Sunday~~ day of rest???

 👇

Well, sort of. I promised myself not to do too much work. Well, that didn't happen.

Saturday I found pie at the Farmer's Market and purchased some fresh greens to eat. I decided to head out to a place where there is a Mennonite Store in Coon Valley. [Yes, that is a real name. Coon Creek runs through Coon Valley]

Years ago I got a couple of Hens 'n Chicks from a friend. I have been finding different ways to use them as they multiplied.
Since I am not a huge fan of pies ~~ baking, that is, but had many pie tins given to me in the hopes of making me a 'baker'....... 

I began to make Hen 'n Chick pies. I have added other little plants. Dragon's Blood Stone Crop and a yellow type of stone crop someone gave me. I add some soil, some rocks, and make a Succulent Pies.

I used a plastic dog dish one year and any other odd little containers I can find. Eventually, I ended up with multiple little pies and containers of cute little succulents.

This year I thought I'd try a little rock garden.

I purchased some little plants. I used Google Lens to try and ID this but really didn't get a good answer. The table I purchased this from just said: Succulents.
I liked its color so I went with it.

The next two are mysteries to me also. But I like them for their textures and shapes. So I put them in the one spot of the porch that is very sunny and warm during the summer.

It is also the place where I like to have my fossil rocks displayed. 

I don't know if these 3 plants will overwinter in my zone and come back, but I know that the other little succulents will.

I don't know if you can see the little dog planter I found -- in the photo below.. It was just too adorable to pass up. I worked on this part of the porch while the grass was still so wet from our heavy dew and foggy sunrise.

I still need to add some mulch to the area to tidy it up and make it look nicer...

and I need to tidy up the porch next to the bench so I can take the rocking chair out there and a little table for coffee.

This is the same spot last year at this time....how things change!
I did plant nasturtiums in this area last year.

The Ajuga I have on the other half of the porch has gone crazy. One year I lost so many plants and this past year, despite the drought, the Ajuga...or Bugle Weed has come back strong. It has presented us with an amazing carpet of purple.

Next year, I may have to dig some out and share the plants with others or find a good spot that they would like. This year, I will enjoy them. They make a good border for around that side of the porch. [And the bees are really loving them!]

I had to mow the hill on the highest setting on our self propelled mower and it still plugged up. I just mowed it last Monday. 

Insane! 

The setting says it is mowing at 7 inches. I nearly gave up and thought about fencing the area off for the mules to chomp on. However, I am very grateful for the rains compared to the last two years of very dry and dusty springs.

In fact, the rain and warm weather have been providing the forest with a huge Flush of Morel Mushrooms. My neighbor found 5 lbs yesterday in a spot where we have searched before and found nothing!

I turned the dirt over in my 4 little flower gardens and then weeded until my fingers wouldn't work any more.

I wanted so badly to start planting seeds but thought it was a bit too early.

My wildflower 'beds' are ready for planting along with the area next to the house that I plant zinnias and 4 o'clocks. 

Our foggy morning seen through my infrared camera.

Sleepy mules:

Box Elder tree and fog:

Enjoy your Monday.

Forest Garden

In just three weeks, the 'Forest Garden' has changed so much! The rain and warm humid weather of course is a factor.

Here is the view from the west side of the rock formation three weeks ago.

A view from the top of the rock just before the rains came.

View from below the rock.

I marked some spots where I planted seeds with dragons and dinosaurs.

The garden should be a place of curiosity and exploration. So I have little objects all over the area.

The neighbor children want to come and explore the rocks and garden so I keep things interesting. 

If you want to take a tour of the garden, I did a video of it. It is 2.5 minutes long. I am NOT a videographer so just keep that in mind if you watch it. I did enjoy trying to piece something together to sort of get an idea visually of what it is like on this rock outcropping.

This rock outcrop is rich in dirt, however it is on top of a rock. So I had to get creative with planting some seeds. I filled a hollow log with dirt I dug up and used the log as a planter.

Of course the unicorns will protect the seeds until the plants come up!

This spot is smack dab in the middle of the forest pasture so there is an electric fence surrounding it. Will the deer invade and eat all of it? Gosh, they might come fall. Right now there is plenty of browsing for them in the rest of the woods.

So I can be in my cool shaded forest garden and enjoy my critters at the same time!

This may explain also why my mules don't wear fly sheets and fly masks. They are constantly walking through thick brush and branches.

Just for fun. 

Do you see this grumpy guy?

And that is it... for today. 

Charlie and I plan on going exploring today. We like rainy days.