there is no place like home…

Tags

2020, blogging, Charlottesville City Market, farmer's market, Pandemic

Since March of this year, all life as before changed. Home became more of a sanctuary than ever before.

Typically, I sparsely listen national news, and I continued my usual routine sans mask or gloves. Then, as I prepared for another year of our farmer’s market, I quickly noticed that store shelves were bare…supplies were naught. Flour was no where to be found. WHAT??

By April, the drama unfolded as our market morphed into an online pre-order, pre-pay, drive through venue. I froze and let two weeks of market commence before I snapped to and opened the required accounts to participate.

Then the bizarre happened. Small production turned into huge…the community discovered my products and ordered in mass. I nearly had a stroke the first week, as orders poured in. I must produce and keep up! I must scramble for common supplies! Yes, MOI. Little old MOI!! A One-Woman operation since 2000! Click, Click, Click…people love shopping online.

Apparently, my foods/flowers became a source of comfort for hundreds. Revenue doubled. When I was able to find canning jars, I produced numerous batches of jams and chutneys. What became a rage in the fall was my Hot Fudge Sauce…women reported that they were simply opening the jar and eating straight away with a spoon. Forget warming it. At least stress eating is healthier at the farmer’s market.

One would not think that buttermilk biscuits, pimento cheese, and blueberry scones would be in high demand week after week. Nor would seasonal jams and preserves vanish immediately upon offer. Pestos sold through the seasons, as did the peonies during May. I could go on, but alas, this is a short blog this first day of winter.

There was a grand hunger.

Families loaded the kids and dogs (and one cat) into their automobiles and through the Saturday market they drove, trunks open, ready to receive local wares. I quickly surmised that this was an excuse for a family outing from the safety of their cars. Everyone was on their best behavior.

I entertained myself by counting the number of whisper-quiet Teslas that drove through. Affluent residents abound in this town, and we local producers are grateful. Oh, so grateful. This mutual support kept us all sane.

Then the summer wore on into fall.

Needless to say, I was so busy keeping up, I did not photograph any of these weekly happenings.

“Make hay while the sun shines” became my mantra. Normally I stop market the end of October, but this year sales revenue never slowed, so I rode the wave until December 19th.

As I blog today for the first time in months, I sit exhausted at the keyboard. Yesterday, I spent another five hours in the kitchen preparing the last orders before Christmas. I see that WordPress has changed its blogging format and I haven’t a clue how to insert photographs. So this will be an image-less blog, except for my descriptions.

And it may be my last blog if I cannot figure out the madness of WordPress’ engineers. Don’t fix things if they are not broken! Guess they have too much time on their hands. Meanwhile…

The best thoughts I can muster now are:

“There is a fine line between order and chaos”
and
all life is temporary.

I choose to think this too shall pass and we will emerge as the butterfly, more beautiful than the caterpillar and able to fly.

So readers, how have you spent the last few months of 2020?
Do share in the comments section.

Copyright 2020 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

Kudos, followers

Tags

Charlottesville, farmers markets, inspiration, suggested reading

I see from my stats that my followers are reading through the thing about challenge…great! Remember to click “older posts” too as there are about a dozen thing posts…

Now that we are on the cusp of spring, I submit another blog post regarding how to shop farmer’s markets…enjoy! Mining older posts are a good thing, right?

https://dianelasauce.wordpress.com/2014/06/22/how-to-shop-at-your-local-farmers-market/

Posted early on Sunday, or it was early before the time changed…who likes time change???

This tulip is called Honeymoon. Pretty fabulous, yes?

 

 

the first day of spring 2016

Tags

Charlottesville, first day of spring, garden, garden design, home, lifestyle, raised beds, spring flowers, Virginia

Despite the 40F temperatures and overcast sky this morning at Swallowtail Cottage, here’s a glimpse of what is blooming in my half-acre gardens…enjoy!

PJM rhododendrons show their stuff this chilly spring morning.

O’Neal blueberry flowers…provide edible, delectable fruit come May, with the help of local pollinators.

Two years ago, I collected 2000 heirloom daffodils, crocus, and lilies from around the property and added them to a 30′ ditch. A powerful early spring statement…with more blooms to follow in weeks to come.

One deep rear shrub border is home to Japanese maples, hellebores, daffs, an adopted clump of old variety spirea, Green Velvet boxwood (raised from cuttings), assorted lilies, chindo viburnum, oakleaf hydrangea, one floribunda rose ‘Tiny’, hostas, phlox Davidii, clematis, red hot pokers, miscari, and three tuteurs.

Buxus Green Mountain boxwoods never fail to impress. Easy care and sprinkled with tiny, delicate blossoms in late March. Have I confessed I adore this variety of boxwood?

This herbaceous Euphorbia or garden spurge has survived fifteen years in the same northerly spot at the front door. Cut to the ground after bloom time, this plant is bullet proof, bouncing back year after year. Highly regarded for their brilliant chartreuse bracts, textural foliage, and elegant growth habit, places them among the elite plants with significant garden significance. Note: all euphorbias ooze a milky white sap, latex, when cut or broken, so wear gloves when pruning and avoid skin contact.

The hellebores are stunning this time of year. Over twelve inches tall, they brighten the landscape. A winter/spring garden favorite…

When the sapsuckers girdle my dogwoods or maple trunks, I dangle shiny CD disks from inner branches. Highly effective.

Hard working raised bed area produced various veggies and herbs for over a decade. Now they are dedicated to heirloom daffodils and tulips.

A new addition to my 2016 gardens…a mason bee or “solitary bee house” as the UK designers describe…was sent to me as a birthday present this month. Thanks again Barry!

The resident Eastern bluebird pair chose my nestbox during late winter, and today the wee female adds finishing touches to her nest…built one pine needle at a time, in three days.

Has this post inspired your first day of spring? And please check out the related spring post links below…

Copyright © 2016 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

garden edits and spring delights

Tags

Central Virginia, DIY, edit the garden, erosion, garden, garden edits, home, life, mulch, pine needle mulch, river rock, Spring Garden Delights, Virginia

March is a busy month at Swallowtail Cottage. Garden chores explode from zero to sixty overnight. This year major garden edits were necessary, as plant/shrub installations made in 2001 needed removal, requiring the assistance of my garden man, his assistant, and their chipper.

Our last snow lightly dusted the gardens earlier this month, then quickly vanished into spring delights. The heirloom crocus arrived on time, showing healthy multiplication following last year’s installation.

Cloth of Gold ‘Crocus angustifolius’ once known as the Turkey Crocus was grown in gardens as early as 1587

A delightful feature of this crocus is the brown stripe on the underside of the petals…hence Turkey crocus?

Snowbunting ‘Crocus chrysanthus’ c. 1914, pearly buds open in January

This crocus variety was on the property when I purchased it in 2001. Although many were transplanted into a 12″ deep trench along with two-thousand daffodils, these wee flowers find their way to the surface and multiply every year. Thanks to the help from Old House Gardens, I identified this crocus as “Vanguard, 1934, a former Russian wildflower that opens its platinum outer petals to reveal and exciting contrast…inner petals of luscious amethyst. The earliest-blooming crocus, Crocus vernus “

Unusual warmth brought many of the early heirloom daffodils out of the ground in vast profusion. They definitely hear the call and continually remind me how I adore these easy care perennials.

Adorable Tete a Tete daffs appear in profusion and multiply with abandon

The overgrown, tired, and disgruntled shrubs/groundcovers were tagged and the chipper made quick mulch while this gardener exhaled with relief. Gone were the four s.laurels, numerous mats of rug juniper, one chindo viburnum, and fifteen barberries. Gone.

The plant tag stated these s. laurels would mature at 3X5. How often plant tags deceive…

Gone in seconds are the s.laurels, leaving space for grand hostas and one Henry’s Garnet Virginia Sweetspire Itea virginica, while allowing improved light and air for the Green Velvet boxwood neighbors.

For six hours the chipper chipped, as I busied myself with pruning various shrubs, transplanted a smaller chindo and gifted hostas, and cleared up the deep shrub borders to add bulk to the chipper…have I mentioned how I adore chippers? Men with the right tools are worth their weight in gold..

Once the help departed, I gazed at a much opened landscape and raking chores, as the juniper required a stump grinder…for hours. Left were the fractured branches, requiring raking and pulling to bring closure to the wounded slopes. Gone.

Newly transplanted fringe tree overlooking one peony bed…all in need of raking and fresh mulch.

Following the application of 48 bags of pine bark mulch and 10 bags of river rock, the landscape is somewhat calm, and areas of erosion are addressed. The fringe tree ‘Chionanthus virginicus’ was transplanted from the rear lawn to the new front slope, and one dwarf Gingko ‘Majestic Butterfly’ will be installed when located. When baled pine needles arrive, they will be spread as mulch to the lower front slope, behind the pine bark borders.

Two years ago, I began experimenting with pine needles, and find them highly satisfactory. They stay put during heavy rains, are attractive in the deep shrub borders, and are pleasant to walk on. I rake fresh needles in December from the local school, and only purchase the baled needles when necessary.

Rock will slow down water during heavy rains and pine mulch will dress both the blueberries ‘O’neal‘ and the front of this sloped bed

I must share a winter discovery from the Dover Saddlery catalogue…a waterproof boot by Ariat, which I thought would make the perfect mowing/garden boot. Sans horse these days, I still love the smell of leather and often visit the local store, just to inhale. Following this week’s garden marathon, I attest these boots will serve me well. 

Retired are my 15YO cross trekkers ~ many a mile we walked together

So off am I into another gardening season in central Virginia. The raised veggie beds are converted into heirloom daffodil/tulip beds and the 2500 daffodils in residence will soon dazzle me and my market customers. Come May the rescued iris and heirloom peonies will follow suit, and will fill my soul with the meaning of the garden. The other 2016 garden chores of tackling the wild violet turf infestation and mowing schedule will keep me busy until year’s end.

I wish for you a healthy, happy spring. Even if you are hold up in an apartment, get out to your parks and fill a balcony container with your favorite something. Grand or small, plants give us humans hope and joy for today and tomorrow.

Old gardeners never die, they simply spade away…

Copyright © 2016 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

jump start to spring 2015

Tags

spring, spring flowers, Virginia, winter doldrums

still buried in the white stuff here at Swallowtail Cottage

I admit, this winter tests my patience.
E-v-e-r-y single indoor project is complete.
Numerous recipes are tested.
Too much buttered popcorn and Irish whiskey consumed.

popovers made with organic coconut milk…an experiment that worked

the new No-Knead Brioche recipe from Cook’s Illustrated blew the competition out of the water…

Too many cold days and LONG nights decorated with additional frozen rain and bonus snow ~ February was the sixth coldest on record for Central Virginia.

the baby Crimson Japanese maple delights this day

I fed a dozen nearly frozen Bluebirds (and various others) my custom bird food, made from WF bulk department (organic hulled sunflower seeds, currants, cranberries, and TJ’s sunflower seed oil, all spun in a food processor.) I spend more on their food than on mine…
Piles of books and Fine Gardening magazines were perused. I learned a lot.

I fell in love with a new organic kale ~ a must in my daily morning smoothies, its name is as pretty as its habit…Lacinato and it is an heirloom variety.

Enough already.
Although my garden is still buried under the white stuff, I want to take you back to a previous blog post…one that promises garden delights from Swallowtail Cottage.
THINK SPRING!!!
If you reside in Boston or more northerly USA parts, my condolences and special wishes go out to you. Every one of you deserves a medal. I wager in nine months an uptick in Boston area births will go on record too…congratulations!
On to the eye candy:

https://dianelasauce.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/flowers-that-bloom-in-the-springfa-la/

That’s all this winter weary gardener can muster today. Right now it is a sunny 45 degrees fahrenheit, so I am headed out to a bright corner on the lower patio, where I can sunbathe and daydream…would love to hear from you. See you on the other side…

Copyright © 2015 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

 

 

Bluebirds ~ our very special relationship at Swallowtail Cottage

Tags

Albemarle County, back yard birds, blowfly, bluebird monitor, Bluebird Monitor's Guide, Bluebirds, coir, garden, home, life, nature, nesting bluebirds, Virginia

rural Albemarle County

Bluebirds are native, timid, and endangered here in the US. In order to continue my life’s mission of sustainability and education, four years ago I became a Bluebird Monitor. During the nesting season, I observe, serve, and promote the health and survival of this wonderful species.

The following photos were just taken this morning from inside my home, so please forgive the few slightly blurred images, yet I think it is important to record and blog about the very special relationship I developed with this particular pair. They nested here last year and I welcome them back with open arms and camera in hand. They do not feed here during the winter, and I celebrate their safe return from the wild.

Virginia’s wild

Let’s return to the timid part—bluebirds frighten easily and nesting conditions must be just right for a pair to claim a box. Since I feed many other species of wild birds on my half-acre, placement of bluebird boxes is critical. Not too close, just the right size and angle, positioned on stand-alone posts just the right height off the ground, and goodness knows, plenty of predator guards.

I offer two boxes here and currently have a small feeding station set up in the Noel guard of one box—specifically for the blues. It is hidden from wrens, titmice, cardinals, and Mary Mockingbird, all of who adore the same sunflower seeds, currants and nuggets. Happily the bluebirds found this private feeder quickly, and chose the other box in which to nest. All this I learned by observation.

Another tidbit learned in recent years is, is about the nesting material. Bluebirds fancy pine needles here, yet with nearby cattle, the bluebirds are easily infested with blowfly parasites, which kill. I learned the hard way two years ago when I lost all but one nestling in an otherwise healthy brood. Blowfly apparently love pine needles, so last year I experimented with coir, a sustainable by-product of the coconut. It is cheap, clean, and nicely simulates pine.

coir nest built by moi when blowfly was detected in pine needle nest

I lined coir nest with raffia strips to prevent nestlings from tangling their nails in coir. From this nest the fledge was successful.

In spring I stock up on a few plant basket liners, and place shredded bits near the bird box when the female shows interest. This streamlines the female’s nest-building chore as the male does not help construct—he guards the process.

Can you imagine being a nesting bird who flies around large areas in order to return with just a few threads of nesting material per flight? Hundreds of trips must be made, using precious energy. While assisting in this process I feel such joy when through the glass, I observe a connection with this wild creature as she selects the coir and hops into the nearby nest box. Now for the photos taken within the hour:

this year’s scenario~
notice the coir tucked into the fence post

female bluebird making the connection, yay!

bluebird up on post ready to enter the box

there she goes!

male at private feeding station

Male guards while female grabs a snack~nest building takes energy!

Male bluebird checking out the nest-building process

Dear readers, I cannot begin to express the absolute glee—a kid in a candy store perhaps? Filled with hope, pride, and pure joy that I may share this small miracle with you.

If you host bluebirds in your gardens, please do not feed dry mealworms! Most of them are from China! Please order fresh (USA), live mealworms from Nature’s Way in Ohio. They are easy to care for (just put them in a deep tray with oat bran and a few fresh romaine leaves) where they happily reside until plucked out (I use tweezers) and feed to appreciative birds. If readers have questions, please write to me through the comments link above…

I would be honored if you would continue to learn about my bluebird adventures by typing bluebird into the search bar on this page. There you may read previous posts and see photographs of this miraculous process. If, per chance, I inspire you to become a Bluebird Monitor, please type suggested reading into my search bar to learn titles of the essential publications supporting this incredible bird. Also one of my followers a great source of information and her blog may be found at http://woolwinehousebluebirdtrail.com/
Check it out and get inspired!

Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

tgif

Tags

container planting, food, garden, home, life, nature, plants, spring, Virgina

slow snow slide…try saying this fast

Yesterday marked the official end of winter in my landscape, so said I. The droopy snow slide of last week is now merely a memory. Today, with the sun blazing in all her glory, I headed out into the garden to complete yet another task on my spring checklist.

This planter, and her sister, survived many years of neglect, continuing to flourish season to season. However, during the winter, both planters collapsed, or the contents did, forcing me to pay attention.

sunken in the center

This sedum is bullet proof and flowed for years, simulating water, as the centerpiece of my restored herb bed—now it needed surgery.

with my trusty Rambo knife, surgery was successful

When I planted this container years ago, I placed onion bags filled with  packing peanuts into the bottom. This provides great drainage, reduces the amount of fill dirt, and will biodegrade in a thousand years, making this process very sustainable!

a good use for those non-biodegradable peanuts

notice the peanut filled onion bags tucked into the bottom of the container

landscape cloth and good earth await

operation successful thanks to a good knife

The old flat sheet provided a great catch-all for any wandering bits…

A few fresh peanuts were added

then all were covered with a bit of landscape cloth. This prevents dirt from clogging the engineered drainage

I just adore the color of these Angelina Stonecrop ‘Sedum rupestre’ ‘Angelina’ PPAF or trailing perennial.

In no time this plant will spill over the edges of this container creating a fountain effect

meanwhile the mower charges

I repeated this surgery on the second container, then proceeded to the lower garden where the eight sections of retired sedum were re-purposed. They should do well in this hot, sunny lower area.

Virginia soil is full of clay, therefore this mortar pan is handy when adding amendments like Pro-Mix.

slave girl at work–moi!

tools of the day

time for a late lunch–butternut squash ravioli

with brown butter and sage

a tasty reward following a good afternoon’s work

So fare-thee-well winter storms and heavy snow.
This gardener is out in her domain, making a small difference in her spring landscape on a highly productive Friday afternoon.

Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

all or nothin’

Tags

backyard birds, cairn, late snowfall, nature, snowfall, tete a tete, virginia countryside

a wisp of promise

embellished tuteur

raised beds at rest

Tete a Tete daffodils uncovered

cairn for Miss Kitty

Mother Nature was kind to this garden last night.
Mild overnight temperatures allow for a quick melt this morning,
yet not before I captured these images to share.
The backyard birds eagerly await their nesting season and
the snow (ha!!) peas would like to raise their heads!
For now, this garden looks like nothin’!

Where ever you are, I wish you a safe and memorable day.

Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

~ time for fresh ribbon

Tags

barns, cherry jam, crispbread, easter bonnets, farm bones, french wire, Louisa County, Virginia, winter dormancy, winter vistas

could this be a new look for spring?

This hat has been in my collection for two decades. I decided that the old black ribbon, stained from years of garden perspiration, needed to go. I fell in love with this french-wire spool and hope that this updated version of straw sustains me a few more years.

debut in the field last Sunday

The new bow quite resembles the french cherry jam spooned onto my crispbread both rich in color and sweet appearance—

rich and sweet

Yet not as rich and sweet as my views in the field last Sunday—

my love of barns continues

nothing like wood and metal

such elegant patina

a fine pair

bones of this farm at rest

teasel remains

I adore this time of year when views promise spring,
yet winter dormancy continues to color vistas.

Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

 

march in like a lion

Tags

biting insects, Central Virginia, cypress trees, Dominion Power, greenhouse effect, in like a lion, March, mother nature, power outage, snowfall, weather, winter

This week’s weather was trying—the forecast spot on—I lost all utilities for 2.5 days and hunkered down until last night, dressed like an Eskimo, sleeping in my clothes and cap. Not fun! I thought I would share my pain through the following photographs:

Tuesday night, heavy, wet, damaging snow fell for hours, and I awoke to this…

crepe myrtle pinned to ground

crepe myrtle pinata

stabbing the pile of wet, heavy stuff

cypress trees reduced in height by half

at least the oatmeal stout and porter cheese needed no refrigeration!

no doubt spring will arrive despite what is dished out of the sky

Apparently life in rural Virgina brings with it many trials. Summers are brutally hot and humid, with plentiful biting insects while wicked storms often whip through leaving residents without power for days. Now winter brings similar outages, demanding one to be resilient. Although I toughed 51 degree F temps indoors for nearly three days, when the utilities finally returned, I was totally exhausted—even resorted to sitting in the van as the afternoon sun raised her head, creating a greenhouse effect and bringing temperatures to 80 F.

Last time I checked this is the twenty-first century right?

Before retiring last night I managed a hot shower and shampoo, a load of laundry, some hot soup, before collapsing into the nearest bed.

OK Mother Nature, this gal has had enough already. You are shaking your magnificent mane again—reminding us how you always have your way with us. You entered March and got our attention. Now, PLEASE, I ask you for a wee bit of spring before the lawn demands a weekly mow? Please?

March often does enter as a lion, yet folks, prepare like a warlord.

This is my new life slogan! Yet when I remember to take a lesson from challenging situations, particularly nature, I am reminded that resilience is key and so far, I bounce back. Now headed to the terrace to have lunch in the brilliant sunshine, I will listen to the song of gurgling/melting snow as it nourishes the landscape.

Also humming “there is a legal limit to the snow here, in Camelot!”

Here’s hoping that you are warm and cozy this day. 😉

Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved