Whip-poor-will

I heard the whip-poor-will calling last night.  On the hillside above the pond.  The sound echoing across the valley.  The mysterious bird of the evening calling its name over and over again.  Sometimes ten, fifteen or more times without stopping.

Dad always said the bird was calling, “Plant your corn.  Plant your corn.”  That’s what we were doing yesterday, Steve, Natasha and I.  Planting sweetcorn kernels in our garden.  Several long rows.  Also a row of ornamental corn.  Ornamental corn is not much for eating—but sure fun to look at.  Sometimes we must be reminded that looking is as important as eating. 

We also set out the tomato plants and mulched them with straw, forty-five or fifty of them. We planted a couple rows of squash, half a row of pumpkins, half a row of cucumbers and probably too long a row of zucchini. A couple rows of green beans.  A row of beets. A short row of gourds, and an even shorter row of dill.  Dill has such a wonderful smell when you rub its leaves between your fingers.

Potatoes are about half up.  Radishes are on a tear.  Lettuce is looking good.  Cabbage and broccoli plants alive and well.

Rain predicted in the next day or so.  Warm weather here—finally.  Garden needs both.  Lots of rain.  Lots of sunshine. All in all, looking good for the 2014 season.  But way too early to make any predictions. 

THE OLD TIMER SAYS:  What is more fun than working in a garden on a warm, sunny day.

 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:  There are still openings for my one-day (June 21) writing class at The Clearing in Door County.  Go to this link for further information. http://theclearing.org/current/classes_workshop_description.php?id=3

If that doesn’t work write or call The Clearing:
12171 Garrett Bay Rd, Ellison Bay, WI 54210
(920) 854-4088.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

June 20, Wausau Historical Society, 10:00 a.m. Presentation. Stories from the Land.

June 21, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County 9-4.

July 12-19. Writing Retreat, Rhinelander, WI.

July 23.  Jacksonport Historical Society, Mr. G’s, 6:00 p.m. Jacksonport, WI. Horse Drawn Days

July 29, Ephraim Historical Foundation. 7:00 p.m. Barns of Wisconsin.

Purchase Jerry’s DVDS and his Books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin (a fund raiser for them):

The library now has available both of Jerry’s DVDs, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps and Jerry Apps A Farm Story.

Also available are several of Jerry’s book including The Quiet Season (on which the DVD A Farm Winter is based), as well as Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old Farm, (which are related to the DVD Jerry Apps a Farm Story).

Contact the library for prices and special package deals.

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St.
Wild Rose, WI  54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.org