Babies and Transplants

Been ages since I have written a new blog post!  The past month or so has 

been all about readying for the Spring burst which has clearly arrived at 

MuRefuge.

• Completing the dispersing of 8 cubic yards of wood chips which came from
a Winter storm toppling our 16 year old curly willow to various path renewals
and remulching some areas.

Before

After

• Transplanting from “flats” what I thought would be a few tomato starts and

resulted in 95, yes 95, soon to be productive tomato plants.  Here I must add
that all those tomato plants will not be planted here but given to some dear
friends and family, and sold for $4 per 4 inch pot at the SCA’s Gardens with 
Sculpture Tour happening on May 22 from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.

• Setting out Todd planters in the garden to acclimate to the out of doors with
planting into our fabulously reconstructed vegetable beds.

• Planting native annuals mostly but a few perennials too out into different
spots at MuRefuge thus emptying Todd planters for veggie starts awaiting
in flats.
• Transplanting vegetable, herbs and flower starts to Todd planters.

Veggie, herb and flower starts in the greenhouse

Pimento Peppers

Basil starts in foreground

• Weeding, lots of weeds to fill up our spiffy, thanx to Dwight, compost bins.
Vickie, weeder extraordinaire, spends a lot of time on her knees pulling all
those errant weeds, many of which are invasive European grasses found
choking out even the invasive Feverfew which I have become to enjoy as
mowed ground cover.

Our duck flock seems fluid right now.  The 3 oldest Fawn and White Indian Runner females have 

been reduced to only 1.  She is well over 7 years old and has had no easy time adjusting to the loss 

of her sisters. With the support of a Grief flower essence preparation she now seems content to 

hang out with the 4 who are past their 4th birthday and no longer each laying an egg each day.   

So on Earth Day our latest 2 ducks were born, arriving at MuRefuge this past Friday.  For a few 

weeks they will reside in a big cardboard box with wood shavings covering the bottom and a hanging

heat bulb for warmth.  Since we have some difficulty distinguishing older and not as old ducks from 

one another, our newest addition are Chocolate Indian Runners, females of course, from Metzer

Farms in the California Central Valley.  Check their informative web site  metzerfarms.com. 

Welcome to MuRefuge

Organic food top left, water on the left with a
brick to keep them from swimming in the
water and getting cold, red on left is
the heat bulb

Babies in grass

Three days old

Both the native coastal iris and their hybrids are in full bloom as well as the Eastern Sierra native iris.  How spectacular!!

Happy Spring!  and remember to

  

Comments are welcome!