Walking the Rows, Again and Again...
March 13, 2013 marked the day the Red-Winged Blackbird returned to Corgyncombe! The joyous o-ka-lee, o-ka-lee could be heard in the old maple trees along Corgi Creek! On my old Derbyshire writing slope I have written out Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote:
"The blackbirds make the maples ring
With social cheer and jubilee;
The redwing flutes his o-ka-lee"
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
With social cheer and jubilee;
The redwing flutes his o-ka-lee"
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Return Here to Read the Corgyncombe Courant.
The old fashioned Rose Geranium, which is usually in a cool room upstairs, has been brought down to enjoy whilst taking tea. The Rose Geranium has a delightful fragrance!
In the book "A Basket of Herbs", illustrated by Tasha Tudor, it is mentioned that Rose Geranium leaves are used for potpourri, tussie mussies, teas, cakes, cookies, and jellies.
The old teapot is decorated with hand painted leaves that bear a resemblance to old fashioned Rose Geranium leaves.
An old collectible Red-Winged Blackbird card rests upon the slope.
In the goat pasture Red-Winged Blackbird nests are hidden amongst the green.
The journal on the writing slope is covered with a reproduction of old wallpaper.
The 2012 gardening season brought about a couple of months of drought. The potatoes were slow but still green.
One day whilst weeding in the garden I glanced at the potatoes and where they were fine the day before, now one row was almost devoid of green leaves, chewed down to the stems!
Immediately I commenced removing the culprit, the Colorado Potato Beetle larvae. In the photograph above, the larva can be seen munching away at a nice green leaf. Many times a day I spent walking the rows, looking for and removing the pests. My vigilance paid off as eventually there were fewer and fewer until they were no more and an abundant potato crop was harvested!
This makes one give thought to the Irish Potato Famine that started about 1845 and lasted several years. The famine was caused by potato blight that ruined their potato harvest that they depended on. My own great great grandmother Bridget emigrated from Ireland in the mid-1800s.
Some Corgyncombe potatoes in baskets.
The potato... most favored here at Corgyncombe!
http://corgyncombecourant.blogspot.com/2013/03/return-of-red-wing-blackbird-potatoes.html
copyright © 2013 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson
copyright © 2013 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson
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4 comments:
The pink geranium and smell I love!. Here in Spain there are many kinds of Geraniums, and by the South decorates most balconies and patios of the houses, it is a marvel of colors, Happy Easter to all.A hug.Mª Carmen Duque.
Dear Diane and Sarah, a few precious photographs in this post. I wanted to tell you that I've got two DVDs of Tasha Tudor and I am delighted, I never tire of seeing them over and over again, especially by that inspire me peace.A hug for the two.
Mª Carmen Duque
Just a note to tell I LOVE, LOVE, all of your photos and articles and look forward to them all of the time. I was so interested in the "rose" geranium that I went out and found one recently. Sure does smell like roses alright. Keep up the wonderful work!!!!
Picking off the pests by hand, just like our ancestors did! You are to be admired. I grew little purple heirloom potatoes last year but only got about a dozen or so. I have never seen a rose geranium, I must look it up! Fondly from the Hollow, Cousin Jeri
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