Making the Veggie Garden Fence... Because We Had To

That is if we wanted to have a garden that was not devoured by DEER.. Those nasty, hungry, sweet-eyed, 4 legged, pretty little monsters... don't be fooled by their  gentle faces.. they are tricksters of the highest degree. as soon as you are confident and your back is turned..  your Hosta  will be gone.. your beans, your broccoli, chard, carrots and on and on.  We have deer come through our property several times a day.... and at night when they are the bravest and greediest

So we are building a Garden fence. and I am so excited.

 John is cutting it all from 2 x 6 lumber...  he laid it out on the back deck ( he built last year) so he had a nice flat surface to work on. most of the trellis panels are 8' x 12' . and we need 10 panels and a door.

so here we go.

 in the background is the woodshed John built last fall just in time to stack our winter firewood

 we watched the location in the backyard that received sun the earliest in the morning. and plotted out where the big 6" x 6" posts would go and placed some concrete deck blocks in those spots.

 ...every panel going up was so exciting.

 the thought that my veggies would be protected from the deer. yes of course raccoons and squirrels can climb over it but one thing at a time 

 We prepped the garden area last year with many loads of organic seafood compost and covered it with a thick layer of straw/mulch for the entire winter in hopes of making a productive growing medium

 every time I looked at it I was so happy.

 John did such a great job and he never stopped till he had it all finished.. I just absolutely love it!!!

 all up ... yippeee...  

Then I took a 3 foot piece of plastic deer netting and fastened it to the bottom couple feet of the fence all the way around.. to discourage rabbits and other short walking around critters

last but most important.. a lovely door. 

so until deer can figure how to unlatch a door.. I am feeling pretty secure the deer will only be able to peer through with no tasting.

we did this in May ready for the growing season here.

It's Green... and Summer is Here..... at long last

The land has its' green finery on.  Wow I love this time of year!

 Everything feels fresh and new.  

We took a walk down the road and had a gaze across a section of the Saint John River valley stretching west.

 ...on the way there, we went through this green glade.

I never tire of the floral gifts that nature offers.

Hosta just new for this year from a root from my younger sister.. such a hardy plant.

oh so excited!!!  Lots of new perennials for the new little old house, to be set into the garden ... can't wait to see them become their full selves.

an invitation to have tea under the oak that is hard to resist.

 chives.. they have a medieval charm to me

and the precious old fashioned bleeding hearts and bachelor's buttons.

so pretty... Lupins appearing anywhere they want

I don't know this flower that was growing by the roadside

wild grapes above and fragrant yellow lilies below

Giant Ichneumon Wasp, he's a good guy.. sat on this leaf for several hours resting

check that tail piece out! part of it's reproduction apparatus.

Yellow Spotted Salamander, he's a good guy too. He can live to be 20-30 years old can you believe it!

 he was about 4-5" long.. so gentle and quiet.. hardly moved at all....

 found him in the garden and took him back to be my garden helper.. he likes slugs..

 that is a good friend to have!!

 ...kind of has a little seal face, don't you think?

Now take a deep breath and make a wish... have a fabulous summer.. 

Time for me to plant flowers and make more jewelry . 

cheerio!!

Feasting on Nature

 Visitors on the front lawn just a day ago. 

 I had seen this doe quietly walking around the border of the property for several days. She was all alone. I recognized her by her black nose.

 Now I know she was all alone because she was looking for a place to bed down and have her little fawn.

 She spent quite a while licking the little thing while it nursed.

 She is leading her baby to some tall grass nearby, prob. to hide in while she goes about her day.

 Enjoying the burst of colour and life all around us...

from dandelions 

 to drifts of Forget me Nots

 to bursts of Lilacs and their intoxicating scent

 Jack in the Pulpit

 So exotic for here... I just love coming across them..

 usually in the under growth of the hedgerow trees, where the light is dappled and the soil is humus.

 Earlier in the spring, these  Daffodils gave so much joy.

 It almost felt like they were singing hallelujah, spring has arrived...

 although still chilly then, the colour almost made you forget about the temperature.

Then the african Violet took up the  signal and burst into bloom. 

 and not to forget the little Daphne, that we found growing in a rockpile... we moved a few pieces of it over by the house so we could enjoy its beauty up close.

 In between being enamoured with the beauty of nature.. work must go on ... here are a few more of our designs ready to go.

Fishbone Earrings hanging on shells we brought with us from the ocean at St. Martins on the Bay of Fundy.

 The Book and Mug

 Dragonflys

 Ladybugs

and "Spring Blossoms" a new design inspired by the much awaited spring colour that is bursting forth in so many gardens. 4 1/8" long with lots of movement... silver and copper beads, czech glass in aqua and garnet, african painted bead, amethyst, leopardskin Jasper, peridot and sterling silver wrapped crystal.. Only made one pair of these.

Be Happy and enjoy your life! 

Desideratum