thick and stiff and have a pointed tip. The leaves overlap each other and completely cover the branches. They are sometimes said to look “reptilian” because they appear similar to a reptile’s scales.
This is a Bismark palm, Bismarckia nobilis, which grows from a solitary trunk, gray to tan in color, and slightly bulging at the base. The nearly rounded leaves are enormous and are divided to a third its length into 20 or more stiff, once-folded segments.
Also in this enclosure is this tall pygmy date palm tree, Phoenix roebelenii. This tree grows to about 10-feet tall or more. Phoenix roebelenii is a popular ornamental plant and needs little pruning to develop a strong structure. The greenhouse is quite spacious with a tall center to house these wonderful specimens.
And then on this side of the greenhouse are my camellias. I brought several plants back from Nuccio’s Nurseries, Inc. in Altadena, California. Camellias thrive in mild climates from California to Florida and are available in thousands of cultivars. The most common species of camellias are Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua.
Most shrubs reach a height between six and 12 feet, and just about as wide.
Different varieties of camellias come in various shapes: anemone, single, semi-double, formal double, rose-form double and peony form. Their flowers are usually large and can be about four-inches in diameter.
The camellias flowers are mainly white and shades of pink or red, and various combinations.
Their leaves are alternately arranged, simple, thick, and usually quite glossy.
Buds start to form in mid-summer and then open from fall through early spring.
Camellias like ample moisture and well-drained soil.
Feed with a good quality fertilizer specifically for camellias or a general 10-10-10 fertilizer in spring after the flowers have dropped. Avoid feeding camellias after July, as late feeding can cause bud drop. This camellia is called ‘Ragland Supreme.’
Camellia ‘Elizabeth Weaver’ has large formal double flowers in coral pink. This 10-year-old japonica first bloomed in 1967. It was originated by W. F. Homeyer of Macon, Georgia and then propagated by Nuccio’s Nurseries.
‘Nuccio’s Pearl’ has full double blooms with pure white petals edged with an orchid pink blush. The flowers make a dazzling contrast against the glossy, dark green foliage.
‘Ragland Supreme’ is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth and milk white blooms.
For some of the photos, I decided to place one flower in a crystal Baccarat bowl and then rest it in the snow. These flowers look stunning. This white beauty is ‘Nuccio’s Gem’ – a pure white, perfectly formed camellia flower with three to four inch blooms. It is one of the most popular varieties.
And here is ‘Nuccio’s Pearl’ in the bowl – the gorgeous pink tones are reflected in the glass.
This is ‘High Fragrance’ -with large, light pink, semi-double flowers and an alluring fragrance.
And look at ‘Elizabeth Weaver’ – I love how the bold pink looks in this bowl surrounded with snow. Camellias have a reputation for being somewhat difficult to grow, but if one is willing to meet their needs, they’ll reward you with a long bloom season just when you need it most. The countdown is on – just 22 days until spring.
I have long loved begonias and right now my large collection is blooming in the greenhouse with so many beautiful and delicate pink and white flowers.
Begonia is a genus in the family Begoniaceae. The genus contains at least 1500 different plant species and numerous hybrids. They are native to Mexico, Central and South America, Asia and South Africa - regions with tropical and subtropical climates. There are different types of begonias, including tuberous begonias, semperflorens begonias, rex begonias, and rhizomatous begonias. Rhizomatous begonias are grown for their interesting and spectacular leaves. They come in an array of sizes, colors and textures, and can be small or large, smooth or veiny, decorated in bold accents of red, copper and silver or subtle shades of green. While the plants can grow very large horizontally, they don’t reach great heights because they grow from the rhizomes, which creep along the soil, or just above it in twisted trunks.
Here are some photos.
My growing collection of begonias is one of the first you see when entering my main greenhouse. I keep my begonias on a long, sliding table, so each plant is within easy reach.
Rhizomatous begonias range from small, delicate plants with one-inch wide leaves to large, robust specimens with 12-inch wide leaves or more.
Because these plants store water in the rhizomes, which are their thick, fuzzy stems, it is important not to overwater them. Only water these plants when the top one-inch of soil feels dry.
They also display clusters of small lovely blooms that grow like clouds above the foliage.
Rhizomatous begonia flowers bloom in late winter to early spring and can range from shades of pink blush to bright white.
Most rhizomatous begonias are grown for their interesting leaves – there are so many great shapes, sizes and colors. This is Begonia ‘Little Brother Montgomery.’ It has starburst-shaped maroon-and-silver foliage and features fragrant blooms when mature.
This is Begonia ‘soli-mutata’. It is a compact medium-sized species from Brazil. The heart-shaped leaf colors vary depending on its exposure to bright light, which is why its common name is Sun Tan Begonia. Several of my ‘soli-mutata’ plants were grown from leaf cuttings off one parent plant.
Begonias are propagated from seed or cuttings. You can root rhizome pieces in a mixture of half peat moss, half perlite.
To successfully grow rhizomatous begonias, use clay pots and only repot one size up when the roots have filled their current vessel.
Begonias grow best in light, well-drained soil. Any good quality light potting mix will work well.
Begonias should be fed a general purpose fertilizer every other week during spring and summer.
The foliage on this begonia is bold green on one side…
…and dark pink on the other. Many begonia leaves are also textured on the back – notice all the veining.
Begonias are remarkably resistant to pests primarily because their leaves are rich in oxalic acid – a natural insect repellent.
This begonia specimen is called ‘Madame Queen’. It boasts large, ruffled leaves distinctly marked with green on top and a red colored underside.
This whimsical looking variety is Begonia ‘Wightii’, Begonia maculata variegata, with its spotted leaves. Its nickname is “polka dot” and is a vigorous grower best suited for upright pots.
Begonia paulensis has very distinctive foliage. The leaves are large, and shiny green with an extremely textured surface. Keep this houseplant in a shady area during summer months to prevent leaf burn.
Some begonia leaves will actually feel very crispy when touched, so handle the foliage gently to prevent cracking.
The stems of the begonia carolineifolia are exceptionally thick, and show the scars of felled leaves. As a houseplant, the begonia carolineifolia is highly decorative and easy to grow.
And, one of my favorite begonias is Begonia ‘Martha Stewart’. I got it two years ago from Logee’s Plants for Home and Garden in Danielson, Connecticut. It was during one of my visits to Logee’s when owner, Byron Martin, had me select one of the unnamed specimens to be named after me – I was so excited and so honored. It continues to grow and thrive in my greenhouse.
As you can see, I chose an elegant, spiraled-leaf begonia. It has a compact growth habit and is about eight inches in height with a mounding display of beautiful leaves. The leaf color is constantly changing and starts out with soft tones of tan, chartreuse, and beige with inner spirals of deep bronze. With increased light, the bronze tones deepen to a rustic orange. Begonia ‘Martha Stewart’ is a strong grower.
There is no end to the variety of leaf shape, color and texture in the begonia. Begonias make wonderful year-round houseplants. My collection of begonias continues to grow. I hope you are inspired to get one for your windowsill.
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