Using Thun calendar to schedule sprays on our work calendar. In March and April, I schedule our biodynamic sprays for the season using Maria Thun’s Sowing and Planting Calendar. In the spring we spray the aromatics with horned quartz (“501”) three times on moon sign flower days, once each in Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. The… Read more »
On Easter afternoon we hike past the wild honeybee trees. The bees are busy, in and out, and our grandson Wesley is in awe! Hole in oak that leads to wild honey bee hive. Then, as we pass the spot where the road enters the forest (where the mission bells are just finishing bloom), we… Read more »
One of my favorite wildflowers, shooting star, a member of the primrose family, is just finishing its bloom. This has been a light bloom year for it, the bloom beginning in February, making the flower ever more precious to come upon. Some years we have small meadows full of shooting star. Shooting Star on its tall, thin… Read more »
In Napa County we are so fortunate to have a free chipping program through Napa Communities Firewise Foundation. We clear underbrush and dead trees, e-mail the program, and the crew arrives, chips the pile, and leaves the chips for use on pathways and mulching. Last week they arrived and chipped a huge pile of brush we had… Read more »
Petunia at work clearing fresh shoots of poison oak. When the goat has been wading through tender shoots of poison oak! View Our Lavender Products
I know… it has the look of a grade school art project. Please forgive that! Over the last eight years we have kept rainfall records and this is one way of putting them together. Although this winter has been dry, the early spring has brought a lot of rain, 9.3 inches in March alone. Often… Read more »
Miner’s lettuce A few years ago Judith Lowry Larner consulted with us about the native plants on our land. We want to support their populations, as they provide important habitat for native pollinators, honey bees, and many other animals. As Biodynamic farmers we work for diversity, and our native plants are an important part of… Read more »
YES!!!! After a couple of weeks of storms, the greens sparkle, and the air is fresher than I can remember. We are more than happy for the storms and rain, and will be happy for more, but the morning’s blue is nothing less than Grace! Wild calendula in vineyard. California poppy in vineyard. View Our… Read more »
Mission Bells (or Chocolate Lily) is hard to see. Surprise of the underside! Mission Bells, or Chocolate Lily (I do not know the difference), is blooming! It is a rare wildflower on our ranch, maybe because its coloring makes it rare to see! Last year as I was attempting to photograph one blossom, it suddenly disappeared… Read more »
Coastal oak flower bunches about to bloom. This week will determine a lot about the coastal oak acorn harvest this year. We are having late rains (we are not complaining!) and the coastal oak blossoms are about to open. The last years our rains have come in March and into April, and this year is… Read more »
© 2024 Patricia Damery.
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