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On My Oasis – Spring Buds and New Life
It’s December 21 – rejoice! The Winter Solstice…as I announced on Twitter only to be told the solstice is actually tomorrow. DOH. Still, in a matter of hours it will have arrived and that, at least in my mind, means we’re marching closer to spring. The truth and reality is, however, that we have January and February ahead, and potentially the coldest temperatures to go (though that’s not hard given the mild Dec). It’s this current warmth that means that garden doesn’t really know what’s going on. There are daffodils poking their noses up, there are buds on the acer and we haven’t had a damn big enough frost to kill off those pesky aphids. In the chicken coop, the cockerels have also determined its spring and the poor hens have been having a rather rough time of it, though they’ve increased their laying so that’s no bad thing. Actually, the Poland chicks from this summer which, knowing their breed, I assumed wouldn’t start laying for a good nine months, have already started producing!
An assortment of eggs – can you guess which the Poland one is?
It’s not too late for bulbs
I know, I know…planting bulbs is for autumn. But, c’mon, it’s still so warm. Bulbs require a period of cold before they start pushing up their little noses above the earth to see whether it’s time to flower. With those months expected early next year, and the ground not frozen (indeed, it’s positively warm), this year in particular, you can still be planting. There’s loads of offers around at the moment as retailers try and sell off their last bulbs and also take advantage of the T-shirt temperatures. I popped a video up on the new YouTube channel when I planted some alliums, so take a look.
New Life
On the subject of the channel, if you’ve not yet subscribed, do so! There’s a couple of projects going on here that I’ll be updated both on this blog and by video. Firstly, we’ve got more new life coming (hopefully) as I’m expecting two ayam cemani chicks to hatch on Christmas Eve. I checked the eggs yesterday and both embryos are moving and the air sacs, though a little small, have been constantly monitored and should do. Though, the silkie chicks were moving last time too and all died on Day 21. Fingers crossed. There’s also a new bug project, but that’ll be featured on the channel in coming weeks.
Will Ayam soon have friends to play with?
Down the garden in the vegetable patch, I’m happy to see broad beans pushing up through the soil quickly. My brussells sprouts have been nibbled – grrrrr – but they’ll do for Christmas Day, and there’s pak choi and winter lettuce in the greenhouse. Unfortunately, those damn aphids are so on the move and we need some cold to kill ’em off!
Broad beans are appearing!
Finally, as it’s just the two of us this year for Christmas, I’m deliberating dispatching a cockerel. In theory I should only have two at the moment – one for the Barbu d’Anver flock and one for the Polands. In practice, I have FOUR Polands – two whites (one of which I need for breeding) and two complete mixes. They are bantams, so not very big and I’m not sure what they’d taste like BUT I need to cut down numbers and, with that big meal only around the corner, one of those Poland boys might have to be tried!
So, in a wrap, that’s the week. What’s happening on your oasis? Tell me in the comments!
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