Dans le Jardin: Jessie and the bean stalks

Look at them go! We planted a trio of Blue Lake, Cherokee Wax, and Purple Queen beans. They are the bush variety, so unfortunately I won't be climbing any magical stalks.
Our veggie garden was inspired by Cameron and her husband. They told us about gardening in hay bales and we were willing to give it a try....especially since our New Mexico dirt is less than spectacular. It is easy, relatively cheap and rewarding. To find out to make your own straw bale garden click here. We have a few varieties of tomatoes pictures above....I just need Liz to come to NM and make me some snazzy trellises!
I even put in a drip system this weekend, which is a savior when there are so many seedlings to tend to, like these Japanese eggplant and yellow squash.
Photo, Charlotte Larragoite
Our bird feeder is filled with a Songbird mix and has even attracted warblers like the Black Headed Grosbeak to the neighborhood. Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!
-Jessie, Santa Fe, NM

Chicken-Sitttin'

Last week I chicken-sat and had the opportunity to watch 6 hens and 1 rooster while their owner was out of town. The mister and I are contemplating becoming full-blown farmers and along with our veggie garden, might get some chickens to complete our back yard. This was sort of a test run to see if I was cut-out for raising a clutch.As long as you have the space for a coop, they are quite easy to take care of. A little water, little feed, some wood shavings and voila! They have fun personalities and I enjoyed watching them run around the yard and scrape and peck at the dirt. I'm easily amused, I know.

Contrary to popular belief, roosters do not just crow in the morning. Cinnamon, the protector of the hens, with his beautiful iridescent feathers and showy tail let out crows all throughout the afternoon! I think the neighbors are used to his mid-day vocal musings.The best part was the bounty of eggs I collected! It was such a treat to open the coop and see what treasures had been left among the wood shavings. Several of the chickens were the Aracana variety which meant they laid eggs in beautiful shades of blue. They even tasted better with rich yellow yolks. Now I know why I am addicted to fritattas!

Our chicken operation may not commence until next year, but until then I will be dreaming of fresh eggs and the sweet coos and clucks of my chicken brood.

-Jessie, Santa Fe, NM

Rock-a-bye-birdie

Hung in the dappled light of my apricot tree and nestled among blossoming lilac is a Mexican tin star. Sometimes I'll put a candle in it if we're feeling festive, but mostly it just swings gently in the breeze, like the North star of my garden.
Today, we were enjoying a Mother's day lunch in our yard with the in-laws. The sun was warm on our faces and the scent of the lilacs lazily wafted around us. The mister's mama is an avid bird watcher and was pointing out all the varieties of feathered friends that were stopping by for a chirp or two.

As the breeze settled she said, "Do you hear that? It's baby birds!" I could hear slight little peeps but couldn't tell where they were coming from. She then noticed a mama bird take off from the tin star in the apricot tree. (She has good eyes!)
We crept out way over and realized that the most amazing nest had been built inside of the star! In the cozy nest were four fuzzy little chirps taking an afternoon nap. (You can see the beak of one of the babies in the picture above) I decided that this was the most magnificent place to have a nest. It made me so happy that the star was able to provide a protected, spacious, and oh so very unique home!

-Jessie, Santa Fe, NM