Valentine's Day and Gardening

Most people probably don't think of gardening when they think of Valentine's Day.  Judging by the immense amount of commercials, billboards, and sale fliers that started to circulate well before this month, most people think of what to buy to prove their love. But what does that really prove?  To some, quite a lot.  To others, maybe not so much.  To some, a bought item does mean love.  To others, a simple, kind word can mean more than any box of chocolates.  Even still, others may need physical connection, like a good hug, to understand that they are cared about.  Whatever the way, we need to make sure we are giving love and being an example of it in the correct ways- and every day, not just today.

So by now, Craig is wondering why I'm not talking about gardening on our gardening blog.  Well, I am!  When we plant a garden, or an orchard, or even just one little flower, do we expect to get fruits or flowers by ignoring that plant, speaking badly to it, or hurting it?  Of course not!  We pay attention to our plant friends- if they need water, we give them water, not more dirt.  If they need nutrients, we give them the right nutrients, not just a shot of miracle grow.  If they need more light, less light, whatever the case may be, we give our plants what they want and require for beauty and bounty. 

What if we cared for each person in our lives like we do our plants?  What if every day we made sure that the people we love are given, from our hearts, exactly what they need to feel most loved?  I think the world would be a much different place.  Its not what we can purchase on a special day of the year that spreads love and gratitude to those around us.  It's how we nurture them and love them daily that allows our relationships to bloom.

So far the three trees seem to be holding up well to the cold temperatures at night. I have been wrapping plastic around each tree, in hopes that it will insulate and contain some of the heat around the plant at night.

On a positive note, the other three trees, All-in-one Almond, Craig's Crimson Cherry, and the Fuji Apple have arrived. Unfortunately, due to the cold weather I have to leave them in the box, bare root and all, until Monday or Tuesday when I can plant them in the ground without temperatures dipping below 40(F).

Temperatures for the next 4 days are going to be dancing from 60 during the day to 25 or so at night. Hoping a few garbage bags can suffice for the tonight. Thinking of filling a 5 gallon bucket with warm water and setting it under plastic lightly wrapped over each tree. Three buckets of warm water, three fruit trees, and three large pieces of plastic (left over from Lowe's when we purchased soil, they give away free plastic to cover your car seats). Hopefully it keeps the trees alive until this cold weather passes by.

Here is a picture of the orchard, taken yesterday afternoon:

Hey ya'll you all! This post is dedicated to listing what we have growing here at the Farmhouse. The Orchard can be found in front of the house and as it's name implies, it nurtures a majority of our fruit. Secondly, we have a veggie garden inside a fenced in 16' x 16', including 2 raised beds.  Third, we have to construct our corn field! Approximately 11' x 20' fenced, and two 9' x 9' plots inside to be used in succession. Lastly, we have an almost 200 year old Muscadine grape vine which is in need of being pruned out badly.