Cold winter, still it lingered well into April with its frequent rains, ice, and frosts. May warmed but the rains would not allow the ground to dry out long enough for planting of market crops. But the weeds grew. Thick grasses, thorns, and well-rooted wild parsnip (a plant that is best to avoid.)
The season seems to be running 4 to 6 weeks later than usual. Trees woke up late from winter’s hibernation cycle and in some cases, not at all which happens sometimes.
As Wee Sprout budded and dissuaded our worries, it’s grown to a “mighty” little seedling. The largest of the sugar maples planted three years ago, it’s nestled between a much taller walnut tree to the east and paired to another maple to the west. It has a way to go before it truly reaches the sky, being only about a foot tall.
Filtered sunlight leeches though a black cherry tree in the row to the south which protects Sprout from the harshest sun and heat that seemed to be most of our June as the season jumped forward. An abundance of overgrown soft maples blocks Sprout’s view to the southern hay field. I have been thinning these soft maples to use as mulch for the best and most important trees, protection from winter’s cold and summer weeds.
I cleaned up a bit around Wee Sprout this past week and noticed its little lean is growing away and becoming straighter. The pair of wrens that claimed a bluebird house this year chattered and scolded me the whole time. I’m used to them and they can squat again in any of the houses next year even if the bluebirds object.
As for today, the needed rain is falling, the weeds will wait another day, and I’ll have to wait to cultivate beans. If Wee Sprout had one desire (besides being the tallest sugar maple at the farm) it would want everyone to know how well it is growing.
Cheers to you all!
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| On May 5th |
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| Exploding leaves on May 20th |
Linked to Poets and Storytellers United: Friday Writings #33: Daring to Dream
