The Basil and the Bees

This year we grew African Basil as an ornamental and Genovese Basil for everything else.  Else meaning to eat fresh, make pesto and freeze for use over the winter. It's hard deciding when enough is enough.  But with limited freezer space (and a partner who said: "I really think we have enough" and "Maybe we shouldn't grow so much basil next year".) the decision was made. We had harvested what we needed (we must have 2 pounds worth of basil in the freezer) and shared with friends.

The decision was made.  All basil would be allowed to go to seed. Bees love basil and why be greedy.  We really did have enough.  Let the bees enjoy.

And that's exactly what they've been doing. For the past month bees of all types have been enjoying the thousands of tiny flowers covering our basil plants.

 Last night we had the first hard freeze of the season. The basil plants are now a brown mush and we have some very confused and frustrated bees. What was there in abundance the day before is now gone. I'll be adding what's left of the plants to our compost pile. They will provide nourishment for plants next season. And hopefully more bees...all types of bees.

Snow and Ice

We don't get a lot of snow, most winters will come and go with just a dusting.  So when the weather forecast a major snow event we didn't hold our breath.  Maybe we should have.  When it stopped we had 14 inches and were going no where.  Like I said, we don't get a lot of snow here.  That means our local government doesn't have the equipment needed to plow the streets at a rate faster then the sun will melt it.  Can anyone say Snow Day. The power stayed on and only a few small limbs fell from the trees.  

A few weeks later we had another weather event.  This one freezing rain and sleet.  All night long I listened to the CRACK and then rumble-rumble-boom as limbs and trees came down.  I prayed that our house would not be cut in half.  About 7 AM the power went out.

About 7:30 AM the power came back on for everyone except people like us who would need an electrician to put the meter back on the house.

The weight of the ice was just too much for the trees.  The pines and ceders had taken the biggest hit. Limbs had fallen on the power lines.  Our power line was on the ground and the electric meter seen above was torn from the garage.

Due to the fear we experience during storms of all kinds we made the painful decision to remove the last of the pines and the cedar next to the house.  Weather permitting they will begin the task this week.  Then we will begin the process of replanting.  But we will plant trees that provide food for wildlife and humans. Trees that flower.  Trees that don't grow to a size that should they be damaged in a storm will cause us fear.

We will still have large trees on the property but they are in what we affectionately call the back forty and to the rear of the property.