Wildflowers

Spring 2020 is Now Known as the COVID-19 Spring

May 22, 2020 By Shannons Farms Leave a Comment

All this hibernating, er, quarantining, at home has not felt like too much change for us although it does give Ernie and me more time to get out and enjoy the beauty of Shannon’s Farms! Here are some much delayed pictures of recent goings-on at the farm. We’ve been working on enhancing the pond, repairing fences, and playing with the dirt (i.e., compost!). We’ve also been enjoying our bluebird families, rabbit families, painted bunting couple, and mourning doves, cardinals and other songbirds! Enjoy and stay safe! – Becky

Filed Under: Latest News, Photo Galleries Tagged With: birds, bunnies, compost, farm, spring, tractor, Wildflowers

Spring on the Farm! 20 March 2017

March 25, 2017 By Shannons Farms Leave a Comment

A few pictures from Shannon’s Farms:

A small raised garden area started for our personal needs, and a shallow-till area where Spring flower seed have been broadcast.

From 2016 – a collard plant that was left (others were pulled, processed and in our freezer as foodstuff) for “going to seed” – look closely and see the happy honey bee!

2016 – the year we reseeded Texas native wildflowers. We do this every few years to keep them strongly present. Here is our first early “full grown” bluebonnet!

Right on time: flowers, dozens of a trumpet vine variety, planted here at Shannon’s Farms 16 years ago, growing to maturity soon to be food for the migrating early Spring hummingbirds. Also look closely and see the big black & yellow bumble bee!

Dozens of wild plums in our strongly wooded 2-3 acres are blooming extra-well this year; hopefully, soon making fruit for the creatures!

Blooming blackberry white blooms soon to be fruit shared with hungry mockingbirds here at Shannon’s Farms.

Blooming bluebonnets spilling over from Shannon’s Farms onto the roadside on Terry Lane.

Filed Under: Latest News, Photo Galleries Tagged With: blooming trees, bluebonnets, farm, garden, spring, trees, Wildflowers

Pre-Spring 2017 Update

January 18, 2017 By Shannons Farms Leave a Comment

Quick pre-Spring check:

Pre-Spring pictures — a freshly planted Granny Smith apple tree, heavily mulched fig trees with lots of new young growth (hopefully no extreme hard killer freeze in our future) with a few “puppy dog feet” (bluebonnets) in the foreground, and our newly created wildflower bed adding to the continued enrichment of our wildlife management area, an ongoing process here at Shannon’s Farms.

Pecan tree update: 60+ trees are now growing at Shannon’s Farms and less than ten of those are volunteers leaving a good balance of more than 50 pecan trees of varying age and size that we have been successful planting here at Shannon’s Farms. (The squirrels can hardly wait! 🙂 )

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: blooming trees, farm, pecans, spring, trees, Wildflowers

A Winter’s Solstice Message

December 24, 2015 By Shannons Farms Leave a Comment

With the Winter Solstice here and gone for 2015, a message from Shannon’s Farms seems in order!

A 15 December 2015 picture taken of the late standing Maximillian sunflower, usually one of the very last here at the farm to show its wildflower colors.

Shared also are pictures of the processing of food scraps (very little is wasted here at the farm) for another composting heap. This processing attempts to keep us “ahead of the curve”, ensuring an adequate supply of organic enrichment materials (natural fertilizers, if you prefer) for our ongoing challenge of making for the better our gardening spots.

And finally, Merry Christmas to everyone! May the New Year bring you health, happiness, and much love.

Ernie, Becky, Shannon and Benjamin

Filed Under: Latest News, Photo Galleries Tagged With: compost, farm, Wildflowers, winter chores

Gratitude from the Porch

June 22, 2014 By Shannons Farms Leave a Comment

As I sit here this Sunday morning, a light rain is falling. I hear my two hens growling in their coop – they want to be outside in it, I guess! Ernie and I are so thankful for all that God has given us to watch over and nourish here at Shannon’s Farms and in life in general. And it gives back to us in so many ways! The solstice day yesterday was beautiful here! Here are a few pictures from the farm taken over the past few weeks. Happy Sunday!