Mid-September Around the Farm

September 15, 2010

Autumn is certainly creeping up on us even though it doesn’t officially begin until September 23^rd. None-the-less, there are many telltale indicators all around the farm, and I thought it would be fun to show you some of them. I still can’t get over just how many apples there are on my trees this year. I’ve been sharing them with many people and all of the donkeys, horses, chickens, and turkeys are happy to be munching away. We are also looking into acquiring an apple press so that we can make our very own cider. We would like to turn this into a TV segment, so stay tuned. By the way, today’s photos were taken with a Canon 5D and the macro shots were done with a Canon G9.

: Remember last week when I showed you these giant puffballs?

: These are actually sporangia, which contain spores. When mature the sporangia will burst and release their spores into the wind.

: A closeup of the rotting skin

: These little ants love the nectar.

: This monarch butterfly is enjoying the nectar of a clover blossom before migrating to warmer climates.

: Many insects feed on clover blossoms.

: Including my honeybees!

: Look how finely woven the web is!

: This macro shows just how spiky the exterior is.

: Blooming in September into October is tricyrtis, commonly called ‘toad lily,’ supposedly because many varieties have purple spotted flowers.

: The apples are so abundant this year – we took two bushel baskets into the TV studio to use on set.

: Juicy, sweet, delicious, and great for baking!

: What do I spy up in that tree?

: The maple leaves are beginning to turn their brilliant autumn colors.

: It’s amazing how much pruning needs to be done.

: My arborists, SavATree, http://www.savatree.com/ are busy at the property still pruning and cleaning up from all the storm damage that occured over the summer.

: Leo wears a ‘fierce’ protective helmet.

: They are Colchicum autumnale, commonly called ‘autumn crocus’ or ‘naked ladies.’

: These are lovely blooms.

: They are unexpected at this time of year.

: Can you guess what these are?

: Outside the greenhouse is the shade pergola and my citrus plants.

: Citrofortunella Microcarpa is a cross between a sour Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) and a kumquat (Fortunella marginata).

: Citrus Ponderosa lemon still green

: My Christmas tree field is growing, but slowly.

: Old-fashioned apple trees – We’re looking into pressing them for cider.

: We have more than enough!

: The wetlands are filled with interesting flora and fauna.

: If you find cattails growing, it is a sure sign of the presence of water.

: Goldenrod is easily recognized by its golden inflorescence and hundreds of small capitula, or dense clusters of flowers.

: Feeding the chipper

: This team is pruning a tall maple tree.

: The fruit of the horse chestnut is a green, spiky capsule containing one (rarely two or three) shiny brown nut-like seeds, referred to as conkers.