Early signs of spring at the farm!

For any of you who experience the cold season of winter, you know what it’s like to anxiously await warmer temperatures, particularly, if you love gardening as much as I do.  It’s been rather bleak in my part of the North East but, with the arrival of spring just one day away, I can definitely say that spring is emerging at the farm.  These photos were taken yesterday just to prove that point.  I’ll show you more photos of how things progress in a couple of weeks.  I think you will be amazed!!

Look at these adorable miniature crocuses poking through the grass!

Even Sharkey stops to appreciate this sign of spring.

The donkeys are happy for warmer days.

Until very bold Sharkey starts to menace them.  She actually believes she’s a herding dog.

Pretty Eranthis hyemalis have emerged.

These shoots have been covered with a layer of leaves.  It won’t be long before they turn green.

A family of blue birds was observing as my grounds keepers cleared away the fallen leaves.  This blue bird swooped down for a prize – an earthworm.

This is my cutting garden all nicely cleaned.  The chickens in the background seem to have had a very good winter.  They’re still laying like crazy.

This is a row of Lilium looking very healthy.

Here is a row of tulips – I can’t wait for vases filled with them.

This is a new section of the chicken coop, which will provide lots of shade for the chickens in the summertime.  I just love these new roosts, which Alfredo made from trees cut in the woods.

It doesn’t seem that long ago when I showed you photos of the burlap being wrapped and now it’s coming off!  It will be neatly rolled up and stored for reuse next autumn.

Oh, what pretty snowdrops.

And look at Vivaldi admiring them too!

These lovely blue blossoms are scilla.

I love seeing things bloom in unexpected places.  I have many spring bulbs planted in grassy areas.  These are next to a stone entranceway.

Look at the colors and energy of this spring bulb!  I can’t wait to see the flower it makes.

And lastly, this is my vegetable garden.  After a good cleaning, the area has been covered with a layer of rich compost and I’ll tell you more about that in a future blog.

Comments

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, Isn't it amazing how everything changes with the seasons every year yet we wait with anticipation for these changes to occur over and over. I enjoy all seasons but spring is really special because of the renewal of living things. The first crocous that emerges from the rather drab ground is really beautiful and in a way so full of promise of so much more to come. Thank you so much for sharing these photos of the early changes at your wonderful farm. Even the animals are enjoying the early changes as indicated by their frisky and more active behavior. Bring it on! I'm as ready for spring as they are! Have a happy first day of spring. Jan

[M&Co]

This is beautiful! Your crocuses are so tiny and adorable! I did not have the patience to wait so I dug up some of my Crocus Snowbunting, and planted them inside. You can see the pictures on my blog ;-) The photo of Sharkey herding the donkeys is soo fun! It doesn't look as the donkeys are even noticing her ;-)
Happy Easter Martha! :-)

[BarbB]

How encouraging to see the first signs of spring! After a very long winter, the blue bird photo alone was worth logging on for.
Thanks bunches.

[Nan Ashby]

Springtime! Martha, the signs of spring at your farm are so enticing; it's amazing how even the animals start feeling their oats (an old saying I grew up hearing down here in middle southern Tennessee).Wish you luck with all your new blooms. Bulbs and blossoms of dogwood, tulips,azaleas,iris, and many more really make the South a gorgeous place for Spring. I really appreciate your photos of new life up in Bedford. Springtime is great- North or South. Nan

[Pat]

Spring is such a wonderful season! I wish I could have big gardens like you do. Your flowers look like they will give a big show and I can't wait to see them in full bloom.

[Pam From California]

Martha you are getting excellent photos with your new Cannon E O S 1 and with your G9 very clear and sharp. Impressive clarity is superb. I will be listening to you later today on Ask Martha Sirius 112. I cooked anothe one of your hams the other day GREAT! Have another set for Easter Sunday yummers so far I have bought nine they are so tasty!
Happy Easter to you!
Pam from CA.

[Ingrid Moyle]

What gorgeous photos of your spring bulbs awakening after their long sleep...just as we are about to enter our winter season in Melbourne. Your recent Martha Stewart Living magazine had the marmalade glazed ham featured (perfect for easter) - I recently made the orange honey glazed ham you featured in your Hors D'oeuvres handbook - excellent recipe and VERY popular, as was the hot crab dip. As with everything, you are a true inspiration all year round. Thank you Martha.

[KellySchwark.com]

Thank you Martha for the reminder that spring IS near! Here in Connecticut (Hartford County) I only have shoots popping their heads from the moist soil, so it was wonderful to see some blooms.

I particularly enjoyed the colorful bud. I had sketched one a few weeks back to stir thoughts of spring during a blizzard. Here is the link, and I hope that you enjoy it! http://kellyschwark.blogspot.com/2008/02/as-we-near-end-of-february-we-near-end.html

Kelly

[Kathy]

Hi, Martha,
I enjoyed seeing the emergence of Spring on your farm. Your cutting garden, chicken coop and roost (which reminds me of creations of my Dad on the farm), entranceway, and vegetable garden are beautiful harbingers of what's to come. Sharkey, the donkeys, and Vivaldi are thriving in a blooming paradise.
Kathy

[Elaine]

There is nothing like seeing the first signs of Spring! Snowdrops in my garden are the very first sign that it is finally here. Your pictures are fantastic. Thank you for sharing them!

[Cheryl]

How exciting to have so many blooms already! I recently saw my tulips poking their heads through the ground here in Chicago. I was wondering, how is your large new greeen house coming along? We haven't seen it for a while.

[Cydney Wade]

Thanks for pics of the farm. Please keep them coming, the animals, the gardens are all something we have in common. As most folks with farms, we always enjoy see how the "others" do things, not to mention comparing your region and ours down here in Florida. Best Spring Time Wishes, Cydney

[Gloria Herring]

Martha, your grounds look like they can't wait, either, for Spring to arrive. I am Blessed that I live where I do...four miles from I-85 on the GA side, and 18 miles from there on the SC side. I have been picking Jonquils for weeks in GA and sharing them with several friends. Yesteday afternoon, I picked almost an arm load of different kinds and gave some of them away, and offered a couple of neighbors the chance to go and pick their own.
These particular flowers have been coming back year after year for over 60+ years that I am aware of and I don't know how much time before that.
My Mama passed away last June, and her blooming shrubs in SC are in full bloom for the first year in a while. I think they put out all they could so she could look down and see them.
I wish you were here, so you could see them, also.
Thanks for your show and the picures...in other words, THANKS for sharing.
Gloria

[PAULINE MUCCIACCIO]

Hi Martha,
The blogs of your home & gardening are the ones I look most forward to reading. It's amazing that spring is almost here.
When I start seing crocuses I know spring is on its way, their one of my favorite flowers!
Best,
Pauline

[Charmayne Chandler]

Want 2 really bring on spring with a blast of a party, try Longwood Garden's Rare Plant Auction, April 26, imagine the closest thing to heaven, food, drink and stunning plants to bid & take home

[jessica~]

What stunning photos! I can't wait to see more of Spring in your gardens.

[Angie]

Hi Martha -
I LOVE bulbs however when I plant mine in the fall, squirrels or rabbits dig them up and eat like its Thanksgiving. Any suggestions?

[charles mckenzie]

It was so insirational to see a snapshot of your fantasy farm!I hope some day you will publish a book about your dream properties.Please continue to inspire us all!Happy Spring,Charles

[Andrew Ritchie]

We are longing for spring up here in Ontario, Canada. We've had the snowiest winter in 30 years and we are still covered in the white stuff, which seems to be melting so slowly! It's a pleasure to view the first sings of spring on your farm! Thank you for sharing!

-Andrew

[Margie]

We have had our first sighting of a Mountain Blue Bird. They do brighten the landscape....and then they are gone off to their summer homes. I believe their presence gives us the duty to look up from our ground work.

[Victoria]

Martha, Thanks for sharing your photo's. I live in the high altitude of Colorado, our spring isn't for a while yet so it is nice to see your bulbs coming up! Makes me want spring here! But alas, I've got 2 or 3 more months of snow yet!

[Tina Yoxtheimer]

Hello, Spring is never too early! I love the roosts that chicken Alfredo built. I've got some just like them! Ha! The snowdrops are too beautiful for words. I'm virtually paralyzed and waiting for the next burst of beauty. I'll look to you for the next glorious shot! Thanks for sharing. Hope all is better after last night's dinner, and Paw Paw, too. Love to all! And Happy Spring! P.S.I'm staying in the shell a while longer, I'm afraid! Ha! Peas are in!

[Janet]

Fantastic, Martha!

Spring - Clean planting beds, fresh flowers, healthy and happy chickens, sunshine, beautiful gardens and the promises of what they'll bring...

Honestly! Is there anything better than this time of year!?

Thank you for sharing your World with us!

[Michele Layne]

Martha: I noticed that you have raised vegetable gardens. Do you drip irrigate or overhead. And if you overhead, how do you keep the water from running off the top of the soil?

[Kathy]

Hi, Martha,
What a great show today for Spring! I enjoyed the craft project with Lucy Liu as well as her discussion of the Tap Project with Unicef.
I also enjoyed Tony Avent, the owner of Plant Delights Nursery, and his new and unusual plants. I was amazed to see him take the drill to the agave. I'm glad to find out that this technique will work for hostas and yuccas, too. I hope you let us know what happens with your drilled agave.
I tried the rice dish for lunch---delicious. Thanks for the recipe.
Kathy