Garlic Weeding

We have read that it is impossible to grow garlic in New York State because of the June and July Alabama slammers that bring us torrents of rain when the plants are trying to dry down.  Some of this excess moisture finds its way into the bulbs thereby inviting disease and rot.  Slow to learn, we persist trying to grow our own.  This garden near the back woods was initially opened to provide disease free soil for garlic growing.  Of the 220 carefully prepared cloves planted here, all are growing.  Only one is struggling and it will be removed and placed in the garbage.  The weeding is only almost done with 60 plants still growing alongside of weeds.  Today was bright and clear but the wind was bitter cold forcing an early retreat to the warmth of our home.

The bed in the foreground was clear weeded last fall and covered with ground fallen tree leaves. Occasional weeds were pulled today during our brief time spent outside.  A decision needs to be made as to what will be planted here.  Voles have viciously fed on our Siberian Iris planted down by the road for the second consecutive year.  We may move some of the remaining bits and pieces here providing them with a chance to regrow.

Yesterday we were working here to the sound of the drilling of a Pileated Woodpecker.  The narrow valley between our meadow and the bedrock ridge traps this sound sending it back and forth.  With no other sound here, this repeated tapping is quite the experience.  To my limited hearing the sound seemed to me to have a metallic component.  Becky's response to this observation was to remind me that Iron Wood trees grow here.

 

 A pair of much smaller woodpeckers are raising young in the holes in the tree trunk.  I could see them fliting about gathering food while Becky could hear the sounds made by the babies. From the garden the nesting holes are hard to see.  When the Red Maple leafs out they will be invisible!