“Spring on the Farm”

When you think of spring on the farm does your mind conjure up images of baby sheep frolicking in the fields, birds bustling in the barn rafters and calves suckling milk from mama’s?  If so, try to erase those images.  When spring comes to an old deserted farmyard, it brings lots of weeds, flowers and the remains of what used to be a well planned and cared for landscape.  Again, we find ourselves searching for treasures as each day literally blooms new and hidden surprises.

It seems as if everyday we have an opportunity to clean out and take garbage to the dump, it rains.   Rain has pushed me into the barns, attics and sometimes my car.  However, Mark, Chris and the boys tend to press on despite the wet weather.

They planted ten of these huge evergreens as a buffer and forty-five little trees that will love this rain, sun and space to grow.

 I have found weeds all over the farm and a hosta here and there.

You can see how we have positioned old gutters to direct the rain away from the house.  The weeds growing around the foundation are suffocating the original plants, and testing my plant identification skills.

In the Fall,  Mrs. Vivian Smith (previous owner and daughter of the original farmer)  told us that she would like to come out in the spring and take some of her grandmother’s peony bulbs.  The bulbs and an old chest were the only two items she prized from the farm.  At the time, I had no idea what to expect.

But then, they bloomed!

These beautiful peonies line the walkway in the front of the farm house and their roots are close to seventy-five years old.

The other day I spent a few hours in the front yard, trying to clean out those peonies so Mrs. Smith would enjoy her visit.  It isn’t quite done, but it is a good start.

This weed or flower is very abundant and produces funny looking blooms.

(Poppies?)

The most abundant greenery on the farm surrounds the buildings.  Easily confused with rhubarb, burdock is edible!

Hidden among the ivy and overgrowth of trees is the remains of an old rose bush.

For me, the view of the fields has been the best surprise.  I love the look of the yellow buttercups,  the blue sky and the red barn.

Although the rain has been plentiful and our cleaning/restoration progress a bit slower, we have enjoyed watching the new growth that comes with spring.

♥ Meghan