tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post2519890834022120138..comments2024-03-28T15:00:12.581-04:00Comments on Letters from a Hill Farm: July, with a touch of the first day of AugustNanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-23528763108174257812020-08-09T16:47:53.487-04:002020-08-09T16:47:53.487-04:00I am so very pleased you came back and saw her com...I am so very pleased you came back and saw her comment!! <br />Interesting about the canals. Of course, that makes perfect sense.<br />And you have the cat toy!!!!!Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-11801736247037321322020-08-09T04:26:51.524-04:002020-08-09T04:26:51.524-04:00Ha - that is really helpful, Lucille, thank you - ...Ha - that is really helpful, Lucille, thank you - I have got beans in mine but sometimes there's a few tiny ones that never grew and two big ones. I'm up to 13 individual beans now but I do have about 12 runner beans that have started to grow. <br /><br />Re the canals, I love them - we were asked to keep away from them as the towpaths are quite narrow, to protect people who live on boats and each other, but those signs have now come down and we're back running on the canals which is lovely, and indeed lots of foliage. <br /><br />And I love that cat toy - we already have it!! in brown. The kitties adore it and in fact I need to find a replacement cardboard disk for it soon. How funny!LyzzyBeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16398604923871095647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-79157684855121153992020-08-07T16:26:39.760-04:002020-08-07T16:26:39.760-04:00Thank you!Thank you!Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-24068937731833126562020-08-07T16:25:30.965-04:002020-08-07T16:25:30.965-04:00Oh, I hope Lyzzy Bee sees this. I have never seen ...Oh, I hope Lyzzy Bee sees this. I have never seen them growing where we are. People grow green or yellow string beans. Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-12782665794175995682020-08-07T15:51:19.287-04:002020-08-07T15:51:19.287-04:00Lovely post. Something so exotic about lilies. Lovely post. Something so exotic about lilies. Nicolahttp://vintagereads.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-54098244123137236982020-08-04T09:08:33.974-04:002020-08-04T09:08:33.974-04:00If you look over at the R sidebar, and scroll down...If you look over at the R sidebar, and scroll down until you get to "Letter Topics" - quite a ways down!, and then scroll down a ways (it is alphabetical), you will come to Flower CSA. Those are the posts about our local one.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-87243416375156246302020-08-04T09:05:13.609-04:002020-08-04T09:05:13.609-04:00Thank you!
The orange ones are beautiful. Our orig...Thank you!<br />The orange ones are beautiful. Our original ones! <br />No, not Mr R.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-74948533776839445052020-08-04T07:06:07.896-04:002020-08-04T07:06:07.896-04:00A lovely post. We have a few day lilies too, orang...A lovely post. We have a few day lilies too, orange ones. Is the Fred, Mr Rogers? We enjoyed It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood even though we never saw the programme.Lucillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14414527658216916537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-89641747039238701822020-08-04T07:01:22.440-04:002020-08-04T07:01:22.440-04:00I too had a complete failure with my first attempt...I too had a complete failure with my first attempt at broad beans. They looked fine and full but they were all empty. I’d like to say I can learn something from this but I know I looked after them so it’s a mystery. Plenty of pollinators around them too.Lucillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14414527658216916537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-75862008623365715582020-08-04T00:38:44.324-04:002020-08-04T00:38:44.324-04:00I especially love the red day lilies! Mine did no...I especially love the red day lilies! Mine did not last very long this year. I didn't know CSAs did flowers, I thought just random vegetables. What a great gift!CLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03595294217111602231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-23911605872935928162020-08-03T21:29:03.641-04:002020-08-03T21:29:03.641-04:00It is so hard right now to even know what to think...It is so hard right now to even know what to think. I'm just praying the cases don't go up and up. <br />I love it that you have had rain! It must be marvelous for Texans to see that green!Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-88030378125021588442020-08-03T21:27:18.907-04:002020-08-03T21:27:18.907-04:00Thank you, Kay. I love it that she calls when it h...Thank you, Kay. I love it that she calls when it has been a hard shift for her. I'm happy your family is all fine. <br />My life is basically quite the same. I don't really go many places anyhow. I really must do a post about all this soon. <br />Thanks again.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-66301776135424923372020-08-03T15:20:52.020-04:002020-08-03T15:20:52.020-04:00It's all absolutely beautiful, Nan, and it mak...It's all absolutely beautiful, Nan, and it makes it easy to see why you haven't posted more here than you have. You've been busy!<br /><br />It's a little hot down here in July, so for us, June is probably the best part of the summer even though summer doesn't officially start until June's almost over. This year we've had so much July rain that it's very steamy at times; not so good for humans, but the lawns, flowers, and trees are loving it. My grass has seldom been a more uniform green than it is this year. Julys and Augusts are usually really dry, so it's kind of a change.<br /><br />COVID-19 is still a problem in Texas, but it at least has plateaued in the last few days. I suppose that's some kind of progress. But now that school is about to start back up (even though students will be limited to online learning for the first four weeks), I am enough of a pessimist to think cases will start rising again in October no matter what we do now. Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-36845607744883402962020-08-03T13:44:25.645-04:002020-08-03T13:44:25.645-04:00Nan, this was a wonderful post. Loved seeing all ...Nan, this was a wonderful post. Loved seeing all the pictures of your flowers and garden and family. Thanks for sharing it with us. We'll get through all this won't we? It may not be easy or soon, but it will pass at some point. Our lives here are good enough. I'd love to be able to go to my 'normal' pursuits - volunteering, in-person yoga class, in-person WW meeting, but I'm OK with how things are. We miss seeing our kids more, but we stay in touch and do see them now and then. Our girl has gotten in the habit again of calling us on her way to work, which allows about 30 minutes to chat. Sometimes she calls me on her way home from work, but that usually means it's been a tough shift. She used to do that in nursing school. I'm glad to be there for her in that way. Otherwise, we're blessed because extended family have been OK as well. Thank goodness for golf and reading. Ha! Take care and again, love seeing all the pictures. Kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13495669354860191042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-49061168111470233092020-08-03T10:24:17.934-04:002020-08-03T10:24:17.934-04:00It seems like many places are spiking in cases, an...It seems like many places are spiking in cases, and it scares me. I wonder if everything opened up too soon. I may do a post on this. <br />I remember your interest in the new house, and it meant so much to me. Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-61800706246918808842020-08-03T10:20:35.037-04:002020-08-03T10:20:35.037-04:00I don't have growing lights anymore, and would...I don't have growing lights anymore, and wouldn't be able to get seeds going. It costs more to buy plants, but I would rather have success than failure. And I know at least with White Flower Farm if your plant doesn't work they will replace it. If you have Britbox, Gardeners World features gardeners who garden in very, very small spaces. So inspiring. I really believe they have the secret over there - to plant close together. So often here, you see gardens with empty soil between plants. It may look "neat" but I really prefer profusion! It is a bit harder to weed - to get to places, but on the other hand there aren't as many weeds because the plants take up so much ground! You two will LOVE the echinacea.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-29511380532129073902020-08-03T10:15:02.197-04:002020-08-03T10:15:02.197-04:00No sorries ever. I know just what you mean - somet...No sorries ever. I know just what you mean - sometimes we think doing onemorething, a special thing, will counteract all the chaos while instead it actually adds to it. Another year, when things are calmer and more settled the result could be completely different. This is such a strange time. I start and stop a lot of things. Outdoors is a big help to me but I'm not in a city. I just saw that episode on Gardeners World again about the plantings along the canal in Birmingham. Such wildlife coming in - a real little miracle. If I lived there, I'd walk as often as I could in that area. You are NOT a failure. There is very little that is "restful" just now. And your change in routine is a huge thing. Just when there is loads of stress around us is when we need a home routine more than ever. And I just bought a fantastic cat toy, and found one on Amazon UK! PetzTrendz Cats Toys Ball Interactive Scratcher Chaser Best Pet Scratch Toy Play Combined Catnip (Blue) Hope your kitties love it like Maisy and Gemma do! Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-72033071042808654012020-08-03T04:31:53.702-04:002020-08-03T04:31:53.702-04:00No, unfortunately not at all, as I have struggled ...No, unfortunately not at all, as I have struggled (dark north-facing garden, only windowsill safe from the cats also north-facing, never sure when to plant them out, harvesting the four broad bean pods too early and wasting them, slugs eating everything even after I put copper tape round the pots, etc. etc.). Not restful at all, just horrible and stressful and I feel like a stupid failure as I know a lot of good gardeners who are just doing it and getting lovely things. I've basically spent about £60 and hours of time to get one pod of broad beans! But never mind, my mistake to try to learn something new while working hard on my job, having my husband work at home too making my routine go to pot, dealing with our young cats and all their issues, and all the covid-related stress. Sorry to go on!LyzzyBeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16398604923871095647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-83522505206009882412020-08-03T02:03:47.774-04:002020-08-03T02:03:47.774-04:00Like the others who have commented here, I have en...Like the others who have commented here, I have enjoyed this post very much. And as I found it on a Sunday, I had time to read it, too :-)<br />Beautiful photos of all you hold dear - flowers, your home, your family.<br />I can't believe it is 10 years since Margaret moved into the house! The posts you did about when the house was being built were great, I remember them well.<br />Here in Germany, wearing masks is mandatory when shopping and on public transport and in some other situations. Children under six are exempt, as well as anyone who has a medical condition such as asthma that would make mask-wearing extra hard. (Of course, people with such conditions are expected to stay away from situations where they would need a mask in the first place.)<br />I love it that you have flowers by the name of family members and friends!Librarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-28545868779595960452020-08-03T00:10:06.815-04:002020-08-03T00:10:06.815-04:00I forgot to say, Nan, that I sent the link for thi...I forgot to say, Nan, that I sent the link for this post to my husband and he loved it, and he is eager to get some echinacea since he saw yours. He is very excited about plants that attract butterflies.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-87564558540454081112020-08-03T00:03:47.016-04:002020-08-03T00:03:47.016-04:00Good, I never have succeeded with seeds. That is a...Good, I never have succeeded with seeds. That is a good idea, planting in the fall, I will have to read more about that. Compared to your acreage I am a minuscule amount of ground to plant in, and the I have to figure out whether I will have enough sunlight for each plant.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-74975235440080605022020-08-02T18:16:04.842-04:002020-08-02T18:16:04.842-04:00Oh, thank you!
No, we ordered plants that we plan...Oh, thank you! <br />No, we ordered plants that we planted in the fall.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-60593309803787793692020-08-02T18:06:09.353-04:002020-08-02T18:06:09.353-04:00All of this is so lovely, Nan. Especially the yarr...All of this is so lovely, Nan. Especially the yarrow and the plants around it. Did you plant seeds? TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-84457735472642773312020-08-02T14:45:48.652-04:002020-08-02T14:45:48.652-04:00Monty Don has talked about how being in the garden...Monty Don has talked about how being in the garden helps with our anxiety in these odd times. I hope it helps with yours. I<br />will look into buddleia. Thanks.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-84392267128519822992020-08-02T13:59:30.084-04:002020-08-02T13:59:30.084-04:00Wonderful photos, I especially love the hollyhocks...Wonderful photos, I especially love the hollyhocks. I have grown vegetables for the first ever time this year, which was foolish as I'm working full time still and having a bad time with anxiety. But I have a few broad beans and hopefully some runner beans starting. Also love your butterflies. I have a lot of buddleia in my garden which is a magnet for bees and butterflies and smells delicious, too. LyzzyBeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16398604923871095647noreply@blogger.com