Springtime has arrived; however, since we currently reside in the Southwest, it will stay for about five whole minutes and then be replaced with several months of oppressive heat. I don’t mind the summers here though; we travel often and being avid swimmers, we enjoy many an afternoon and evening in our remodeled pool and outdoor living area.
April is usually the month we start deciding on the new year travel destinations, and also on what we want to tackle as far as house projects. Travel wise, we have two short trips coming up at the end of the month. House-wise the coop is getting painted this month, and I think I am going to overhaul the back porch into a more inviting sitting area. I have an inquiry out to our contractor to hang outdoor drapes (a necessity here as opposed to a luxury due to dust in the summer), Darcy wants to replace our current portable firepit with one he builds himself, and I have my eye on some new Adirondack chairs to make a new sitting area. I have finally decided what I will be planting in the new raised herb garden and that is definitely a project for this month. Normally, I wouldn’t plant in April, but the new raised bed offers both partial shade and drip irrigation, so I should be safe.
This month finds our chickens, all six of them, laying eggs regularly and our fruit orchard that we planted last year is thriving. Trees that I worried would not make it last year between the unexpected flood that Phoenix had in addition to a hot, dry summer, are suddenly full of blooms and baby fruit. Our plum tree (pictured below) has a full 18 inches of new growth at the top. We have already been able to harvest some lemons and some baby plums. My hibiscus continue to thrive; and this spring are producing even larger blooms than last year. The daffodils that Darcy planted came up beautifully, just in time for Easter. Tucker and the chickens have become quite friendly. I love it that I don’t have to worry about him or them when they are all outside together. He seems to spend all his afternoons lately, playing with his favorite toy, a stuffed giraffe, under the shade of the trees.
Here are a few photos of the French Pemberley urban farm as we start this month of April, 2015.
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