So. Ever since a bunch of you mentioned I should get a flock of guinea fowl to help with the tick situation, and after watching/listening to a video of them, every time I would go out to the garden after that, I totally thought I was hearing guinea fowl off in the distance.
Before watching the video, I thought it sounded like turkeys.. but I was like, WHO WOULD HAVE A BACKYARD FULL GROWN TURKEYS IN APRIL?
Well guess what? Turns out the sound I was hearing wasn’t guinea fowl after all, it was indeed WILD TURKEYS and there is a whole rafter of them living up in the woods behind our property. Ask me how I know this? C’mon … ASK.
Well, while little Miss Gladys Kravitz was staring out the window the other morning, two turkeys walked by our window and off into the woods behind the house. AND SHE FLIPPED OUT like nobody’s business!
We’ve decided to name them, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Gobble gobble.
Teepee season, it’s one of my favorite times of year and Lucy and I are just getting started! There is some sort of garden patch to the side of the potting shed with 6 garden beds outlined in rock borders. I think I am going to condense those 6 little gardens down to two larger ones and do some sort of mass planting in each one.
So far within those gardens I’ve discovered a galizzion raspberry plants of death {with MAJOR thorns}, oregano, scallions and a bunch of flower bulbs. Obviously, I’ll have to wait until the flowers bloom to see what they are, and if I’ll want to move them or not.
The thorn packed raspberry patch? It’s going. Why? Because there are a ton of raspberries of death towards the back of the property and I don’t want them attacking us on a daily basis while Lucy and I putter around the potting shed and lower garden area.
When we lived in Washington we always grew Cascade Delight raspberries. The thorns were minimal and picking fruit was easy peasy. The raspberry plants we have here though, I can tell already they will rip your skin out if you brush up against them. And I’m not too excited about that. I haven’t had too much time to do research on a good {thornless} variety to grow here in New England, but so far Nova is looking hopeful. If you have any favorites, please chime in.
Can anyone identify this plant? We have a boatload of them around the property and I would love to know what they look like in full bloom.
I discovered a rhubarb plant the other day! Giddy up. I cleaned up the surrounding area and planted the 3 rhubarb plants I ordered from Johnny’s near the one I found.
And what’s this? Could it be 7 mature blueberry plants? Oh please say it is so!
Also, I cannot seem to STOP picking up twigs. I have this crazy idea that I will NEED THEM ALL come winter when the ground is covered with snow and so now I’m trying to figure out how to store 6 months work of twigs {kindling} for the wood stove. Any ideas? At first I was thinking about getting 180 lunch sack sized paper bags and filling each one with twigs. You know, one for every day that we will be using the wood stove over the next year. But that seemed a little ocd. So now what?
In other news… I hauled a few of pots and trellises out of the barn the other day along with some of our outdoor furniture and set up the courtyard and back patio area. Now all I need is a little potting soil so I can get the sweet peas planted.
This place. It’s starting to come together! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Have a WONDERFUL Tuesday everyone, enjoy the day.
~Mavis
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Mim says
The plants coming up look like sedum. They’re wonderful, getting deeper in color and going through the fall. Easily transplanted, too, if you want to move them around.
And yes, it’s turkey mating time.So you will hear a lot of them. Keep your eyes out for when the males display, fanning their tail feathers out to impress the ladies. It’s quite beautiful. (Although the closer up you get to turkeys, the more you realize how prehistoric-looking they are. Check out those feet!)
Peggy says
You’re right about the Toms Mim! I was driving out to our family farm the other day and up in a field we saw a huge black thing, it was off a pretty good distance, and it took a minute to figure out it was a Tom showing off for a female who was further off in the field. 🙂 We kept saying ‘What the heck is that thing?’ 🙂
Emily E. says
Yep, I agree with sedums! And the taller growing variety, not the creeping type. They are bee magnets and provide wonderful late summer and fall color. They are very hardy and you never have to water them! I hope you decide to keep them, even if you decide to move them.
On a side note, what is visible of your home and patio are lovely! I can’t wait to see your gardens bloom and mature!
Melissa in Vic says
I agree on both counts; sedum and your house looks awesome!
Allyson says
Yes, looks like what you have is an Autumn Joy sedum. They offer great fall color and blooms are also pretty dried. They can easily be split too, if you want more elsewhere. I love them because they’re succulents and don’t require extra watering.
Enjoy the new house! Gardens look great!
Elaine W says
I grow raspberries in NE PA in the Poconos, we are similar zone. We love the variety Caroline. If you trim it right you can actually get 2 pickings – beginning around 4th of July, and then again by end of August until frost. Some years I’ve gotten up to over 50 quarts of berries! I highly recommend this variety to everyone because it has worked so well for us. We’ve had these for 10 years. Yes, some thorns but not horrific and disfiguring haha!!!
Amy says
I think your plant is a sedum. We have a ton of them here in Ohio. Very pretty and attracts pollinators!
Leanna says
Your mystery plant is Sedum. Possibly Autumn Joy Sedum. I enjoy exploring your new property via your posts. And welcome to the North East.
Jenny Young says
Yes, I agree with Leanna. It looks like my autumn joy sedum. Super easy to grow, I never water mine & I live in the south with hot dry summers. The blooms change colors into the fall & I love the seed heads on them.
Linda says
The sedum IS Autumn Joy . Quite lovely blooming in the fall and dry blooms overwinter to add interest for the winter garden if you wish.
Kim O'Dongohue says
You can only hope it’s Autumn Joy a lovely beautiful sedum that lasts well into October! It’s a strong stemmed flower and I live on the east coast and love it for that reason! It withstands our coastal storms! Your house looks beautiful!
Lacy says
The swirly green plants is called Autumn Joy Sedum or Stonecrop and it is GORGEOUS! We have a few in our yard and they producethese gorgeous tall pinkish red flowers that last all summer and fall. The bees love them!
Cheri says
I love the pink color that the sedum brings to fall gardens. Two other reasons I love them are that they are never eaten by any critters wandering through my yard and they grow very easily almost anywhere. When they get large, I divide them in half with a shovel and put a piece somewhere else in my yard. No matter what soil they always seem to do well. Gotta love no fuss plants! Happy gardening!
Toni says
Bundle your twig pile with twine and stack it like fire wood. And fill paper grocery bags with pine cones if you have them.
I love reading your blog I have for yaers… We are in the process of looking for our forever home with land for gardens and chickens in MN. Thanks for all the inspiration.
Connie says
Your yard looks well maintained and it will be fun to discover what is there as plants emerge and leaf out.
Kari says
Yep–sedum. Your house (what we’ve seen) is adorable!!
Susan says
Talk about living your best life! Thoroughly enjoying watching you explore your new home Mavis!
Melissa says
To die for! Such a beautiful property, Mavis. I’m so happy for you. Keep on having fun! And Lucy, too!
Teresa says
Chiming in on the sedum! I have Sedum Rosy-Glow and Sedum Autumn Joy. Both are beautiful. Very hardy and really require only a quick pruning after the cold hits them.
Teresa says
BTW…those bushes DO LOOK like blueberries. The red is new growth but you’ll just have to wait to be sure 🙂
Peggy says
First, your back patio is beautiful! It looks so peaceful out there. You know the sedum, they are wonderful tough plants, the flying critters will love the flowers and they will be the last thing to give up before frost too. They could be blueberries, the branches look king of long and upright, but it could be a variety different that what I’m familiar with, time will tell. 🙂 Do you remember Paul James from the ’90’s? He had an HGTV show when they still focused a lot on gardening, and he said with a new property to give it a full year before you do anything with the landscaping because who knows what was planted there! He was a funny guy. Anyway, the berries are most likely wild black raspberries, and honestly, the best tasting berry out there. They are worth the work and having to wear long sleeves and jeans to pick. The same is true of the wild blackberries in July. A simple bowl of chilled and a light sprinkle of sugar is the best dessert ever. 🙂
Penelope says
I have to agree with the black raspberries. If they are black ones, keep them! Move if needed, but those puppies are like candy. I have 1 plant a neighbor shared last year and am working to establish them and getting more. They are super scrumptious. They need to be distanced from other caneberries (I read) so that may explain their location.
Lissa says
They look like my FIL’s blackberry garden. Lots of jam we’ve eaten from those babies
Maxine says
I remember Paul James and miss him, and a gardener at all, especially for the Rose Bowl parade. I’ve been commenting no garden shows on HGTV anymore. So, like Mavis, I’ve gone British! I watch Gardener’s World on YouTube with Monty Don. Also watch Alan Titschmarsh (sp?) and BBCks other gardening shows.
Mavis, looks like you got a great house and in great shape! Feel like we’re on a treasure hunt with you and Lucy.
Carol says
Paul James lives in Tulsa, OK, and gives classes at one of our locally owned nurseries. Love him!
Patty P says
I agree about the black raspberries…black caps. They are a pain to have around (literally), but are the sweetest treat out there! Black cap jam is like summer in a jar.
Helen in Meridian says
I remember Grandma Dunbar making little jars of black cap jam for us.
Stacey says
I agree with keeping as many wild black raspberries as possible. They are soooo good! Another plus is that they grow where they will thrive. If they’re producing, they’re free, too 🙂
Mona says
What is the size of the land? It looks like you have a lot of room.
Mama Cook says
I’m gonna’ say the swirly plant is Sedum! I don’t have any here in Snohomish, nor have I ever seen any, but I wanted to get to chime in! (Oh! I’m crackin’ myself up this morning!). I do love seeing all your beautiful pictures, and those turkeys!!! So gorgoeous! I bet Lucy wasn’t the only excited girl around there!
Paula says
Loved this post! And the names for your turkeys!
Em says
I was interested to see what the plants were, so I’m following the comments.
Carrie says
Your yard is looking fabulous! I agree with everyone else; I love my Autumn Joy Sedum plant. I live in the city but when I visit my in-laws who live in the country, I love to watch the wild turkeys and deer graze in their pastures.
Julie says
Patio looks great. Enjoy watching your new place come to life…sharing all of it’s surprises. You haven’t mentioned what HH and the Girl will be doing since the move. Did HH retire?
Jenny says
Turkey mating season! My husband is currently out hunting them back here in Washington!
Jenny says
We have a sedum plant and our beagle chewed the branches off and buried them in the yard and now we have weird patches of sedum popping up in places. They are very hardy plants. Also, when we first moved into our house, we had a flock of turkeys come through about 5 am. I leapt out of bed and when they started cackling. Coming from the desert, I had never heard that sound. It about gave me a heart attack. My husband says, “It’s just turkeys, go back to sleep.”
Em says
Is it possible that some mornings you could stir up the coals and skip the twigs? I’m sure you have already been observing for that.
Warm and cozy. 🙂
Amy says
The mystery plant is sedum. It blooms in the late summer/early fall. Love them!!
Linda says
Your thorny berries could be tayberries….wicked! A cross between blackberries and raspberries, delicious but scary.
Kimberly Lynne says
Everyone is right. Those plants are sedum and they are my absolute favorite. So pretty all year long and totally low maintenance!
Nancy D says
Little pots of sedum you make starts off of would look so cute for sale next to your veggies you plan to sell at the end of your driveway!
Andrea says
Love this idea!
Mrs. C. says
My two cents: as others have said, the raspberries at the back of the property may not be red, they may be black. Something else to keep in mind is that wild blackberries are the host plant for aphids that carry a virus that could kill your domesticated blackberries and raspberries. It might be a good idea just to cut back those close to the house until everything bears fruit so that you know exactly what you’re dealing with.
Nourse Farms out of Maine specializes in berry bushes, and they have a selection of raspberries that you might like.
Mavis Butterfield says
That’s the name of the farm! I had been trying to figure it out. Thanks Mrs. C!
Mrs. C. says
You’re welcome – I just got my delivery today from them of 20 raspberries and 4 blueberries!
Linda says
Thanks for the name of the farm! I just ordered 10 raspberry plants
Mavis, the sedum that I have is like yours, and it has an almost burgundy flower in the fall. The plants get about 15″ high, mound up nicely, and are not unruly, although as has been said, you’ll want to split them from time to time. You probably don’t want to plant them close to where you eat, because they do attract bees and other flying pollinators like crazy, but they are very pretty.
I’ll bet you have a lot of surprises coming. Any home that has a greenhouse attached probably has a yard full of neat flowers. I hope you’ll love what there is!
Mrs. C. says
Oh, forgot to say that having sedum in the garden is a great idea because it blooms in late summer/early fall when the pollinators really need food and there’s not much blooming.
Mrs. C. says
One more thing – something that’s great for fire starting is dryer lint, if it’s from a load of cotton clothing.
Mavis Butterfield says
I’ve been saving mine. 🙂
Mrs. C. says
OF COURSE YOU HAVE!!! 🙂
Cheryl says
LOL
Maria says
Sedum is edible! It takes like a relative of cabbage. I’ve had it raw – bits off plants while walking through the yard, but not tried cooking with it.
Janet says
Did not know it was edible!! Cool
Jess McCarthy says
Love the red!
Mrs. C. says
One of the reasons I advise waiting is because the plants you think are raspberries may actually be blackberries. I have both, and the leaves look similar. The blackberries have vicious thorns and grow really long droopy canes.
Also, for those interested, Nourse Farms has a great online planting guide, plus they categorize their berries by when they produce, which is very handy info.
Cindi says
I keep a big washtub in the wood shed and fill it with kindling. If you start splitting your own wood you will end up with lots of big wood chips that make good kindling.
HollyG says
Our turkeys were named Thanksgiving and Christmas too. Christmas weighed in at 43 pound when we got him back from the processor. He barely fit into the oven. If you happen to spy some wild pigs – ours (not wild) were named Bacon and Hammy……in case you needed some more name ides.
Amy says
You could always throw the twigs into a chipper of sorts on a daily basis. Store them in a bucket. Save the shavings and later turn them into fire starters.
Gee says
or chip them and use as mulch.
Robin says
Wild turkeys are fun to watch. We’re on the outskirts of a city and there are a bunch that come around occasionally, following the creek. Saw 11 at one time once. Beautiful feathers. One flew from the top of the ravine up into a tall tree. Didn’t know they could fly that high, though it was from a hilltop and the tree trunk came from the ravine bottom. 🙂 The only other time I saw one fly was unfortunately on a local highway – flew from a hillside into the path of the car in front of me. The poor thing’s body shot straight up then rolled past me into the median. The other driver pulled over and I did too to see if she needed assistance, but she was fine and already on the phone. I keep an eye out for turkeys near the road now.
Torry says
Robin, reading for meaning is so important. I stress that to my students daily. So I had to laugh when I thought you pulled over to see about the turkey and “she was fine and already on the phone.” Snicker. I reread to clarify, just like I tell the children to do. Oh, the other driver.
Oops!
Sue says
I heard a story just like this and coincidentally it also involved wild turkeys. A coworker was late to a meeting and she said it was because she saw turkeys on the way to town. Someone else in the meeting couldn’t help asking how she was so sure that the turkeys were going to town… *snicker*
april says
Your yard looks like a dream! This post reminded me of a book my children love called Too Many Turkeys. It’s about a man dealing with wild turkeys taking over his wife’s garden while she’s away. He starts with one pet turkey and by the end of the book the whole neighborhood has one! It’s quite a hilarious story.
Tracy says
Yep, the plant is a sedum, although it’s way too early to confirm whether it’s Autumn Joy, Neon, Brilliance or any of the other 8 zillion varieties. They’re fabulous, low care plants that are incredibly cold hardy. Sedums can be divided easily, or, as another poster mentioned, transplanted. Their flowers are anything from dark burgundy to a true neon candy pink. I even have one that is pale yellow. One tip– don’t fertilize any sedums. If you do, they’ll get some quick growing top growth and the plant will split and flop. Their very thick fleshy stems are self supporting as long as they’re in fairly lean soil.
Mavis, I don’t want to squash your enthusiasm, (which is very fun to watch), but please figure out how you’re going to handle deer. I guarantee your veggies ( as well as any annual flowers…deer don’t eat sedums, which may be why you have so many, and why your berry plants are varieties that have a ton of thorns) will get mowed down one night from deer. Fencing is the only way. I just don’t want to see all your hard work snuffed!
Patti says
Yes, sedum. Pollinators love it. Wait till those turkeys bring their babies to your yard…We haves moved a lot, but we had the best birds in Ct, all of the regulars, but Orioles, towhees, tanagers, Buntings, HB…It was beautiful, but I prefer the climate of Florida where we currently reside.
PSU06VAL says
Looks like serum Magus! Love this new chapter!
PSU06VAL says
Doh. Spell check. Mavis *
Lisa-Marie says
Looks like things are coming together!
We too have loads of wild turkey here. One afternoon I counted 37 in my orchard. We see turkey here almost everyday.
I pick up twigs and put them in a box and in old paper bags, flour bags, potato sacks, and I pick a bag full or more everywhere almost every day all summer and fall,so when the snows are flying I have a ton of kindling. I also save all old newspapers (nothing shiny or plastic), and pine cones. I have an Oval cookstove in my kitchen too so the smaller kindling comes in handy to get the fire going there. We have 5 working fireplaces including my beehive oven. So getting kindling is almost a hobby! Lol!
I see you have the same color on your house as my barn. I love it.
Always fun to see what’s growing at the neighbors place! :))
Brenda P says
One more thing about the plant that is sedum. It is also called Live Forever. So “Welcome to your Forever Home” in more ways than one!! My grandma always had it and so have I. Love it! Love your blog as well.
CA says
Yep, Sedum, very attractive, hardy plant. That being said the next comments are not so positive. I live in the Northern California foothills. The wild turkey population has taken over. They ruin gardens by rolling in the freshly cultivated dirt and peck off whatever tasty morsel is to their liking. Also, deer are abundant here. They love to take a nibble of a tomato and then move on to the next. Good thing you have a dog. Better let Lucy out early and often. Sorry to be a downer, but your romantic thoughts about wild turkeys and deer fall short in my area. i’m sure many of your readers will say”plant extra” but it sure doesn’t work out here. Tall, deer proof fences are the norm in my area of California. I sure enjoy your blog. Thanks! CA
Wendy says
Hi Mavis, with all that wildlife (I’m sure there are deer out there too) you will definitely need to set up a fence. The first year I planted a huge garden without one (Massachusetts) and it was decimated. Not only did the deer take a liking to tomato plants, but the woodchuck and rabbits ate just about everything else. We now have a 4-foot tall chicken wire fence (it goes down to the ground and then out two feet, the critters will dig where the fence hits the ground and will just hit more wire fence), and all that is surrounded by an electric fence specifically for the deer (not noticeable on the electric bill at all, and not dangerous to the deer, pets or people). Garden has been great ever since!
Sluggy says
Wild turkeys roost in high trees and then go down to a water source to feed during the day. You must be between water and this flock so you’ll see them go in one direction early and the opposite direction at dusk. Ask me how I know. lolz
Back when we heated with a wood stove we use to store our kindling in a large garbage can outside weighted down with a couple of bricks in the bottom.
Janet says
Mavis, the first plant after the photo of you making a stick teepee is a sedum. Prob autumn joyand they are awesome, butterflies love them. You could divide them and and transplant now or in fall. At 4th of July pinch them back by half their height and then they will stand up still when they bloom instead of bending over and showing a bare spot in center. Leave the flowers standing to dry out and then all winter for interest and you can break off the stems about now then by hand. The stems standing all winter will provide a bit of snow tentingto protect the plant underground during the freeze and unfreee cycle of winter. Can you tell that I love these?
Rose says
Janet, I was going to pop on to say the exact same thing. I always have butterflies on my autumn joy (Sedum spectabile).
Enjoy!
renay says
HA!!! At my moms ranch they have donkeys that help keep the coyotes away from the cows. People ask what their names are and she always says the name of the person and spouse she is talking to. HA! Those turkeys sure are pretty birds. Also, my mom does have guinea fowl and chickens. She likes both!~
C says
Sedum Autumn Joy
Julie says
The sedum is indeed beautiful when it blooms it’s kind of a light red color and by the time fall is well on its way it gets darker and darker and darker and brings hundreds of little butterflies!! Beautiful!!!
Lace Faerie says
It must be so exciting, invigorating to discover all the secrets of the garden of your dream home! And turkeys? How cool! I wonder if geese would be valuable at keeping other animals out of your yard. We gave my Grandma a pair of Gray African goslings for Mother’s Day gift when I was little. Believe me, no one stepped onto our cleared land without them announcing guests, sounding the alarm when hawks were near, and chasing away cats, dogs and once saw them bully one the horses away from the mud near the horse troughs!
I always enjoy these posts! I hope you’ll keep sharing! Oh, and I pick up sticks and put them into lunch bags I keep in the shed for our small backyard fireplace. It makes my HH chuckle but he never declines using them! 😉
E in Upstate NY says
When I was a kid, we’d destroy the neighbor’s sedum by carefully picking a leaf as close to the stem as possible. Then carefully squeeze the leaf between our fingers. If we were careful enough and have no “oops,” the inside would juice leaving the outside layer. Blow on the stem and we’d have little green balloons with which to play.
Libby says
Turkey hunting season is typically one month in spring and 2-3 months in the fall in New England. Turkeys are NOT the sharpest-knife-in-the-drawer animal.
I’m wondering if you have considered getting a wildlife camera? It would be fascinating to see what other creatures are on your property, particularly at night.
The patio looks awesome!
Steffi says
This Kind of sedum we call in Germany „Fette Henne“ i have this in my garden they get beautiful shade of rose-pink
Carrie says
We keep our little sticks for our fire pit in a garbage can that has a lid and has wheels. Thanks!
Vicki in Birmingham says
The Guinea Fowl may still be a good idea Mavis…specially with your plans on having chickens. My mom grew up out in the country and they always had them. She said they were much better “watch dogs” than the dogs were and set off their “alarm” when anything was around that may cause trouble for the rest of the animals. Plus, they lay eggs too!
I am loving your new home but even loving more the fact that I can tell that you seem genuinely content and happy. Who on earth can ask for more than that in this life?
May you be the motivation for all the rest of us to find our dreams…whatever and wherever they may lead us.
Thank you Mavis.
l bryant says
Thanks for all the posts. I enjoy reading about your new place. In the picture you posted it shows the chicken coop near the back fence. Are you keeping the birds there in the daytime only? With your proximity to woods if you leave them in that structure at night they will become prey for raccoons, foxes, and any other small predators in your area. The coop you installed will not keep them out and almost all of these predators hunt at night. I know you said you are planning a “real coop. Please keep in mind they will tear through anything other than wood, metal, class and rock and can tunnel under quite easily. We raise chickens in a more rural area like you. I would set up a trail camera for the area that you intend to use and then add some corn or chicken feed in a bowl and see who shows up over a week to 10 day period to determine what may see your new chickens as dinner!!!
Lisa Rostocki says
I was thinking the same thing. There are many things that would tear through that chicken coop and devour those poor birds. That certainly is not enough protection for night time.
Denise Soderlind says
I think the plant you what identified is a beautiful ground cover called Hens and Chicks. A succellent that gets a spike flower. If it is then it requires little maintenance to survive.
Linda says
Those are sedium, I have them in the yard. Mine turn hot pink in the fall. I hear they divide easy but I haven’t tried. They are green, have texture of a rubber plant. Your yard is nice. I’ve never lived in the East- that is only place in the U.S. that I’ve not been.
Pat says
I’m not sure what state you’re in but it’s turkey hunting season in WV. We usually have around 20 in the orchard. Wait until they bring their adorable little fluff balls into your yard! I had mentioned an electric fence in a comment on a previous post and I just read a comment about it not making any difference in your electric bill. Ours is connected to a battery and we just flip a switch at the gate when we want to turn it off. I know others who have solar ones and some hooked up at the house. Lots of options. I’m loving the glimpses of your forever home!
Leslie says
I think it might be pachysandra! Not sure about my spelling there.
Danni says
Autumn sedum. Smells nice. Late summer color. Bees like it. Bushes look like blueberry with the red twigs.
TERRY COMPTON-FRIEDEMANN says
Thank you everyone for confirming the sedum. We are coming into our second spring here in Western Montana and I am making the tough choices of what goes and what stays. Yesterday I dug up two particularly ugly bushes that hadn’t done much last year, and so out they went. But as I worked my way around the yard, I came upon two plants that look like your pic, Mavis.
I will be keeping the sedum, but I think I may move it.
Oh, and I had an idea regarding all your twigs, Mavis. You could tie string or twine around small bunches of twigs, and come fall and winter those bundles of twigs can sit in baskets near your woodstove. Just an idea.
Love the pics of your new house. I’m excited to see what grows in your garden this year.