Gypsy Hill Farming

Ah, April. That month when, beyond the obvious deepening green, the colors of the coming summer begin to form in all their pastel glory. A sampling below.

This time they were Wood Ducks. I was out for a walk in the arboretum Sunday morning when I saw the Blue Heron in the creek. With a long lens I took a few pictures and while I was taking pictures a pair of Wood Ducks swam past.

While we are on the subject of art: pi was seen in the arboretum, just behind the gazebo, a rare view in nature. I don’t know why it appeared in the form of a Greek symbol being as we are in the new world but there you have it.

Goggle wearing hens were sighted near the edge of the farm.

With this blast of cold air, I think it is a good time to take a look back to some colors of autumn before looking ahead to spring. (The orange witch hazel is already showing signs of blooming.) There is the squash collection and the sassafras at its peak. This morning I meditated along the creek and watched the kingfisher fish.

I was out chasing the Blue Heron the other day. It is hanging around the farm creek a lot more these days. I got a couple of pictures because it kept jumping up and landing again. When it finally flew off I walked on down the creek and scared up a mate. I was not prepared with my camera. I hand never seen a pair here. Is it too much to hope for a nest this spring?

I had heard rumors that the Kingfisher had returned to the creek; a report of a sighting from someone here, a claim of hearing it there. I had never seen it myself. I saw it this morning, actually I heard it first, followed the sound, and got a couple of elementary pictures.

It has been a good year for the Pawpaw tree. It has produced the most ever pawpaw fruits, and large clusters of fruits. Here is a picture of a cluster of 13 of which 11 are showing. The fruits are quite sweet…if only they didn’t have the aftertaste.