A little bit of fire helped us work at Spring Creek. We cleared away old leaves and grass from the pond and along side the irrigation ditches and planted new iris and peony bulbs.

After years of “talking about” cleaning up the edges of the pond before it fills with fresh spring runoff we are so glad that it timed out this year.

With 35 years of wildland firefighting experience between Daren and I, we felt really comfortable working with fire around the Ranch House, the shop and our children!

The whole family came out to help, though some had their own ideas about how to spend this beautiful spring day! How can I blame them?

Riley and Jorge, both 8th graders at our local Liberty Bell Junior High also came to help…and I dare say that we might have some future firemen on our hands. Thanks for your work guys!

:: homemade (previously frozen) chicken soup

Before we could start moving trees (at 9 am on a Saturday) we had to have our first picnic (or second breakfast) at Spring Creek- of course!
The tree spade makes the new hole in the ground home for one very old homestead Plum Tree.
Many reading breaks needed to be taken in the big truck ….
Here the Plum Tree gets gently placed in her new home, next to the Mulberry tree.
And there she stands, away from her crowd of sister-plums, with lots of sun and water from the irrigated lawn and alfalfa field… we can’t wait till she flowers.

:: Lilacs grown from heirloom seeds-really! The story to share another day.
:: Lillies in their new home.
:: A lone tulip.
:: Plant taxi, anyone?
And a lot of inspired excavating, oh my!

This wonderful garden space has provided us with so much fresh produce. We have grown garlic, potatoes, pumpkins, tomatoes, culinary and medicinal herbs, fresh cut flowers, corn, beets, broccoli and so much more. But, we have also been hosting some AMAZING weddings.
So the wire all came down and we pulled out the posts.
We rolled up the wire to save for another garden, in a different space…
And we stacked the posts…for another project, another day.
Everyone helped…and one day soon we will have a lovely, large flat open space next to the house because Wedding Season (oh yes, it is a season around here!) is just around the corner….