Waiting for a snowy day to get a Christmas tree might not work for too much longer. A little snow is better than no snow, so yesterday's weather was perfect for a drive over to Barrett's Christmas Tree Farm.
Aren't these a welcoming bunch of characters?
The Barretts are very good at filling in the blanks. Theirs is a continuous flow kind of tree farm
We arrived just after opening because we had a full day planned. Just after we arrived, a busload of school kids from Camborne School drove in. What fun! It wasn't long before they were spread out over the children's play area. I have to think that some good memories were being made yesterday at Barrett's.
Our goal? 8', slim tree. Well, whadda ya know? Pretty well every tree was slim. Maybe that's a thing.
The tree was decorated, lunch enjoyed, projects built in the shop and... time to check out an interesting garden in the hills of Northumberland before it got covered with snow. We learned about this gardener in the late summer. He'd seen Fare Share Food Bank's poster about growing a row for our hungry neighbours at a local plant nursery. He donated garlics and other produce all summer long. I was anxious to see his operation.
Sometimes, you are given a bonus. This time - ice. Drive 25 minutes north and there's ice everywhere.
It looks like thorns to me.
Ice thorns.
One thing that I wanted to see was how this gardener saves his kale plants over the winter. He cuts off the leaves and shortens the stalks to about 6". Then he covers the stalks with dry leaves and overturned pots. A heavy rock on top keeps the pots in place for the winter. Last year he tried this for the first time and new shoots sprouted out of the stalks in the spring. He was able to harvest kale much earlier than in previous years. That only is a positive thing if you like kale. 🥴
Sadly, we could only stay for an hour because I had to teach a class at 6. The sun was beginning to set as we finished touring the extensive gardens.
More pots. This time containing future Butternut trees. We were thrilled to hear that he supplies the Northumberland Land Trust with Butternut seedlings. And, most of them germinate!
The ice looked like tiny gems on the cedar branches.
It was encouraging to spend time and learn from a like-minded gardener. We may just be collaborating next growing season. His gladiolas and sunflowers will look really nice mixed with our perennials and wildflowers.
In the mean time, we will rest and our gardens will rest.
“Winter is coming.”
George R.R. Martin
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