" A Spring Tour of Swiftwater Farm"

As you know we have been working hard outside the past couple of weeks. I have just downloaded 54 pictures of what we've done, I hope you don't encounter problems trying to load the blog and hopefully you don't get bored before the end.......... :)















We put up this fence across the drive that leads to the back.............

I had intentions of moving this Rose as it's a climber......maybe next year ?

This is the front Rose bed and it is showing out. The John F. Kennedy white rose we added hasn't bloomed yet but is almost ready.............

Another view............

The Gray Beard Tree we planted last summer is in bloom..............

Here's the Courtyard Rose bed on the pond side. There are 2 beds because of the Tulip Tree.

It has 14 roses planted in it! There are free standing , climbers and knockouts, all different sizes and colors.............

Long view...............

Closeups of some of the different ones that are blooming now........

this is white knockout......

We built beds around the three sides then filled them with top soil and cow manure compost.

This is the bed across the back..........

It now has several Hardy" dinner plate" Hibiscus planted in it. They will get about 6 foot tall.

The one you see in the grass used to be in the square bed in the back yard, we moved it to this corner.

Here you see two beds because of the gate. The one next to the house has Banana Trees and Elephant Ears planted in it...The other has both giant and dwarf Cannas of all colors planted in it.

A shot taken before planting......

A closeup of little bed..............

Here's one of the Hibiscus we moved..............

Here it is in the square bed last year.....it got 7 feet tall ! We moved EVERYTHING out of this bed..........

Added a little fence to keep the "peeks" out of it..............

It now has some Foxglove planted, Petunias in the fountain bowl and in each back corner I planted a 3 in 1 Angel Trumpet...............I intend to add some other plants to this bed also...

I expanded this little bed and blocked it in. I added some purple Verbena, some mixed Verbena seed and more Mexican Petunias that were in the square bed...........

We trimmed up all our Crape Myrtles and bushes including this Wisteria and put the arbor here for it to run on.............

Remember the mystery plant? It spent the winter in the greenhouse and popped back out....

The Pond house beds are taking off........however the chickens are giving the Elephant Ears a good chewing....... :)

The Cannas don't appear to be in their diet thank goodness...............

I see Hubby and Max tilling in the garden but it's the Oleander by the bird bath that I want you to see........

It used to be in that dark spot under the glider. Yep, we moved it too. We think this little place is a good spot for a Hot Tub a little later this year..........our bones need one!

We also moved this Gardenia from the front yard to here. We had 4 out front but none on the back............

Remember when we went down to Cajun Country for the 7 mile yard sale? We bought 2 little Fig Trees in Lafayette at a flea market. They spent the winter growing in the greenhouse and we got them planted too...............a little chick protection had to be added....

On to the Veggies............A view of the garden

It's a good thing we LOVE onions and taters cause it looks like we are gonna have PLENTY !

English Peas too!

Three hills of Yellow Squash looking good.............

It may be another year of Peppers out the ying yang....................

Maters....Maters......Maters........AGAIN !!!! :)

Hubby added a Grape Arbor......

Scupinons and Muscadines that is...................

I thought I'd throw in a couple of pics from the Fish Fry awhile back. This Turkey Roaster pan is full of Bream (blue gill)and White Perch (crappie).................

I was going to make a Mississippi Mud Cake for desert but Hubby ask if I'd make my Bread Pudding with Whiskey/Vanilla Sauce so I did. You can use different breads, these were rolls I froze that we left over from Christmas Dinner.

Ready for the oven! I didn't take a finished picture but it was a hit! Two of the men guests SWORE they NEVER eat Bread Pudding but gobbled it up!! I guess it was the smell of the Whiskey?

Chick Update...............

Madame ( Octomom ) Willow decided yesterday to take the biddies for a stroll outside the coop!

One little Peep jumped back through the wire to investigate the water barrell...

They seem to move in 2 groups of 4. The 2 light colored ones are the 2 she hatched. They are a 4 days younger than the other 6..............

They mock everything she does! It is so cute!

I love to listen to her talk to them, she has a distress call and so do they!

Back in the coop, this one has learned to jump!

I'm betting the one to the left is a Rooster! Look at that chest poked out and it's ready to strut!

Here Chick Chicks!

They have gotten so brave that they run up and try to eat with the big Hens so I started putting them some separate.............

This morning she took them out again and ventured a little further......

We don't let her out unless we are out watching because we have Hawks around.....

I feel really Blessed to live on this farm and get to enjoy all the wonders of nature.....

Blessed to have a husband who enjoys flowers as much as I do and is so handy at building....

And Bless your Heart for stopping by to see it...

We have severe storms forcast for tonight and tomorrow so I hope to get around to visit everyone if the power stays on!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND..............