Saturday, May 10, 2008

More farming at the Aerie

The sun came out around noon and the breeze picked up about that tie, too. between the two, the grass dried out nicely by 5 PM so I knew it was time to get the mower out and do the first cut of the season before it got out of hand. Growing on clay fill with virtually no topsoil or organic material, I like to see the clover and other pasture grasses mixed in with the "real" grass. It's still pretty sparse in places where erosion on the slope has washed even the clay away and left stone exposed or where water has flooded the smallest depression and killed the roots, but it seems to be progressing.

I noticed that the wild daisy population is a little thinner this year but there are still clumps of plants beginning to pop up along the margins of the "lawn." If I can find any along the road or on our second driveway, I'll consider moving them to areas where they can contribute to the landscape. The same goes for any daylilies or tigerlilies I might come across. I might even raid the beds up at the Bolt Hole for some. They transplant pretty easily. Come to think of it there are rugosa roses up there and black-eyed susans as well as daisies and raspberries. Might have to go plant hunting up there as soon as they grow enough to recognize.

Of course, all that will also have to wait until the blackflies dwindle in numbers. Only the breeze blowing this evening kept them manageable. There was more risk of inhaling one than being bitten. But I just know that the blackflies up in the Adirondacks are out for blood. They have certainly gotten enough of mine in the past. So I will bide my time. I will have to cut the grass up there in a week or so, but that's what the mesh bug suits are made for.

3 comments:

Gun Trash said...

So true, tiger lillies are very good transplant candidates. We were given some while visiting family in SW Virginia a few years back. They spent almost 2 weeks wrapped in wet newsprint before we could get them in the ground and they didn't mind one bit. They bloom every year.

Irises are another hardy one that don't mind being dug up and transplanted. They don't like wet feet though which makes them perfect for any dry areas in the landscape.

joated said...

Just as important to me are two factors: 1) Where are theyh on the deer/rabbit menu? 2) Are they perennials? (Don't want to have to plant them over and over and ....)

Anonymous said...

jersey deer don't seem particularly fond of lily's; and yes they come up year after year and multiply as quickly; as do irises. Hosta are great for fillers and they too are tough to kill. (next time youre around here stop in and we will give you many many many hosta starters and lilys!
columbine is another harty perennial we have..bleeding heart? poppys? euanamus? all are perennial and all we will be glad to share!! :)