Behind the garden
I was doing some work behind the garden a few days ago. The fences behind the compost bins are rotting away. Tearing out those boards and piling them up. There is also some tree trimming happening. A new jungle of baby trees, I think pin cherry, has sprung up. Initially I didn’t like it and wanted the saplings removed, but I’m learning to live with it. Our property is reverting back to forest. Maybe this makes our world smaller, or maybe it is an opportunity to refocus. To become part of the forest.
For now, my garlic bed is back there. I’ve planted garlic there every year since we moved here in 2016. It does well. The deer and other animals don’t bother it. Cloves go underground in the fall and shoots rise up in the spring. I took the heavy winter hay mulch off and revealed these shoots, happy to start greening and growing.
There’s a young tamarack back there. Also known as larch. Also known as hackmatack. I am just getting to know this tree. It is remarkable in that it is a conifer that drops its needles in the fall like a deciduous tree. The angle of the light at that moment made it look like it was covered with little green fairy lights – the tiny clusters of new needles. Enchanting. I took some photos.
How to describe this? Leafing out is not right, and needling out doesn’t sound right either.
the bright green tamarack needles aborning reminded me of pussy willows … which made me wonder if the word “willowing” is a real word (OED says yes but Merriam Webster is perplexed) … no matter, I love them
No pussy willows nearby sadly. I see them when we’re driving along, but I want to visit them up close! Contenting myself with tamarack.
taking your Place Within the forest
i learn that Tamarack is a strong Cree medicinal
thank you for this post…all of it, the boards, the garlic, the behind
Lots of “behind” places here! Tamarack is interesting to research. I think the name derived from “snowshoe tree” because the roots were used to make snowshoes.
Gosh Catherine…I can feel the season shifting at your place. The green, the newness, the expecting all so refreshing.
Your photography skills are really so good. Really. You have beautiful light and a good eye. Thank you for sharing.
As for pussy willows…do you (or Liz) recall when it was all the rage to make them out of quilters Cottons in the browns of the late 1970’s? Ah, memories.
Thank you for the compliments, Nancy! My I-phone takes care of a lot of the technique, so I just look for interesting sights. I have a vague memory of crafting pussy willows. I just love their softness.
Perhaps tamaracks “sprout”? I like your description of “little green fairy lights.”
Yes, they do seem like sprouts. Very unusual. I will have to go look at them again to see how they’ve progressed so far.
I loved growing my own garlic .. I do miss my vegetables garden. But always love being able to look back in pictures and memories.
The veg garden is a lot of work, but every year I jump back on that bandwagon. I’m at the stage now where I think how much effort I’m putting into growing something that is so cheap and readily available like cabbage and potatoes. Oh well, I love it still.