tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49475424660176246322024-03-13T07:41:04.519-04:00Blackrock FarmNursery and greenhouses in Kennebunkport, MEBlackrock Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207370427108240448noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-76677105695455330912013-01-16T14:09:00.000-05:002013-01-16T14:09:31.715-05:00bunniesA couple of months ago Helene called me on a Saturday to tell me that she had acquired two bunnies. Tony Elliot, of Snug Harbor Farm, apparently pressured her into it. "They were so cute when they were little", and, "Tony and I going shopping at Longhorn is bad medicine" are two of the many comments made regarding the purchasing of the two bunnies. They were quickly installed in the second greenhouse, where space is at a premium during these winter months, in the large rabbit hutch that once belonged to Vijay Singh (there was a golf ball in his side at the time of the naming) and Dennis (Hopper. C'mon guys). Their hutch is pictured below.<div>
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The two new bunnies were not named right away, and to my knowledge do not have official names to this day. "Brown Bunny" and "Black and White Bunny" seem to have prevailed. The non-specific nature of the two new bunnies' names is significant. They are pictured above, and below:</div>
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Just to review, Vijay and Dennis were male bunnies, named appropriately masculine names, and were allowed to hang out, like friends do. Platonic. See the above pictured hutch, and its distinct lack of any barrier between the two bunnies' quarters. </div>
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I'll bet you can guess the sex ratio of the two yet-to-be-named bunnies living in the second greenhouse even as I type these words, and I'll bet you can guess the restrictions we placed on their movements within the hutch. </div>
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That's right. The results are pictured below.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmSBNmcdhyphenhyphen88HQMys4qYXeKPEuKxlegNyDxRsbfkuEw8S0ChBbj84A9A3SwDR_57cGUcX55muzq7FO5D9rtrqEwk4Vnuax07xAioLzc4KL5fEFRS43wzmO1U-AVSlaQrAvlbeAQCH6E8/s1600/IMG_0672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmSBNmcdhyphenhyphen88HQMys4qYXeKPEuKxlegNyDxRsbfkuEw8S0ChBbj84A9A3SwDR_57cGUcX55muzq7FO5D9rtrqEwk4Vnuax07xAioLzc4KL5fEFRS43wzmO1U-AVSlaQrAvlbeAQCH6E8/s320/IMG_0672.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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I'm told there are three other bunnies hidden in the hutch that look similar to the strange puff ball above, but I wasn't about to go searching for them after the horror story related to me this morning about baby bunnies spilling all over the place and the subsequent screeching as Helene and Eileen scrambled to keep them from falling from the hutch.</div>
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I think it goes without saying that if you're out there and are ready to give a bunny or two a good home, please contact us. We have too many bunnies. </div>
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And please, if you select more than one, take the naming and separation of your new pets seriously. </div>
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Adam Lewand-Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13873690397329588124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-84034642438028089202012-12-11T09:32:00.000-05:002012-12-11T09:32:13.601-05:00Pizza!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Blackrock has been providing produce for <a href="http://www.localkennebunk.com/">50 Local</a> in downtown Kennebunk since they opened. It has been an honor to grow vegetables for them, and as a small business it is truly special to see a restaurant dedicated to purchasing its food from only local sources. </div>
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Now David and Merilee have opened a new brick oven pizza restaurant with the same mindset and one of the pizzas is named for Blackrock. </div>
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Needless to say, we're honored. </div>
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I'm going to post the entire menu below, just to entice anyone in the area to visiting this cool new place, but first Blackrock would like to wish the best of luck to Owen's as well as 50 Local. Eating locally is truly important, and as anyone who has ever visited your restaurant can attest, it pays off too. Cheers!</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Wood Fired Pizza 12 “</span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Local Whole Wheat add 3 Gluten Free add 4</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Blackrock - tomato, mozzarella, spinach, pickled vegetables 9</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Harris - meatball, tomato, ricotta, basil 11</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Breezy Hill - housemade sausage, spicy pepper, mozzarella, tomato 11</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Ewe & I - farm egg,oregano, goat cheese 10</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Stone - parsnip, caramelized onions, pickled radish, turnip 9</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
The O-man - tomato, basil, mozzarella 7<br />St. Onge - local mushrooms, roasted garlic, leek, pecorino 10<br /><br />Salads<br />Sunset - Pauls Greens, shaved vegetables, pickles, balsamic 6.5<br />New Morning -greens, goji berries, quinoa, curry, flax & coconut oil 8<br />Pullen - chicken salad, greens, pumpkin seed, apple 9<br />Groundwork - greens, bacon, avocado, egg, blue cheese 9<br /><br />Small plates<br />Chicken Parm 9<br />Meatball Hero 8<br />Orecchiette, Sausage, Cauliflower 8<br />Vegetables, Pickles, Chilis 8</div>
Adam Lewand-Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13873690397329588124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-46319583951362287622012-04-05T10:23:00.005-04:002012-04-05T10:26:40.070-04:00Open House 2012<span style="background-color: black; color: red;">The Blackrock Farm Open House has been scheduled for May 19, 2012. You wouldn't believe how much work and time goes in to having this little nursery in top condition after the winter. Not only do we have pruning and clean up from the winds and snowfall of but we have a lot of tidying to do at the many properties we take care of. Many of our shrubs have to be stored in unheated greenhouses when the snow flies, and as the temperature rises we are forced to race against time to get them outside before the differences in climate damages them. Also, many of our trees and shrubs come by bare-root delivery</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red;">which means they have to be root-pruned, potted, and fastidiously watered even as the other shrubs are organized and pruned for the upcoming season. Bare root perennials and plugs also arrive during our preparation time, and since the threat of freezing is ever present in Maine the irrigation system will probably not be reactivated for a few more weeks. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red;">This might sound like an awful lot of complaining but it's actually a really interesting time to be working at the farm. There's always a lot to do, and every one of the things on the giant "get ready" list, when completed, really improves the overall look of the grounds. During the next six weeks you can see a difference with each work day that passes, and as the weather gets better and things begin to bloom the Open House generally arrives at the perfect time. We always have a few big ticket trees available for sale as well, so if you're looking for an instant impact for your home this is a great day to really have a look at some large scale B&B trees. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red;">I hope i'll be able to post a few more times before the big day as things really start to get green around here. </span></div>Adam Lewand-Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13873690397329588124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-42457866809550341392011-10-03T09:56:00.001-04:002011-10-03T09:56:33.797-04:00Michael Dirr at The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens<br />
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Blackrock Farm is a great place to work for a lot of
reasons, but one that sticks out for me this week is the field trips.<span> </span>As long as you’re a lover of learning and
enthusiastic about the subject and destination of the trip, Helene makes sure
to get you on board.<span> </span>Last Wednesday six
members of Blackrock woke up early and drove to the Coastal Maine Botanical
Gardens to attend a “walk and talk” lecture of sorts by tree and shrub rock
star Michael Dirr.<span> </span>You can find more <a href="http://www.timberpress.com/author/michael_a_dirr/39">information on him here</a>.<span> </span>For almost four
hours we had the honor of walking the grounds of the CMBG with him, learning
what makes certain specimens work in the landscape, what makes them remarkable,
or simply just the history of their species.<span>
</span>If you’re a woody plant fanatic Michael Dirr is a must see and a must read.<span> </span></div>
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We got home to Kennebunkport at around five o’clock,
but the day really flew by despite its length.<span>
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It’s a lot of fun to get out there and break up the workweek
with a trip like this, but I believe (and I think Helene does too) that part of
what allows a little nursery like ours survive is the enthusiasm of the
employees.<span> </span>Grinding out weeks of maintenance
and installations can really take the spirit out of you, but getaways like this
recharge us and help us to remember why we stick with this work when we’re
tired and sometimes, I’ll admit, bored.<span> </span></div>
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There was nothing boring about Michael Dirr.<span> </span>His knowledge was vast, but he was never
boring as we walked with him and a few of the curators of the Botanical Gardens.<span> </span>He does not talk at you, but <i>with</i> you, and demands interaction and
participation.<span> </span>He constantly refers to ‘the
quiz’ that will be administered at the end of the walk, but with good humor.<span> </span>He encourages questions and never seems to be
stumped by one.<span> </span>Put simply, I was
amazed; I didn’t say much, as I was way out of my league, but as we walked I often
reflected on the value of seeing and talking with such a knowledgeable member
of our field.<span> </span></div>
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On Sunday afternoon I got a frantic call from Helene, and
through her excitement she told me Michael Dirr had come by Blackrock to visit
the nursery and walk around a bit.<span> </span>I’ll
make sure she posts about it, so I won’t go into details, but his visit marks
what is probably the most important person in the plant industry ever to walk
our modest grounds.<span> </span>More to come from
Helene.</div>
Adam Lewand-Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13873690397329588124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-62311102016508137682011-09-13T11:39:00.004-04:002011-09-13T11:39:51.177-04:00A Minute to ComplainThis is a very difficult time to be in the landscaping and nursery business, and i don't just mean because of the economy. Here at Blackrock we hire a lot of college students, and even a few teachers on their summer vacations, during the busy season in order to keep up with the work. Our crew swells to around 15 during the summer months, and while it is a logistical nightmare we certainly have enough hands to get the work we need to do done. <br />
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As the season starts to change to fall all these seasonal helpers head back to school and we are left with a skeleton crew. The only problem is the work is still steady. Now the crew is down to three on a good day, with a few able to be salvaged from the vegetable division when they have a minute. Sometimes I make lists and as i get to a second page I start to panic a little bit. <br />
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It's like this every year, and I fully realize we'll be able to take care of the work, but it seems like i can never get used to this time of year and the drastic change in the way this business operates. Adam Lewand-Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13873690397329588124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-84541138397419712412011-07-28T16:50:00.005-04:002011-08-02T14:50:22.281-04:00Colin Lewis at Blackrock Farm<div>Colin Lewis is coming to Blackrock Farm on August 11, 2011.<div><br /></div><div>We've been struggling over how to best present this gentleman to our advertising outlets because it just doesn't seem right to put "You Guys Just Don't Realize How Big A Deal This Is" in a newspaper advertisement.</div><div><br /></div><div>But that's pretty much what we want to say, and the blog is an excellent place for me to be able to be up front like that and get away with it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The man is a highly acclaimed teacher, artist and writer, and is a consultant for the Lars Anderson Collection of Bonsai at the Arnold Arboretum. The list goes on, but you could visit his website at www.colinlewisbonsai.com to see more about his resume. If what you find there isn't enough to be convinced I don't know what will be.</div><div><br /></div><div>Colin has recently moved his collection and school to his house just a few minutes drive from Blackrock, and we felt we would be doing our community a disservice if we did not make his work and his move known to the public. Like I said, to both the artistic and landscaping communities, this is a pretty big deal.</div><div><br /></div><div>His knowledge and calm, focused delivery had me wanting to get involved with this art form the minute i met him, and I know that I will be in attendance on the 11th with the hope of gathering enough information to get started on a Bonsai of my own. It turns out that a some Bonsai start out as heavily cut back shrubs or trees. If they are still producing new growth from the bottom they can be dug up and trained into smaller and smaller containers to become Bonsai. It always saddens me to rip out perfectly good living shrubs, and I hope i can learn to save the promising ones for a second chance at life.</div></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.colinlewisbonsai.com/grafix/gallery/UlmusStump.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 470px; height: 413px;" src="http://www.colinlewisbonsai.com/grafix/gallery/UlmusStump.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div>As i understand it, this is one of the ways Colin has made some of his artwork (i'm not entirely sure if the piece pictured above was started that way, but it's gorgeous nonetheless). Obviously, i have a lot to learn, but i'm very excited to have a chance to get my questions answered by a master on the 11th. </div><div><br /></div><div>Mark your calenders!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div>Adam Lewand-Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13873690397329588124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-5560304796863349512011-05-17T07:22:00.000-04:002011-05-17T07:22:50.402-04:00Blackrock Farm Open House May 21, 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGyGMhdzm3skpMFbkwYy7QAd0e0ttTGlr_zmi2kERICEKzspYBd4n8fY2reWX91lDDF5KPOTMVDQhveTYA7jOCFImMc-73FvcSczOH1_5l3LrYss7fbmeGAPebMvHxzc6C5kLjtKNxCJK/s1600/open+house+poss+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGyGMhdzm3skpMFbkwYy7QAd0e0ttTGlr_zmi2kERICEKzspYBd4n8fY2reWX91lDDF5KPOTMVDQhveTYA7jOCFImMc-73FvcSczOH1_5l3LrYss7fbmeGAPebMvHxzc6C5kLjtKNxCJK/s320/open+house+poss+2011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Blackrock Farm</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Open House </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">May 21, 2011</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Come and join us for a day of friends, neighbors, staff and garden nuts from all over. We have some nice food to eat and lots of new things here at the farm. I promise the sun will come out!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">293 Goose Rocks Road in Kennebunkport. </div>Blackrock Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207370427108240448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-65905933981953379692011-03-19T16:14:00.000-04:002011-03-19T16:14:39.801-04:00Redwinged Blackbirds and the end of winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJANFdMKXoxG8Q_Q2_lrqE6Fe9UQ18w-g3-H6auz7c0w91NPF2f8KVxU7G7ALh_cloWaCxZGO3FTp32IP8IA3ZnzsL95sR3ALn0hZjuTO_uSrrP9TjI3pQaUbrTFID2f7LzVBM0_e-0rk/s1600/DSC_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJANFdMKXoxG8Q_Q2_lrqE6Fe9UQ18w-g3-H6auz7c0w91NPF2f8KVxU7G7ALh_cloWaCxZGO3FTp32IP8IA3ZnzsL95sR3ALn0hZjuTO_uSrrP9TjI3pQaUbrTFID2f7LzVBM0_e-0rk/s320/DSC_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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This morning was amazing! <br />
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And so....I walk out to feed the animals and get to be alone, something that does not happen a lot here at the farm. <br />
Incredibly it has snowed in the early morning. It was 50 something yesterday and sunny and today the earth has been covered with white. This is rare. Usually winter winds down in a rather ungraceful fashion. Mounds of dirty snow, lots of mud and beaten down shrubs and grasses. Things that you forgot to put away in the fall begin to appear and the amount of work facing us seems insurmountable. <br />
But this year we have one last beautiful morning, clean and white and filled with warmth and the spring sounds of birds.<br />
The lovely thing is the sound of the birds. Foolish things that they are, they simply continue with their spring songs even though it looks like winter to me. <br />
I am a bird lover and no time is better to listen to them then in the early spring when they are out there looking for their mates. They sing and sing continually and I sometimes am in awe that a lot of people don't notice. <br />
I mean really! The red winged blackbirds arrive each spring and I have a contest with a friend about who hears them first. (we actually get nervous when we hear them....the winter is over and we will be crazy busy until December) They were here this year on March 12th and now are in full voice up in the trees. Hundreds of them!<br />
How can you not notice? It is deafening once you let yourself listen. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3mIftaennA63P3GHe2RQL1Kqzg2-f_u2McMuZgNlINrYYbDhyfe8Ay6UGYpX5C_qbyG_-FMBHFi5vjtHBcMu_dIh28QqmyTfmGAGHO4q9P27UTuZvf5gmXGxI5oz9kwpa9dya3-MIYJO/s1600/DSC_0041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3mIftaennA63P3GHe2RQL1Kqzg2-f_u2McMuZgNlINrYYbDhyfe8Ay6UGYpX5C_qbyG_-FMBHFi5vjtHBcMu_dIh28QqmyTfmGAGHO4q9P27UTuZvf5gmXGxI5oz9kwpa9dya3-MIYJO/s320/DSC_0041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This is a good time to think about how you plant your yards and properties to enable you to protect and provide nesting places and food for all the migrations that pass through and all the birds that stay and help keep our insects in check and spread seeds and for heavens sake.....fill our outdoors with music. You can still see the 'bones' of your gardens and plan for what you need and what you missed this winter. Shrubs like red twigged dogwoods and willows and paper barked maples. <br />
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Enough....I am going to prepare for this evening's dusk performance of the American Woodcock! I love this bird! He flies up in the sky at dusk and does a dance to entice his mate and the sound is truly the sound of spring. <br />
My favorite new website is <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Woodcock/sounds">http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Woodcock/sounds</a> If you click on this you will hear the Woodcock and if you search the site you can learn to identify a lot of other songs. <br />
Such fun.<br />
HeleneBlackrock Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207370427108240448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-16093548686113436042011-03-17T09:32:00.003-04:002011-03-17T09:48:59.857-04:00Tom's of Maine Veggie PostHello everyone,<div><br /></div><div>I was lucky enough to be invited to post on the <a href="http://www.tomsofmaine.com/home">Tom's of Maine blog</a> recently, and i wanted to share with you what i submitted. As you know Tom's prides itself on being a environmentally conscious company, and, since it was founded in Maine, is somewhat of a standard for small businesses like Blackrock. It was an honor to guest post on their blog. </div><div>They asked me to write a post on spring startup of our vegetable gardens, and with help from the staff here, I produced the following little advice column. Naturally, there's much more to talk about, but questions and comments are what this blog is all about, so feel free to contact Blackrock for more answers and discussion. </div><div>Here it is:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">Vegetable Preparations at Blackrock Farm</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br />The skating rink that was once the driveway to the greenhouses at<br />Blackrock Farm has largely melted away, we’ve set the clocks forward<br />and we are beginning to prepare for spring in earnest. Every time I<br />walk into the office Kevin (our vegetable guy) and Helene (the owner)<br />are discussing types of radishes, planning space usage of the fields,<br />discussing crop rotations or hammering out any other of the myriad of<br />things that need to be figured before the frost leaves the ground.<br />With the advent of the third greenhouse being used for winter<br />vegetable growing there are calls to restaurants to be made, community<br />supported agriculture programs to discuss and, in our freer moments,<br />summer barbeque menus to plan.<br />However, all these grand plans must start small and, in a way, we<br />start the garden anew every year. While our experience grows with<br />each passing season there are aspects of the vegetable garden that we<br />must restart each year with the coming of spring, just like any<br />gardener starting a plot at home.<br />The first and perhaps most important step is the contacting of our<br />local cooperative extension for soil testing. After submitting a soil<br />sample and a short wait these scientists tell us everything we need to<br />know about the makeup of our soil, which give us a better<br />understanding of what soil amendments we need to add in order to start<br />the season with a strong foundation. Blackrock recommends that anyone<br />starting a vegetable garden submit their soil to be tested and remain<br />mindful of an organic approach to amending the space, as well as a<br />change in approach, if necessary, to pest management that excludes<br />chemicals.<br />The garden is then thoughtfully plotted, allowing for the rotation of<br />crops, which means somewhat new plan must be created each year.<br />Changing the location of your plants, even within a small garden plot,<br />is necessary because different plants supply and deplete different<br />nutrients, and attract different opportunistic insects. Rotating your<br />crops means keeping harmful bugs off balance and allowing the soil in<br />your garden to perform different tasks. For instance, the planting of<br />peas fixes nitrogen levels in soil; meanwhile, tomatoes are very heavy<br />feeders, so flip flopping the spaces you use for peas and tomatoes is<br />one of our most important rotations.<br />We select our seeds from reputable dealers like <a href="http://www.johnnyseeds.com/">Johnny’s </a>or <a href="http://www.fedcoseeds.com/">Fedco</a>, and<br />even now we have to read the packets to ensure a timely harvest. It<br />takes a lot of planning, but the results are well worth it. There is<br />a peace of mind that comes with knowing the vegetables you are eating<br />come to your table without pesticides, and I know I have gained a<br />healthy respect for just how much food can come from a small piece of<br />land with just a little bit of attention. But most of all, the<br />vegetables are far more delicious than any you can buy at the<br />supermarket, and because you just picked them, as fresh as can be.<br />For more answers to any questions you might have I would highly<br />recommend visiting a location near you that produces vegetables<br />organically and on a small scale. For instance, Blackrock Farm here<br />in Kennebunkport, Maine will be conducting several vegetable growing<br />seminars this year in an attempt to reach out to the local community<br />through shared learning.</span>Adam Lewand-Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13873690397329588124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-71497716752170242222011-03-01T11:39:00.001-05:002011-03-01T11:39:55.319-05:00escape<p class="MsoNormal">It’s about this time of the season when I start to really get distracted with my daydreaming.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Yesterday, as I stood next to Dee the horse protecting her from Grace, the freezing rain beginning to soak through my jacket and the mixture of melt and manure seeping through my boots my thoughts were on the first tee of Dutch Elm golf course.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ve put my cigar down and am taking practice swings with The Big Dog, looking down the fairway and feeling the heat of the sun on my shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My hands are cracked and sore from Friday’s work, stained with compost and stone dust over and over so that no amount of scrubbing gets them clean.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The garish, somewhat ill-fitting polo I wear unbuttoned and with no undershirt.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The triangle of white skin it reveals on my chest looks ridiculous.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Other times its Sunday evening, the farm has been closed for a few hours, and I’m walking in bare feet down through the shrubs and trees to check their water levels on my way to the rows of lettuce and herbs out in the main vegetable garden.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Insects buzz in the air.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You can see the beams of the setting sun in the dust that is kicked up by my father’s car as he drives up the driveway.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve been thinking this way a lot these days, but I guess I’m happy to have these thoughts and memories to escape to when winter becomes too tiresome.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>Adam Lewand-Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13873690397329588124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-29986329452006711602011-02-23T10:58:00.002-05:002011-02-23T11:06:47.445-05:00Reflections<div class="MsoNormal">With March only a week a way, I become tantalized by the on again off again warm weather. Oh the warmth of our longer days! Such a beautiful time of the year. A time to reflect on the beauty of our town. During the summer I scurry back and forth through town negotiating the throngs of cars and pedestrians. Hardly a moment to take your eyes off the road. Now I find myself looking at the beauty of the river, tidal pools, wet lands even our four legged friends that find their way next to our homes munching on our favorite fruit tree! It is all so beautiful. For those of us that have the good fortune to be living here year round what a wonderful gift to wake up in such a pretty quiet world.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> With spring now on our doorstep I am full of wonder…what will our spring be like? It can be a very challenging time for growers and gardeners. The news laments over the weather forecast everyday. It never sounds to me like it’s a good time because if it’s sunny today …wait tomorrow will be horrific. Huh? I ask myself as I walk out the door , can’t I just enjoy today?<br />
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Eileen</div>Blackrock Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207370427108240448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-83215390748742845752011-02-22T15:22:00.003-05:002011-02-22T15:33:42.303-05:00New OfficeWe are now in the process of removing a wall and refinishing the upstairs guest bedroom into an office for Helene.<div><br /></div><div>I didn't take any pictures of the upstairs before the removal of the wall, but i will be sure to post before and after pictures of the work as it progresses. So far we have knocked down two walls and removed one section of superfluous ceiling in order to create a more open, spacious area with which to build Helene's new office area. Hopefully she'll be able to pick out a color she likes and a laptop to use before we get into full spring overdrive mode. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm also responsible for getting these renovations done in time for her to get a desk and laptop in there. My hope is that this will will be finished in the next few weeks, but I've learned that things always seem to take longer than I think they will.</div><div><br /></div><div>Check back for some images of the work, hopefully in the next couple of days. </div>Adam Lewand-Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13873690397329588124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-61934549737607778342011-02-20T14:31:00.000-05:002011-02-20T14:31:06.595-05:00Winter shapesThere is probably no better time to think of sculpture than winter. <br />
This is the time to look at the shape of the land, to see outcroppings of stone and look at the shapes of trees and evergreens, even to enjoy the shape of your poodle.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRQDIIn6hJVJ2bBtjCNsihA0i_3b_HuPW5Emtz1gJk_vwHEjNDZvCVrY1dTMMc5-iZQFs9NOu2TW2AkYBGmNnyVhh0nhqeUMO8CUjZE8jJtce59Ln0fQxMUXWoydI06F3srghsCdm9v9r/s1600/christmas2010+130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRQDIIn6hJVJ2bBtjCNsihA0i_3b_HuPW5Emtz1gJk_vwHEjNDZvCVrY1dTMMc5-iZQFs9NOu2TW2AkYBGmNnyVhh0nhqeUMO8CUjZE8jJtce59Ln0fQxMUXWoydI06F3srghsCdm9v9r/s320/christmas2010+130.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We are fortunate here at Blackrock to have some of Albert Raitt's beautiful stone sculptures. There is really no better time to look at them then now. The snow swirls around them and makes unusual shapes and the colors of the stone take on a purity that only winter can provide. These next photos and the photos of chairs that were inadvertently left out for the winter were taken Anne Boginski.<br />
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But not only are sculptures important. Some of our cheapest sculptures are the $39.95 shrubs and trees that we bought a few years ago or the fence that was put up to keep in the animals. The snow brings the shapes to life.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TAHhbpj16uxyaify-KCrE0ga_YGnwuwec2nFhOFZoKEBYJvFB7zDYhVsD-_0LRhk5stlBnEll8emQIzTxmaRRVN1Ykx-PpID5BFi37YF0aqdVufQM2JtnQDS_DA3epSo-yfFxOj5lqJv/s1600/green+house+foliage051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TAHhbpj16uxyaify-KCrE0ga_YGnwuwec2nFhOFZoKEBYJvFB7zDYhVsD-_0LRhk5stlBnEll8emQIzTxmaRRVN1Ykx-PpID5BFi37YF0aqdVufQM2JtnQDS_DA3epSo-yfFxOj5lqJv/s400/green+house+foliage051.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Blackrock Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207370427108240448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-40568712547464199592011-02-18T12:02:00.002-05:002011-02-18T12:11:11.608-05:00Spring-LikeIt's beautiful out there right now, and boy did we need it! The driveway here at the farm has been covered in ice for weeks now, which makes walking out to feed the horses or check on the greenhouses a dangerous trip. Now, with the temperature up around 50 degrees, the icy spots are very slick, but at least in some places the ground is beginning to show through. <div>I did the chores this morning without a jacket for the first time in months!</div><div>The sounds of running water are everywhere, and quietly listening to them along with the rhythmic chomp of the horses on their grain provides a feeling of spring, and a welcome relief from the deep freeze.</div><div>Sadly, i hear we're supposed to get more snow in the next few days, and the temperature is supposed to drop again, but as for now the doors to the greenhouses are wide open to keep the temperature down and the China Goose named Ike is patrolling the grounds as if spring were already here. His aggressive behavior and incessant honking are the only things spoiling this beautiful day.</div><div><br /></div><div>enjoy it while it lasts, and get excited for spring. </div>Adam Lewand-Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13873690397329588124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-39169280929334928442011-02-16T11:00:00.008-05:002011-02-16T12:35:15.926-05:00Dog Show<div><div>The Scottish Deerhound just won best in show at Westminster. Helene and Eileen obsessively watch the dog show every winter, insisting on stopping work on these two days to oo and ahh over canines. In fact, they even fled the office today for the quiet of Eileen's house to escape the constant barrage of phone calls and visitors we always seem to get. It's certainly a bizarre subculture, but when it's freezing cold outside it's a welcome change of pace to sit in front of the television and listen to that strange narrator inform you that certain dogs "champion fair play", whatever that means. This year it was almost a home-shopping type experience, as Eileen is in the market for a new dog.<div><br /></div><div>Also, it was a year in which the poodle did not make it into the final group. Blackrock Farm is home to two standard poodles, Leo and Magdalena, and one miniature, Sebastien. However, these farm poodles are quite a bit different from the traditional show dogs of Westminster. Here's one now:</div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cuZYyl0wLMNh4TAbymSZwsfx4UNtXSJXL53JE1PRstNktYKdEG52coEuyfd7g5120vYkBhbjvcO4VIFC9y1g0HD3UhtxejCq8iJWmjLhMnkazHqZrbALRWrnSNE8kOcp6a5xonLfHXI/s1600/IMG_0062.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cuZYyl0wLMNh4TAbymSZwsfx4UNtXSJXL53JE1PRstNktYKdEG52coEuyfd7g5120vYkBhbjvcO4VIFC9y1g0HD3UhtxejCq8iJWmjLhMnkazHqZrbALRWrnSNE8kOcp6a5xonLfHXI/s200/IMG_0062.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574340171329188626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><div><br /><br /></div><div>Anyway, in honor of the Scottish Deerhound Anne decided to create a greenhouse rendition of the breed. Due to space constraints and fog building on the camera lens in the ultra-humid greenhouse we were only able to provide you with a head on shot:</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4FUj5GYwgMpIv8Q3LF_0G3wtAu6I8TFAAT-HRP12axKS2FpAn_6ab2yD0Rr6GXzPp6EPylLUHg47dX1Ep5rpcggs3E8_bi7u8glpVsXiNNC3dbTntzrdkkrp28SN5macaZKz9iWBk-c/s1600/DSC_0007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4FUj5GYwgMpIv8Q3LF_0G3wtAu6I8TFAAT-HRP12axKS2FpAn_6ab2yD0Rr6GXzPp6EPylLUHg47dX1Ep5rpcggs3E8_bi7u8glpVsXiNNC3dbTntzrdkkrp28SN5macaZKz9iWBk-c/s320/DSC_0007.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574341172455943874" /></a><br /><div>It's kinda hard to make out, but the magnifying glass is the snout, the rocks the eyes, and the fuzzy potted plant (Upright Club Moss) standing in for the Deerhound's scruffy face. The thin body is made from a wicker chair, and the fuzzy tail and hind legs by one of our many beautiful Upright Black Elephant Ear plants.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yeah, it's a stretch, but winter at a nursery sometimes leaves us with a bit of free time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHoyT28gGB_xIeSFzzoYDwaCCZXgSfbCZxqrL8E153u95lrQM7ORZICSV7NUg13gu6N9ZXnU164khIkhs-OZHYYmmW1wu8JZXHMZGQUX7HslP_so3oj5fn_Viak-UqTDhv-gHyUdYlfg/s1600/IMG_0069.jpg"><br /></a></div>Adam Lewand-Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13873690397329588124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-30814584266942496392011-02-14T10:40:00.003-05:002011-02-14T11:14:26.370-05:00A PoemThis will be my first time posting under my own name on this blog, and despite our relative obscurity it is still intimidating to be posting my writing to the public. With this in mind, I suppose the best way to go would be to get the most embarrassing notion out of the way first. I am going to post a short poem i wrote several years ago; one that was inspired by this beautiful place and the times i spent here simply growing up and not working. Over time, and as my maturity level has grown, this place has become as much my job as my home, but I wanted to start off my writing on this site with a more pure, idealized, unclouded memory. I'm a poor excuse for a poet, but I hope everyone will hang with me, and that as I write more you will perhaps find a few words of mine to your liking.<div><br /></div><div>A Walk to the Back Field's Bench</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Fifty-five steps</div><div>In the misty morning,</div><div>Over the damp grass,</div><div>Barefooted through puddles</div><div>Whose mud seeps between my toes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Across the piled rocks</div><div>Slippery from the dew,</div><div>Which is our bridge over</div><div>The small, slow moving stream.</div><div><br /></div><div>The trees drip with water</div><div>As rain begins falling faster.</div><div>In huge drops it falls</div><div>The first few making</div><div>Their tapping sounds before</div><div>It becomes a constant hum</div><div><br /></div><div>The last ten steps are on a path</div><div>Mowed in the fire-weed.</div><div>The cut stems stab my feet.</div><div>When I reach the bench I sit;</div><div>In the downpour, I check</div><div>To see if I am bleeding. </div>Adam Lewand-Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13873690397329588124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-5261938142270150362011-02-14T07:44:00.002-05:002011-02-14T08:21:52.149-05:00Time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mK8a2vGsuxeXfiQqpBEz0G1aXaNnN99pRceOWHPaEhWEdmlHfidg1GA_gpFUU9TeKmcnEogzDqSyVZH8RiAXXx5RoWtYom3KSzfMjeqRbnogF6ym4Ck1Ceo_SbAelXjiXTzZHuGChLXn/s1600/DSC00055.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mK8a2vGsuxeXfiQqpBEz0G1aXaNnN99pRceOWHPaEhWEdmlHfidg1GA_gpFUU9TeKmcnEogzDqSyVZH8RiAXXx5RoWtYom3KSzfMjeqRbnogF6ym4Ck1Ceo_SbAelXjiXTzZHuGChLXn/s400/DSC00055.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573534811232288818" /></a><br />Time.<br />As you know time is a fleeting thing. I get so busy that I can't seem to find the time to do all the things that I know I should.<br />I am determined now to keep up our blog and I hope that you will have some renewed faith that I will and share it with some of you friends and please make comments or suggestions about what you want me to write about.<br />But time is essential when we are talking about starting seeds. They need to be started at the correct time. If we start them too late they won't make it here with our short growing season, start them too early and they get leggy and weak.<br />Now is the time to start quite a few and if you are doing that yourself we can help with a few ideas.Blackrock Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207370427108240448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-17946120099848994302010-07-08T07:55:00.004-04:002010-07-08T08:21:56.241-04:00Japanese Beetle Parasite<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPIxxd5Vg9CaH4-xEvnYnFSzlehqo_3yjCkq6Voomv-DdNQpa-zhsXXHBNhzYUnriwzWbJVfhGCecqUOOjXcFJTHtl4uJaeig-UVbdFVlaDu56_h0NgzlTTgoF5vQVeBQzwcCLPAbgEmZ/s1600/Japanese-Beetle-parasite-eg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPIxxd5Vg9CaH4-xEvnYnFSzlehqo_3yjCkq6Voomv-DdNQpa-zhsXXHBNhzYUnriwzWbJVfhGCecqUOOjXcFJTHtl4uJaeig-UVbdFVlaDu56_h0NgzlTTgoF5vQVeBQzwcCLPAbgEmZ/s400/Japanese-Beetle-parasite-eg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491507492919128482" /></a><br />We really don't like Japanese beetles. <br />That is an understatement. <br />But there are a few that we should allow to live.<br />There is a fly called Tachinid fly. Each female fly can deposit up to 100 eggs over a fourteen day period. They deposit them on Japanese beetles. When the eggs hatch they cause the beetle to fall to the ground and borrow into it. The eggs eat the beetle and then the life cycle begins again as they hatch into flies and find new beetles. <br />Pesticide use stops this from happening. Killing ALL beetles stops this from happening. In Japan, where the beetle is from, they do not have the same problems as we do because they have a natural balance of the fly and the beetle.<br />And so my friends what to do?<br />Look carefully at your beetles and any that you see with white dots on them, ( usually on their backs) leave them alone. Let the flies do their thing and multiply. <br />Use nematodes on your lawn in the spring to help with grub control. Those grubs are baby beetles. The nematodes love to eat them. <br />Watch for those little white dots.Blackrock Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207370427108240448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-45747434273592741422010-06-20T11:07:00.002-04:002010-06-20T11:25:01.818-04:00Planting time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VLNb62AtiA-zbbpnO1IjtnK2jvHQTPPxBOaIH66FdAwGEptlI5z8gbvWQVtXUvlWHiWt1s_GVN8eiqc3foWhFCQ2lomF35gRQHMvSEsSWtnP6t_f_wipJ13StGiNgTWkwvu_0fXwGuu3/s1600/DSC02868.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VLNb62AtiA-zbbpnO1IjtnK2jvHQTPPxBOaIH66FdAwGEptlI5z8gbvWQVtXUvlWHiWt1s_GVN8eiqc3foWhFCQ2lomF35gRQHMvSEsSWtnP6t_f_wipJ13StGiNgTWkwvu_0fXwGuu3/s400/DSC02868.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484877034733963346" /></a><br />I have been remiss.<br />Planting time here at the farm is a wild time. 7 days a week and no let up. Everybody here, almost anyway, is putting in extra hours and working really hard to get everything done. <br />We do plant a lot of boxes and pots and containers and we like them all done by the Forth of July. We are almost finished. <br />This year seems different.<br />We have no excuse about rain days and lost work days. Still, we are not caught up. Not because of tons of huge jobs but because I think the weather and early spring has made it July in June and June in May. The weeds are spectacular! The gardens are requiring more maintainence, the trees more pruning and the plants more watering. We go to a garden and within a few days it really needs us again.<br />Even here at the farm, lettuce is going by faster, the weeds are already up in the potted plants that we sell, the perennials and shrubs. We are watering every day even if it rains. The heat just makes it harder to manage.<br />My crew is awesome. We have some new people and they are doing such a good job of learning and asking all the RIGHT questions. They are careful and personable and things get done because of the team work that goes on at Blackrock.<br />People keep asking if there will be anything left in bloom in August and I keep telling them to cut back everything and we will probably have a wonderful August filled with second blooms on perennials. Keep dead heading the annuals. They will continue to bloom so long as they never get to go to seed.Blackrock Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207370427108240448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-3339670029138407102010-06-05T08:48:00.002-04:002010-06-05T09:23:05.818-04:00Guest blogger....Penny MarshallI asked Penny if she would write some things for the blog. Penny is a wonderful gardener, writer and friend. <br />She and I share many of the same interests. Add to my list an ever growing body of books on horses. There is never a need to 'find' something to do. We are busy.....busy. Even if we are sitting down our minds are sorting out garden matters or a host of other interests. <br />I loved reading her piece on Garden Passions and I think that you will too. Penny gardens in Biddeford Pool, Maine. She has a beautiful piece of property with views of a fresh water pond, loaded with waterlilies and then of the ocean beyond. Can you even imagine that? I will take some photos soon of her place to share with you. <br />Enjoy.Blackrock Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207370427108240448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-37496501678867943242010-06-05T08:23:00.004-04:002010-06-05T08:42:43.975-04:00Periods of Garden Passions by Penny Marshall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94Bc62ZnfGEu-EUjDLRQdMY2oA6caLepJk5vJHIjden3_tVg20VvjZiLaFew12eO9Jb1aZtO2YnDr_Vfvirsn8Bsdtuy7ThqH8_z0-bOB-GIbz0FXSboh8arKCD3KdPm6TjhnbOaF1i_j/s1600/DSCN0012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94Bc62ZnfGEu-EUjDLRQdMY2oA6caLepJk5vJHIjden3_tVg20VvjZiLaFew12eO9Jb1aZtO2YnDr_Vfvirsn8Bsdtuy7ThqH8_z0-bOB-GIbz0FXSboh8arKCD3KdPm6TjhnbOaF1i_j/s400/DSCN0012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479268336500369378" /></a><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br />Picasso had a blue period but, not being too up on affaires d’art, I don’t know if he had other ones. As an extremely multifaceted and old individual (meaning lots of consuming interests but no single all-encompassing passion or talent over four score years) I have had many periods in many fields, often being deeply immersed in two at once, or, occasionally in productive, or just as likely, spread thin spells, in even three. With me, just because I’m not still deeply embedded in my “rhodie” period for instance, doesn’t mean I don’t have a good dirty-sneaker-clad foot in it, signifying ongoing curiosity and interest, and an ever-present book buying urge toward it. As someone said to me (somewhat scathingly I thought, c. thirty years ago) “My God, Penny, must you try to specialize in everything AT ONCE?” to which the answer appears to be, yes.<br /><br /> <br /><br />So at the moment I’m deep in an Amelia Peabody mystery period, a health conscious less-meat-is-more one, and I may be moving out of my big-time Trees period into a mixed Trees and stones-in-the-garden one. At the moment, my garden bears the traces of (I think) every one of my garden periods except the first - Sweet peas – one, and now that I think of it, that’s no good at all and must be remedied. Let’s hope Blackrock can help and if they can’t why, I ask you, NOT!/?<br /><br /> <br /><br />My sweet pea period began at c. age 5 when my mother, at my importunate, probably loud, begging, bought me a bunch of those intoxicatingly scented, deliciously colored glories at a Saturday morning Mennonite Farm Market in Hagerstown, MD, c. 1932. It wasn’t until 1937 when I was ten that I was able to plant my own bed of sweet peas, a thoroughly wasted endeavor as the garden plot assigned me by my hogging-the-best-places-for-gardens mother was in the very shady, three dog populated, fenced in dog yard in Fairmont, WV. Nothing even tried to grow or maybe the dogs “watered” them for me.<br /><br /> <br /><br />For my own and possibly Helene’s amusement (and maybe even yours) I’m going to list my garden periods in as close as I can come to the order in which they dawned. I enjoy looking back at my life almost as well as getting on with it, and garden periods (during a definable “period” the main garden budget, book buying/reading, curiosity, plant buying, seeking, learning and planting is focused on the named species) serve as handy pegs for happy memories as well as frustrating ones. <br /><br /> <br /><br />So, sweet peas. (Big skip while I grew up, passed through my sweetheart roses on the bosom and orchids on the wrist social life, and got a garden where I called the shots.) Then roses, peonies, iris, azaleas (hybrid and species), bulbs, woodland wildflowers, groundcovers, rhododendrons, ilex, magnolias, epimedium. Side skip to increasing emphasis on Maine garden as I moved from suburban NY. Then onward with rock gardening, hosta, old roses, coral bells, columbine and geranium (bundled together), lilacs, magnolias – again ( different garden), hydrangeas, variegated/colored foliage, alpines/troughs, shade plants, trees (especially Japanese maples), and (all blended in one and slowly coming up on the outside) stones, ferns, mosses.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Comment. Having a tree period after years of planting things and while enjoying soul satisfying ocean and (separate) pond views you wish to retain is Very Difficult. Think about it! <br /><br /> <br /><br />There is also a part of me that wonders if maturity, both of self and gardening talents, is necessary before moving “up” to trees or do some people come to trees earlier, possibly even start there? A suspicious but canny inner self wonders if it took a larger budget or more assurance that after all those years of growing smaller things I could succeed even with these important and expensive “biggies” that allowed me to move on to trees. Who knows? And, it turns out I don’t really care – I just enjoy speculating about things. Today’s biggest wonder - could I make a success of moss gardening? I’ve suddenly huge healthy patches all over the place, none planted, none planned, all unknown. But beautiful, velvety and (courtesy of changes in climate) thriving and, yes, even invading. Guess who needs a book on mosses to study!<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />No virus found in this incoming message.<br />Checked by AVG - www.avg.com<br />Version: 9.0.829 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2918 - Release Date: 06/04/10 14:25:00Blackrock Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207370427108240448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-78612026257913013742010-05-22T07:55:00.002-04:002010-05-22T07:58:39.441-04:00OPEN HOUSE TODAY...SATURDAY<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDbYeCWHB8Ty4aoH8Ss0TidCVq3pFoLKPEZw4g9nAeyEGgQh8TvQIP5C0X5eBDm8NdBDdKwyWoUOQVOVf5qiNZtca5IDv-x3BmUGJ4hEr4abXCbS5t5w-TsjztjJDhso5q3U97Vd3Akgp/s1600/DSC02115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDbYeCWHB8Ty4aoH8Ss0TidCVq3pFoLKPEZw4g9nAeyEGgQh8TvQIP5C0X5eBDm8NdBDdKwyWoUOQVOVf5qiNZtca5IDv-x3BmUGJ4hEr4abXCbS5t5w-TsjztjJDhso5q3U97Vd3Akgp/s400/DSC02115.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474062281059273202" /></a><br />Come and visit....looks like a nice day.Blackrock Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207370427108240448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-41412286476502721892010-05-18T07:49:00.003-04:002010-05-18T07:55:20.932-04:00Stanley's Pond and Guss's Apple Tree<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTRsONZ6bgHvrOlDuunhPj6Q8Gu3cSR4-sahyphenhyphenc42SePHNdPPnSs_hCs_k7LWNKEhz6AkUsp1qBesLBFOugb0NvT7kUyF2D0X7Om0NoDUe18-GOKLud09idP0j0raCO01yYO_BF363j1_l/s1600/DSC02922.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTRsONZ6bgHvrOlDuunhPj6Q8Gu3cSR4-sahyphenhyphenc42SePHNdPPnSs_hCs_k7LWNKEhz6AkUsp1qBesLBFOugb0NvT7kUyF2D0X7Om0NoDUe18-GOKLud09idP0j0raCO01yYO_BF363j1_l/s400/DSC02922.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472576789888947586" /></a><br /><br />This old tree only blooms every other year. It is always a surprise when it does. Sometimes I think it even skips two years. <div>It's a special tree here at the farm and we love it with the new pond. Stanley would approve. </div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlnFRf9m4wtAYeK463GAcgimjXHvalzaclObrrFdhum7XNSV9kpT9BLbA6gAqJublmqJLLrYZ1uKfUgNfAl3DqBNlk7ERdHsjB7XAYX3GmESOkefmbbyhsDjXcWUZwrD_Nclvb1yWIzDM/s1600/DSC02921.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlnFRf9m4wtAYeK463GAcgimjXHvalzaclObrrFdhum7XNSV9kpT9BLbA6gAqJublmqJLLrYZ1uKfUgNfAl3DqBNlk7ERdHsjB7XAYX3GmESOkefmbbyhsDjXcWUZwrD_Nclvb1yWIzDM/s400/DSC02921.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472576786673749890" /></a>Blackrock Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207370427108240448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-11672597337794856002010-05-17T07:56:00.003-04:002010-05-17T08:25:32.172-04:00Don't Forget the Open House Next Weekend!!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDo8GzRvzAVsaw9cFqLUYJO4loXgjGF_OUrAB-9_nZhLCI31QR6rmcNzD2I9cdEsfxtn2CmRm7k7sHfNTtiNcNVt83hsjAnexXgy3KG0Kb5UkwrTFttCjzzHDFog1vHFZjURMZeHLcrrGD/s1600/green+house+foliage031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDo8GzRvzAVsaw9cFqLUYJO4loXgjGF_OUrAB-9_nZhLCI31QR6rmcNzD2I9cdEsfxtn2CmRm7k7sHfNTtiNcNVt83hsjAnexXgy3KG0Kb5UkwrTFttCjzzHDFog1vHFZjURMZeHLcrrGD/s400/green+house+foliage031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472213788729169842" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Blackrock Farm</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">293 Goose Rocks Road</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Kennebunkport, Maine 04046</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">207 967-5783</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">We are one mile inland from the Clock Farm and Route 9.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">www.blackrockfarm.net </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Spring Celebration Open House</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Saturday, May 22, 2010</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">10-4</span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Offering classic and innovative landscape design, installation, and maintenance.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Specializing in select annuals and perennials, trees and shrubs, terra cotta pots and garden ornaments. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">We invite you to visit our display gardens, stone walls and sculpture, organic vegetable garden and greenhouses. </span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">. </span></div>Blackrock Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207370427108240448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947542466017624632.post-46434939421317636862010-05-17T07:30:00.003-04:002010-05-17T07:54:52.190-04:00Penny's True Garden Poem<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqwLacyrclHmRqXOnPGkIn6EsOO3H8Rs2vF3EwxlpVFenFCG2yNfsxRbkrVZQaHGdtT0OkwCiYzor9-60xFVLK0mg_616HsSKJ1H4ZeuduvYgqhdEF_sYTHTXp5SHUqyrJZTsuluNHyS7/s1600/Fall+moss+2006_1130.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqwLacyrclHmRqXOnPGkIn6EsOO3H8Rs2vF3EwxlpVFenFCG2yNfsxRbkrVZQaHGdtT0OkwCiYzor9-60xFVLK0mg_616HsSKJ1H4ZeuduvYgqhdEF_sYTHTXp5SHUqyrJZTsuluNHyS7/s400/Fall+moss+2006_1130.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472204118046601602" /></a><br />My dear friend,Penny Marshall, has written this poem and I know this to be true. Especially at a nursery where tags are so important. My poodles take the tags as well. Gilly is a poodle too. I thought that I would share this with you. Thank you, Penny. <br /><br />By the way, the picture is NOT of Penny's rather well groomed poodle, Gilly, but of my old Augustus who loved to steal the tags right out of the pots. I have many mystery hostas and daylilies and shrubs, thanks to Augustus. <br /><br /><br />Penny's Silly but True Poem<br /><br /><br />As a gardener I’m s’posed to know<br /><br />The place and name of all I grow<br /><br />But greed o’ertakes me when I shop <br /><br />And planting tires me, so I drop<br /><br />Onto the bed, my wine at hand <br /><br />And fail to map out as I planned<br /><br />The earthy home of each new treasure -<br /><br />(Despite the pains I took to measure<br /><br />How far they sat from last year’s wonder<br /><br />Or how many inches of soil they’re under.)<br /><br /> <br /><br />But once they’re labeled I needn’t worry<br /><br />Or, so I think, till I see Gilly scurry<br /><br />Happily by me, bent metal in jaw – <br /><br />Oh, drat that dog, she’s a garden outlaw<br /><br />Removing my guideposts one by one<br /><br />(Ears swinging, tail wagging, she’s having fun!)<br /><br />But I’m left to wonder till end of the season<br /><br />What I planted where and was there a reason?Blackrock Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207370427108240448noreply@blogger.com0