Update from Sundog Manor & Fae Gardens
Apple trees are blooming, and plum and peach trees are leafing out. It's the peaches' first year in the ground; they're about 2 feet tall. Moved the fig tree out of the future garden area to a nice, fairly sunny corner. The orchard is full, now. The last bradford pear still needs to come down, but I'm not tackling that just yet. We haven't finished burning the last of the other bradford.
All three hazelnuts have leafed out. They are also small, about 12-18 inches high. They're Arbor Day hazelnuts. I'm looking forward to their growth. Not looking forward to fighting squirrels for the nuts.
We have 5 ducklings! They're currently living in a small wading pool in the kitchen. They're about 6 weeks old, have begun to sprout tail feathers and are no longer afraid of me and the 12 year old. In fact, they imprinted on her and willingly follow her around the yard. We don't know any of their genders, yet.
I'm feeding them Purina stuff for chicks and ducklings, as well as lots of dandelion greens, dandelion flowers and chickweed. They fall on dandelion greens as tho they were candy, and sometimes tug-of-war with them. We might actually run out of dandelions. This falls under, "Things You Never Thought You'd Say"...
Duck tractor is 90% complete. It's in my carport, waiting a final coat of paint, poultry fencing and some roofing.
I plan to borrow my across-the-street neighbor's tiller next month to break up the new vegetable garden. Before that happens, we need to fence off the area and remove the rest of the crepe myrtle starts. They're destined to become part of the northern hedge on the orchard. The non-garden area within the fencing will be home to whatever drakes we have amongst the ducklings. If it turns out we have just one drake, then he can stay with the flock.
Weeded the flower garden over the weekend. And because I'm barking mad, I'm considering turning the rest of the front yard into flower beds, too.
(cross-posted to pagan_homestead)