Feed the Birds

With the turning of the year and the lengthening days, our minds are drawn further still, to the warm spring days which beckon us to another year of outdoor in the garden. Here at Stonewell Farm, we are now firmly in the camp of leaving last year’s growth to overwinter in situ. This provides some succor to the feathered or fur clad wildlife that inhabit the gardens throughout the winter months, be it through protection from the weather, or our ever present kettle of hawks as with this Autumn Clematis and Boxwood.  Seedheads and dried stems can provide a source of food in their own right, as well as sheltering insects which provide another source of nutrition for wild birds.
                                                                                                                   
                                          

                   Autumn clematis (above) and Boxwood (below) grow densely enough to provide shelter from persistent wind or predatory wing,

                                 

Berries and seedheads provide wildbirds with a much needed source of nutrition in winter.

By leaving last years growth intact, some plants, like this grass,  create a layer of protection for the new shoots waiting patiently for spring to return, while at the same time giving some visual winter interest.

 

 Occasionally a snowy display of florescences result unexpectedly, as seen on these Hydrangeas.

 Ligularia

Monarda

Pizza Oven.02

We're moving along with the wood-fired oven, aka; pizza oven. Below are some photos of its progress:

Pouring the refractory mortar base for the oven floor.

The base of the oven. The opening below will provide storage for firewood.

The refractory mortar is levelled prior to curing.

The firebrick oven floor.

The oven begins to take shape. The soldier course is laid and the arched opening established.

Wooden forms provide guides for the courses of firebrick.

This arch will eventually be clad with natural stone.

With the oven finished, the first layer of refractory mortar is applied to the exterior of the dome. The bricks you see at the perimeter are placed temporarily simply to hold the mortar in place while it cures.

After installing the clay chimney, the second layer of refractory mortar is applied.

...and the work progresses nicely.

Upcoming NY Times Piece

Several months back I was contacted by NY Times writer, Sara Barrett, who wanted to do a piece on dry stone wall building. Well, after many months of communications and a wonderful day of photo-shoots with Suzanne, the marvelous and engaging NY Times photographer, the word on the street is that this is to happen on Thursday, June 23rd, 2011 in the national edition of the Home and Garden Section. I'm as intrigued as anyone and will be looking for the Times to see if I need to start wearing a disguise. Anyway...stay tuned.