Wildflower Update: Winter observations are limited to ferns, mosses and lichens. Since this farm was used had free-range livestock for many years, these distrubed forested areas have an abundance of Christmas ferns. We have walking ferns (above, Asplenium rhizophyllum), on limestone outcroppings. Lichens are abundant. My study of these plants and mutualistic organisms continues ...
Pollination and Wildlife: On the last evening of 2014, I took a walk down toward Long Creek. During my walk I saw several deer, two coyotes, lots of squirrels (mostly grey) and a barred owl. Days will getting longer so there will be more daylight for walks and some cleanup jobs.
Work on the Farm: To finish up the 2014, we bought the seed for our our pollinator conservation plot later this year. We will be using Mix 3 ... lots of wildflowers, including partridge peas, milkweed and purple coneflowers. Most of the seed is from seed we collected, Roundstone Seeds and Prairie Nursery. We have put seven acres into this conservation program and will drill in the seed during May.
I put some sugar and peppermint sticks (from Christmas) in our hives on a warm day last week. It was about 60 degrees and sunny. Our bees were busy and several were outside the hives. I plan to make some candy to put in the hives later in January.
We support:
Round House, Jeans and Workware, Made in the USA for 112 years.
http://www.round-house.com/
Red Pig Tools, Garden tools, Made in the USA.
http://www.redpigtools.com/servlet/StoreFront
FEDCO, Co-op Garden Supplies, Seeds, Trees and Bulbs
http://www.fedcoseeds.com/
Johnny's Selected Seeds and Garden Tools
http://www.johnnyseeds.com/
Roundstone Native Seed ... A Kentucky Company!
https://www.roundstoneseed.com/
Prairie Nursery, Native Seeds and Plants
http://www.prairienursery.com/
Kelley's Beeskeeping ... A Kentucky Company! ... at least for now.
http://www.kelleybees.com/
and these organizations ...
Xerces Society
Journey North
Monarch Watch
Sierra Club
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