Pesticides

Things are doing pretty good on the farm despite the very wet conditions.  We are having to monitor disease caused by the rain and hot/humid air.  So far it has not been too serious.  The annual flowers are all starting to show blooms and the perennials are on track.  The monkshood's are growing non stop and some of them are about six feet tall with the flower spikes.  The lilies have started to bloom and I love to go out to the field and take in the kaleidoscope of colour.  I have been enjoying watching the new annuals we planted, Cerinthe - Pride of Gibraltar, Icelandic Poppies, Celosia's of different shapes and colours, which are doing very well this year, Love Grass Ruby Silk (will post pictures later in the season),  Drumstick flower, and Dianthus - neon purple and cherry.  Watch for their debuts at the Farmers Market.  Some cuts will be in bouquets this weekend.   One of our Passion Flower Vines that is in the greenhouse has developed flower buds.  This particular plant is destined for a new home this weekend.
The birds have been leaving their nests and a lot of species leave the yard when the babies are grown up.  The Bluebirds have left, which in past years they raised a second brood.  The Tree Swallows are gone, sometimes making an appearance in the evening.  We now rely on the Dragonflies to help out with mosquito control, which they seem to be doing a great job.  We have not had any bats take up residence in our bat houses we installed this Spring, and we have not seen any glimpses of them.  
Today we will be busy harvesting vegetables, raspberries (first picking) and lots of fresh cut flowers.

Bells of Ireland

Karl Foerster Grass

Delphiniums

I came across this article written by the Saskatchewan Environmental Society and they asked that we share it with everyone.  There is lots of really good information in the article.

Be Pesticide Free-Pesticides and Human Health
Have you heard? Pesticides aren’t needed for a beautiful lawn!
What is a Pesticide?
A pesticide is a chemical or microbiological substance that is designed to kill pests. Pesticides are by definition are toxic because they poison the pest. Pesticides include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and rodenticides.  Common examples are RoundUp, Killex, Weed and Feed, and 2,4-D.  Lawn pesticides do not prevent pest problems, they only try to control them once they are present.

Exposure
Pesticides are all around us. They can be found in our soil, air, food, and even mother’s breast milk.   If a pesticide is being applied to a lawn, it can be detected 15 metres away. Anyone living in an urban area in Saskatchewan breathes air with measurable quantities of 15-19 herbicides in late spring. Pesticides are also found in water. Drinking water in six Saskatchewan communities was tested and found to be contaminated with an average of seven pesticides.

Human Health
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has identified acute health effects in humans including nausea, eye, skin, respiratory and throat irritation, muscle spasms, and even death. Repeated exposure to pesticides has been linked to neurological problems, brain and lung cancer, immune suppression (which creates environmental hypersensitivity), leukemia, Parkinson’s disease, kidney damage, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and reproductive disorders, including endocrine disruption, low sperm count, and sterility. Children are most at risk as they typically play in grass and dirt, and put toys and hands in their mouths, activities that significantly increase their exposure to pesticides.

How to Protect You and Your Family
·Do not use pesticides on your lawn and garden.
·Pesticides are toxic. Be aware when they are being sprayed in your neighborhood.
·Keep kids and their toys indoors when pesticides are being applied and afterward, clean exposed surfaces.
·        Do not spray your pets (flea powder).
·        Use pesticide-free insect repellent like citronella.
·        Buy local organic food.
·        Wash all produce with a mild detergent.
·        Work with local school boards, daycares and sporting complexes to go pesticide-free.
·        Avoid pressure-treated wood.

To learn more about alternatives to using pesticides, please visit:
http://www.environmentalsociety.ca/main/resources/publication/pesticide-publications/

Robin Antics

Agave

We believe we have Mr./Mrs. Stubborn Robin back this year.  If you recall the posts from last Spring about the Robin whom was determined to build his/her nest on the top of our back tire on the truck.  Eventually we had to park the truck in the garage so it would find a new site for nest building.  Anyway this year it decided to build it's nest on top of the propane tank of the barbecue.  One day last week Pat barbecued, and the next morning a nest was built right on top of the propane tank.  We dismantled the nest, but felt sorry for the bird when it came back to the location with nest building material in his mouth, and no nest to be found.  It hopped on the barbecue looking around, and then on the ground and then back on the barbecue and so on.  Within a few days it decided that the eavestrough right over our front door would be a good location.  Again we cleaned out the nest building material.  As of today, it has not attempted another location close to humans, but there's always tomorrow.

This week we are receiving a good soaking of rain, which also allows us a breather to do other chores around the area.  We planted some of the new perennials for cutting on Monday, so they will settle in nice with the rain.  We have been having busy days at the Farmer's Market.  We have ten varieties of tomato plants along with three types of green peppers and several hot peppers.  The vegetable plants include celery, summer squash, winter squash, cucumbers, and pumpkins.   Several new annual plants, including Cerinthe (Pride of Gibralta), Fireworks Grass, Passion Flower vine, Castor Beans (red and green), Rudbeckia, Sweet Peas, ten different colours of Dahlias.  Lots of new perennials and the old favorites, culinary herbs, Hydrangea, Oso Easy Rose bush, and three types of shrubs.  Lots of selection, but never enough room on our market tables.

May Happenings

May is really a wonderful month.  Everything in nature is so busy.  The trees, shrubs and perennials are all signaled to start growing with the warm weather.  The birds are busy building nests and finding mates.  The sky is very active in our yard right now, with all the different birds flying about.  It so nice to have some company in the yard.
The greenhouses are really filling up, so we are starting to adjust some of the annuals to the higher light levels outdoors.  Every day we allow them to bask in the full sun for a little longer.  Soon they will be tolerant of the sun for the entire day and at the end of May we will start planting them in the ground.  We have halted seeding for now as we received some much appreciated moisture this past weekend, so in a few days we can continue with that schedule.
Today we are showcasing a couple of annuals we have available this year for sales at the Saskatoon Farmer's Market.  The first is a vine called Blue Passion Flower.  It is very fast growing with exotic looking flowers.  It is great for pots or beds and grows up to 12'.  Allow it to grow in full sun for best flowering.  Hardy to Zone 6.

Passiflora caerulea

Pennisetum Fireworks

Another annual we have is the Proven Winners Fireworks grass.  Grows to 24-30" tall and is variegated with reds, pinks and greens.  Likes full sun and can be grown in the landscape or in a pot.

This weekend at the Saskatoon Farmers Market we are going to have some interesting gifts for Mother's Day.  They will include our hypertufa containers potted up with succulents or herbs, decorative containers, rubber boots,  vinyl records re-purposed into plant containers, and the most fun item will be a pair of red high heels all planted up.  Stop by early to check it all out.  We will be selling the pepper and tomato plants along with celery plants, annual flowers, dahlias, shrubs, lots of new perennials and our selection of culinary herbs.   I will be posting pictures of our unusual plantings available on our facebook page this week.  Search Mistik Acres and like our page.  We will be participating in the Sunday market this weekend, but we will be outside due to a celebration all about Mom's, taking place indoors from 11:30-2:30.  Pamper yourself or your Mom with a mini manicure, massage, facial or yoga instruction.  There will be live entertainment and lots of food.