So the storms have finally abated here for a couple of days. No snow, sleet, hail, wind nor rain. The only bad thing about this nice weather is that there is no good excuse not to work on outdoor projects. So today we planted trees. Tom picked up 80 evergreen trees from Whatcom Conservation yesterday and we started planting.
We were planing along our front ditch line. We had planted here before (see 99 Seedlings). The spruces and most of the cedars survived but the firs and hemlocks did not make it. So we planted 40 Sitka Spruces today. There’s 20 Noble Firs and 20 Western Red Cedars still to plant on our hillside.
We also planted Bomber today. He was a red Satin Angora buck. I used him to breed two of our does and produced 11 bunnies, three of which we kept. He was good sized for a Satin Angora, had wonderful red fiber, and a nice disposition. I am very sorry to see him go. More life and death on the farm- a rabbit and trees.
Finally, after all of this digging and planting, what does my loving husband say to me. He says I look like a muddy old hog. What do you think?
Not wanting to end this post with a “hog”photo, here are some cute goat shots:
the kids are getting cuter; you do NOT look like a hog!! Your husband is lucky to have someone who works hard alongside him…
I meant that she looked like she’d been rollin around in the mud the hog part just came out!
Good grief that is allot of trees. I’d say you were a hardworking and muddy…gal! Too funny on Tom’s comment. Damage control! 🙂 Sorry to hear about Bomber, he was a pretty boy.
Tammy
Thanks Tammy and Jan! He is doing damage control. I thought it was too funny. He calls me a tough farm gal. 40 more trees today!
And Bomber was a pretty boy.
I’d say that you are beautiful and so are your baby goats!
My LORD they are gorgeous!
Thanks Nancy! I am not as cute as the baby goats but I will take it. 🙂
Hi Donna, Greetings from Kentucky. I was in an ornery mood this early AM so I googled “cute baby goats” and your pictures were some of the cutest! Sorry to hear about your SA buck. He had a beautiful color and sheen. I just started raising rabbits last year and I’m interested in satin angoras and silver foxes. How are your trees doing now? Thanks for your blog post and the cute kid pictures!
Thanks rainphire! I hope the photos helped your ornery mood. It was sad to lose Bomber. Some of the trees made it, particularly the Hemlocks, but a lot did not. it is really wet along the ditchline there. So partially wasted effort, but that is what farming seems to be, I have noticed.
Hi,
Any idea why the Hemlocks did not make it? Over here in The Netherlands in the forests where I live (really less than a mile from the North Sea) all these trees grow well. Sitka Spruce put up 1 meter per year even at a very young age (say after 3 years or so). And even in sandy dunes Western Hemlock seems to thrive again growing very fast right from the start. WHen deer do not browse them these trees are easily 5 meter (that is 15 feet) in less than a decade.
In the same forests we have European and Giant Silver Firs and these produce really lots of youngsters. Which are all browsed to bonsai height by the deer here, which seem to like them.
Since they originate from your place in the world (well Norway spruce and European Silver Fir are from over here), what is keeping these from growing where you live?
MAy be some European species would do well there? Altough Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock thrive here too, I think Norway spruce and Serbian Spruce are far far more beautiful. Really stunning where Norway has broad branches with weeping twigs and needles and the Serbian spruce been teh opposite: extremely narrow but a beautiful shape. Both can take a hit from both cold and drought btw so may be in a changing and warming climate a better choice?
Whatever: good luck with your trees and animals!
Jac
Hi Jac,
I think it was because it was too wet in that location. The spruce and some of the cedars did well though.
Donna