Chickens and lots of plants

So it's been several weeks since I've written a post and I think it's time to catch up!

Brent and I have been super-busy trying to establish gardens between rainstorms before the luscious and tough prairie grasses take over. There is just never enough time or it rains every weekend. So I've been using up vacation time during the work week to get our native and edible perennials in the ground.

All of this busy-ness is really my own fault. I've been ordering online and buying at various sales in attempts to establish a sensible garden that utilizes the different micro-climates and habitats available around the house. It's mind boggling thinking through each plant's needs as well as bloom time, leaf texture and height as it relates to the plants around it. I'm sure I've messed it up. But, if my last native garden is any indication, it won't matter. It will be beautiful no matter what I do. As soon as I have everything in the ground (hopefully this week), I will post a "before" picture.

Here is what I posted on Instagram after attending the Powell Gardens Members-only Preview Plant Sale:

Plants purchased at Powell Gardens Spring Plant Sale

I didn't count the plants, but I know it was more than 30. I am probably most excited about the big leaved plants in the photo. They are the 3 hardy figs. I am planting those in front of the big rock retaining walls. In those spots they should get a lot of winter protection as well as good moisture. I'll add a border to "raise" the soil level for create good drainage. I'm pretty excited at the potential for growing those sweet fruits here in Kansas.

Asparagus update: many of the plants have spears up and some of those are already starting to leaf out. They are growing at different rates. Of the 4 beds we planted, the bed on the East end is sprouting the slowest. I'm speculating that it gets less sun than the other beds.

The other big news is our little chicks: 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Barred Plymouth Rock, 2 Ameraucana, and one Black Sex Link.

Our baby chickens on their first day at home

They fit easily in a 40 Gallon water tub when we brought them home. But now, 2 weeks later, they've grown considerably. I'm working today to finish a "cage" that is about twice the size of their current space. And it will be taller, allowing them to have a roost and space to run around. The only one we know for certain is a hen is the Black Sex Link (Basil). I'm hopeful they are all hens. I guess one rooster might be fun, too. We shall see :-)

Here are a couple of recent pictures:

Basil strutting her adolescent stuff.

Just about the entire crew. Blondie is the big Ameraucana on the left
with the puffy cheeks. She may be a he.

Meanwhile, as a Mother's Day gift for me, Brent, his dad and Jeremy worked to cut down the tall grass around the old dog run that will become our little ladies' run. The also used the rough sketch of a coop I gave them to create the frame for the floor of the coop. That is my next big project!

The "girls" will be almost entirely feathered before I know it. So I better work fast (not like me)!