Saturday, March 14, 2009

Spring is Sprung

Given all of the rain and snow and snow and snow and more rain that we've had this year, it probably should come as a surprise to no one that we have weeds. Lots and lots of very green, healthy -- nay, even vigorous weeds. Thank goodness for ducks: While I can't keep them in the front yard they've been keeping the back yard in various stages of clipped. As for the front yard, the Banshees and I have been working assiduously to bring the munchies to the quackers, as it were. There's still a lot of work to do, but I'd say by the end of April (and hopefully much, much earlier) we will have the overgrowth down to a dull roar.

We are going to be bidding farewell to some quackers this week. I hate doing it, but we have too many and becoming roast duck was always going to be their fate. I have a family of five and a flock that's laying 15-20 eggs a day, not to mention the non-egg-laying extra drakes. They're cute and I'm way too attached, and it's going to take me the better part of tomorrow to brace myself for this. On the other hand, if I want to branch out into American Buff Geese and at least a couple of Light Brown Dutch Bantams I really have to reduce the flock I've got. (It isn't any consolation and so far has not proven to be a good incentive either, considering the heretofore unthinned ranks of ducks.) DBS says I waited too long and got too attached and boy, do I hate it when he's right.

On brighter notes, I finally have enough material gathered together to start Duck Row hoop house 1. In fact, after the flock is thinned, I might have enough for DR1 and the maternal equivalent of a backyard fort. The house is small and completely infested with children while the garage has been confiscated by DBS -- the back yard is large and could comfortably house a Mom-sized shelter with a great big Do Not Disturb sign on the entrance. Now all I have to do is figure out how to get a heating/cooling system in it...

It's March, it's cold, and I still haven't started the tomatoes, which is a major victory over my own impulses, given that I usually have them started no later than Christmas. I don't think I'm going to be able to hold out much longer. I have a whole bunch of new growing systems and very little self control. Time to get out there and plant something! I have way too many varieties of tomatoes as well...is it me, or is there an ongoing theme here?

A Short Tomato List:

Costoluto Genovese
Azoychka
Nicholayev Yellow Cherry
Black Prince
Vintage Wine
Sweet Orange Cherry
Brandywine, yellow
Gramma Climenhagen
Paul Robeson
Green Grape
1884
Ananas Noir
Isis Candy
Church
Yellow Brandywine, Platfood Strain
Green Giant
Sprite
Black Cherry
Tommy Toe
Grandma Mary's Paste
Pantano Romanesco
Brandywine OTV
Super Italian Paste
Wild Cherry
Sioux
Siletz
Believe It Or Not (and quite frankly, I don't -- and I'm the one with the inventory!)
Cabernet VFFNTA hybrid
Brandywine Red Landis Valley Strain
Box Car Willie
Dad's Mug
Snow White
Grape Tomato
Rocky
Marizol Red
Jersey Devil


And those are just the ones I can find. I think I'll plant them all in the front yard and see what code enforcement does about that.

1 comment:

Bobbisox said...

Psssst, hey, got spare seeds? I see some goodies there.