Irises, Asparagus and Tree Removal

Forgot to post an update last week, but we've mostly entered the endless weeding phase of the summer, before veggies and fruits start coming in. We've been sneaking off to paddle a lot in the evenings since no watering has been needed.

Despite some abuse and thinning last year, the irises are blooming. I see that I somehow missed eradicating one yellow-and-brown iris. removing it is top of my to-do list this morning (when the rain stops).

The biggest excitement has been some progress on the garage rebuild. The arborist came last week and removed three big trees from the north (left) side of the backyard. This has dramatically enlarged and brightened the yard. Should have done this years ago and this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to rethink the yard.

While we wait for demolition of the old garage to begin, I spend my early mornings on the deck imagining how we might put the yard back together again. On the far left, there are raspberries along the fence. I think in front of them we might do two small fruit trees (a cherry and something else?). Then maybe a fire pit sitting ares (where the grass is yellowed). 

On the right, there will be a sidewalk to the garage and that leaves a space for an in-ground garden about 15x50 feet. I also picture a couple raised beds to take advantage of the west and south garage walls and maybe a water-collection system.

The arborists left lots of wood so Jess and I are chopping. Watching her swing an axe is way more stressful than being a passenger when she drives. She's competent and all, but she really has to swing to split these rounds (hell, I really have to swing to split the cherry wood rounds).

The weather has been very wet so I have been baking. Flapper pie plus some rhubarb-strawberry and saskatoon-strawberry to use up last year's preserves.

It is also asparagus season. I blanched and froze about seven bunches this week for winter soups and pizzas. I honestly don't know how farm wives kept on top of preserving without any modern appliances.

I also split and dehydrate the woody stalks. Then I ground them to powder (eyebrows were raised about the use of the coffee grinder). The powder does a nice job of flavouring potato soup in the winter and saves wasting the stalks. I also wonder if the powder would flavour some kind of savoury rolls?

We've probably done the last of the seeding for the year (maybe another round of arugula next week). The beans have finally come up and the peas are setting flowers. A bit of sun would help the tomatoes. t looks like a good year for potatoes but the carrot crop is going to be disappointing.