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Sunday 9 June 2024

Early June

We’ve had another week close to home working in the garden. Between trips to the garden centre, when weeding filled the day, sore muscles made the next day a chore. The vegetable plants will go in the garden this week.


On lists of healthy dietary must haves these days, kale often makes the cut. I planted kale last June and left it in the garden late fall. Well, fall became winter and those six kale plants weathered the worst Prince Edward Island could throw at them. This spring, when I expected mush where the plants were located, healthy plants greeted me. I swear, kale will be the last plant on earth after the apocalypse.





Garlic, planted late October, will be ready next month 





and rhubarb is plentiful, enough to share with friends. Rhubarb contributed to a great birthday cake recently.





In the flower bed, the nine bunches of peonies we are tending are in bud, waiting for a wind storm to bloom, at least that’s what always happens. They are our favourite blooms though they only last a few days every year.





Under the patio deck, a new generation of robins learned the sad truth about crows raiding nests in the area. The robins abandoned this beautiful nest after the crows ate their eggs.





When we did walk the boardwalk this past week, Dame’s Rockets had popped up along the shoreline. 





Ferns are unfurled now and are a welcome addition to the greenery. Chokecherry trees are in bloom and the trail is lined with them.





Meanwhile, a mama Red Squirrel was in a feeder, taking time to eat before returning to her babies.




It was a busy week but a lovely one in June.




40 comments:

DJan said...

It does look like a lovely place, and your pictures brought it right to me. Thank you for your uplifting and positive posts, friend.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I'm going to try to score some rhubarb this weekend.

Boud said...

Take that gardening easy! It's good to walk as well. I think kale is indestructible!

Debbie said...

we are on the same page today, your garden is filled with so much bounty!! we prefer spinach to kale but i know kale holds up much better in soups and casseroles. isn't it amazing it lasted all winter and now looks so hearty, my scallions did the same thing and are huge now!! i must share them!! the different wildflowers are so pretty, isn't mother nature amazing!!

Bill said...

Your garden is looking good. Nature is thriving in your area, enjoy the season.

Anvilcloud said...

Talk about crows! There was a prolonged cacophony on the opposite roofs this morning. I can't recall that happening before.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Your garden is looking quite nice, Marie, especially all that kale! Sorry for the robin family with those awful crows nabbing the eggs, shame on them!

photowannabe said...

Awww..I feel so sad about the robin egg pillage.
I know its life but boo to the Crows.
Not fond of kale but yours does look so hearty and full of vitamins.
When I saw the rhubarb plant it took me back to my childhood.
Mom and Dad always had plants growing in their garden. Sour was and is still one of my favorite flavors. Used to pick a stock and chew on it all the time. Makes my mouth pucker thinking about it now. (:0)
Sue

Elephant's Child said...

You have been busy, and productive. Well done - and thank you for sharing the beauty of the boardwalk (again). I had no idea that kale was so tough.

Helen said...

I am so missing spring on the island. It is such a wondrous time watching the awakening of plants and animals. I have very much enjoyed this virtual visit to your garden and look forward to seeing your opened peonies, untouched by the wind.

Danielle L Zecher said...

Your garden looks great! It seems like our peonies also always bloom right before a storm that destroys the flowers. Your kale and my cherry tomatoes seem to last through everything!

The Furry Gnome said...

Your plants are looking great!

Cj said...

Such beauty surrounding you as the gardens begin exploding. Cool on the kale and I'd give much to cut off some rhubarb! But not where I reside right now and I so love it stewed on buttered toast for one.

Nova Rio Redondo said...

This is my first time visiting the blog. Warm greetings from a tropical country

Lea said...

Great photos!
Beautiful greens, good eating from your garden!
Have a wonderful Week!

At Home In New Zealand said...

Wow, that kale sure is hardy! Not my most favourite vegetable, but I guess if that was all there was then I would be very thankful for it :)

Red said...

You're getting out and not missing anything.

Joanne Noragon said...

I had a friend who always sent me home with an armload of kale. Spring is coming your way, at last. Lovely to see.

Rose said...

Your peonies look so tall....as is my daughters. The rain always gets hers. But still, they sure are beautiful before. You sound busy and like you are accomplishing things...that always makes me feel better when I actually get something done or finished.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
Your garden is looking great, the kale is looking good.
I would like to see the peonies in my yard.
The red squirrel is a cutie.
Take care, have a great day!

Jim and Barb's Adventures said...

Blasted crows! They should learn to eat kale instead of eggs!

tz_garden said...

Your vegetables look delicious. I adore rhubarb and can't grow it here, too hot. You are very busy.

Liz Hinds said...

Go Kale! Rhubarb is a plant that keeps on giving!
Most of my peonies are out now. They are beautiful plants. Poor robins.

margi said...

Your garden is looking nice. I must plant some kale, hopefully it will survive several months of rain.

Lorrie said...

Oh, the poor robins to have their eggs eaten by crows. Nature is often cruel.
Kale is so hardy, but I didn't expect it would survive a PEI winter! Wow! It overwinters here readily.
Enjoy these June days.

Chris said...

Your garden is looking good and that squirrel is so cute looking.

Stewart M said...

The vegetables look great - we have a healthy crop of winter veg on the go: no harvest yet, but soon.

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

Debbie Nolan said...

Marie as always your photos are truly great. I planted kale last year from seed and like you it wintered over. It started to bloom - so cut the buds but read that they are good to eat also. Always amazing how many of your birds and squirrels are here in our part of the world. Take care and enjoy those peonies...alas mine are gone - so will enjoy seeing yours. :)!!

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

It is amazing how the kale came back and came back so healthy and strong. Looks fabulous! We used to grow a garden but the neighbors continually has their lawns and shrubs sprayed and I worried if it went into the vegetable garden which was nearby. So we stopped growing stuff. Now I have herbs on the deck.

Barwitzki said...

Nature looks wonderful with you, invites you to go for a walk :-))
Maybe I should grow kale too... then I'll have more time for it... it's so beautiful in the forest.
Your garden super. Well done.
A hug for you... I love peonies... it will be a dream when they bloom. You definitely take photos, right?

Sherry's Pickings said...

Lovely photos and a cute squirrel. Sad about the robins but that is nature. Your veg. garden looks in good health. You know what i always say about kale though? It was only fed to cows till some savvy farmer thought of getting humans to eat it, and charging 100 times more for it!:=) Heheheh

Spare Parts and Pics said...

A shame about the robin eggs. Your garden looks wonderful!

Maebeme said...

I had no idea that kale could be a perennial. I've never grown it, and probably won't but the fact is interesting.
Love the photo of mama squirrel! The flowers are lovely too. I'm hoping the peonies at the new house will still be blooming when I get back there in a couple of weeks.

peppylady (Dora) said...

impressive apple.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

When my daughter was young she claimed that two things in life were sent to torment children, kale and William Shakespeare. I think she might have others who would agree!

Pattie @ Olla-Podrida said...

Your garden looks wonderful. I think everyone, once in their life, should have the opportunity to taste fresh garlic. There is nothing like it. I plan on planting some in October, but because I had a garlic bulb sprout, I took it apart and planted it, and I just harvested that the other day. The cloves are small, but they are wonderful!

Catarina said...

You kept yourself very busy as usual.

baili said...

Your plantation is breathtaking dear Marie ❤❤❤
It feels quite a hard work indeed!!
I wish you baskets full of delightful harvest my friend ❤
Sorry I felt for the robins. Crowd are offensive all the time undoubtedly.
We got three bird species nestled this year as well but one of previous one was replaced by new couple with rising tails sorry can't tell name right now.
Crows are nesting in our Neem tree regularly since many years too.
Loved the all lovely photos

DUTA said...

I can well imagine the the musical harmony of the wind's blowing and the birds' singing! Nature's very best musical concert!

baili said...

What a delightful garden dear Marie ❤
I loved how your Labour of love has flourished your surroundings beautifully!
Wishing you a happy lovely harvest my hard working friend 🤗
It is so true about crowd. They do such negative things here as well.
Heartfelt best wishes for you and family