Orel B&B Gardens

When visiting the Orel B&B, don't forget to check out the gardens!

January 4 , 2007

Lori's knee injury interfered with a lot of planting in 2006. Tomatoes had a weak harvest, and a fungus knocked out the cucumbers early. An exceptionally warm December has kept the broccoli alive through the new year. After a very weak apple harvest in 2005, resulting in just 8 pressings for 2604 ounces (326 average, 20.3 gallons) with the last pressing in October, 2006 went much better: 17 pressings for 6251 ounces (368 average, 48.8 gallons). This concludes a full decade of apple pressing! During that time, we have now pressed slightly more than 350 gallons. At current local prices, the press has now paid for itself several times over... of course, the real benefit is in the drinking. And the making.

As of January 4, the ground has not yet frozen, so fall plantings could heave and all kinds of havoc could be visited on spring items. The crocus plants are already coming up.

December 25, 2004

An unusually bad year for allergies, and it's just about over. Tomatoes were great again this year, we still have a few left. Got mentioned in The Detroit Free Press, third year in a row, for early tomato harvest (June 6). Cukes and onions finally gone earlier this month. Apples had a great start, but ended early with not as much as last year -- last pressing was November 15, earliest closing yet.

Final tallies: 2003 - 18 pressings, 7515 ounces (418 average, 58.7 gallons); 2004 - 14 pressings, 6038 ounces (431 ounces, 47.2 gallons).

Highlight of the year -- hosting the cub scouts to pick apples and press cider. The bees even stayed away.

September 30, 2003

First entry since Elianna was born!
Catching up: Cider tallies, year-by-year, to date:

That 2003 total is just through September! And that's with only one pressing from the transparents. Makes up a little bit for the disaster that was 2002, when we finally ran out of cider and had to... buy it. Late dusting of frost on June 1 nearly did us in again, but fortunately all it did was very mild damage to the cherries this time around. Our four-month warm season appears to be over - frost could hit as early as tonight, almost for sure by tomorrow. Lori is determined to keep up with the apples this year so we don't have to toss so many, she's also figured out how many we can use before overflow conditions ensue. So far, it's worked -- the apples a fresher and juicier.

Cider has been amazing, and we are already running out of freezer space. We won the Detroit Free Press early tomato contest again, whatever the writer there calls it. 2nd year in a row, first tomato June 24th this year, 4 days earlier than last year. Not quite like the year we got our first in May, but it'll do. A blight is hitting them lately, so we're not overloaded as we usually are headed in to the frost. Hopefully we can hold on a bit longer, many many hot peppers still need to ripen, as do some eggplants. The pole beans went wild, as did the asparagus before them. And, for the first time in 4 years, we got a broccoli crop -- and it is still coming with the side chutes (a major mistake we made last time, pulling up the plants too soon).

Cherries made up for a virtual wipe-out in 2002. A cool spring meant a late harvest, so we were still picking in to mid-July, and with vacuum packing we were able to eat them into mid-August. Also able to dry them for the first time since 1999. Raspberries did well, but virtually nothing from the replacement strawberry plants.

Our first real horseradish harvest cleared sinuses all the way through Ohio to New Jersey.

And, for the first time in a bunch of years, we are loaded with pears.

March 29, 2001

Starting the garden for 2001. We still have pesto and jalapeños and chili peppers from 1999 in the freezer, but at least we finished the green sauce. 2000 cider tally: 22 pressings, 5801 ounces, or about 45 gallons. Much of which is still in the freezer. The canteloupes never made it last year. The ground is still frozen. No February lettuce this year, probably none in March, either.

August 26, 2000

Cider laster until November 28, 1999; final tally 4134 ounces, or 32 something gallons, in 18 pressings. Juice lasted until July 1. The transparents went nuts this year, so we started in July; we discovered overnight dripping and will pass 20 gallons upon next pressing. The cold frame enabled us to keep letuce alive through the winter and harvest in February -- another new experience. Rabbits and ground hogs decimated the beans and broccoli this year, and nearly offed a large portion of the basil, but we are recovering. Trico got a baby rabbit the other night. Aaron insisted on watching the kill -- and the consumption. "Momma, the rabbit doesn't have eyes anymore!" Japanese eggplant bonanza this year, and tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes! We still have green tomato sauce and pesto and jalapeños and chili peppers from last year in the freezer. Can summer already be almost over? The canteloupes are still flowers, it just doesn't seem fair.

November 16, 1999

Summer has come and gone. Strawberries and cherries ripened on the same day, and cherries lasted for nearly 4 weeks, spanning all of June. We were still picking strawberries as of November 14th, but tonight's temperature may kill them off. The vegetable garden was a delightful mess this year. The tomato plants were too close together, making the picking a real adventure. This was the first year for broccoli, and it was fantastic. Eggplants also went wild. We skipped cayenne peppers this year, but still did Italian and jalapeños and bells. Corn came quickly and was eaten nearly as quickly. The apples came early and often -- we're over 30 gallons of pressing and not quite done yet. And, yes, we got the bigger cider press. The pears didn't do quite as well. The wood wall around the pool finally came down, and we capped the shorter brick wall, a great result which should have a great effect when the weather warms up again next year. Aaron has become an enthusiastic swimmer, well, sometimes, anyway.

April 25, 1999

Been a busy year. 1998 fall came suddenly; we missed the first frost during a trip and scrambled to save tomatoes. We also learned how to make green tomato sauce, out of necessity. Hard frost didn't hit until very late, though; we were picking strawberries on December 20! The final tally for cider was 3416 ounces, or 26.7 gallons, in 23 pressings. We may get a bigger press this year. Spring is later so far this year. We finally cleaned up the raspberry bushes today. We started harvested green and red leaf lettuce and chives within the past two weeks. And the pool opens next week!

August 4, 1998

We chased away the ground hog with kitty litter. At least, that's what we think. The pool is finally open again, and it is great! Strawberries are on their second crop. The first apple tree came and went, and we've already pressed about 4 gallons of cider. The other apple trees are starting to come ready. Lots of corn, though not all stalks produced. And, eggplant! A giant, giant eggplant picked a few days ago, we fried it in our own beer batter. And the jalapeños are turning red!

June 29, 1998

Cherries are finished. The pool is under construction. A groundhog is eating most of the garden. I hit a groundhog by accident on the road today, and didn't even feel sorry. At least the raspberries are wonderful! And it is hot. Very hot. And we have no pool. Cry us a river.

May 31, 1998

May. We have been picking lettuce and spinach chives for more than a month. The daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and even peonies have all come and gone, and the asparagus is just about finished. We are picking cherries. Strawberries came in yesterday, and we picked our first tomato today. Did I mention that it's May, and that we are in Michigan?

May 9, 1998

There was no snow in February. The last frost was some time ago. Corn planted today; we have had chives for a month. Fresh asparagus is plentiful. Lori built a cold frame and we have been harvesting nok choy, lettuce and spinach since early April. The fruit trees all look primed for a major crop this year. Irises bloomed two days ago. A remarkable year, so far. We have opened the pool, but there is a leak. May need to do major work.

January 22, 1998

El niño winter. Some days in the '50's, but snow today. There are still apples in the refrigerator, though they'll probably be gone by end of January. Still enough to bring to work and make friends, though! The new press arrived after two weeks, and we still have one container of frozen cider in the freezer; our final tally was 1,137 ounces of cider (8.88 gallons) in 13 pressings. The tomatoes lasted until late December.

October 24, 1997

What a strange summer. The lettuce lasted until August, but the second crop never came. The first half of August was cold, which was very hard on some plants. The canteloupe totally stalled, and the cucumbers were overcome by beetles. Tomatoes didn't arrive until well into August, and it was September before the peppers showed up. Then everything went totally wild. Tomatoes, Peppers of all sorts, and the second strawberry harvest. The apple trees rewarded us with so much fruit that we bought an apple press, and were making cider twice a week until the press broke!! We'll get a new one, but meanwhile we have about 100 pounds of apples sitting in the basement. I bring in a bag for team members at work every Thursday, and have become very popular. Our refrigerator is stuffed with apples. Apples, apples, everywhere.

With the first week of October, we got an unusual warm spell, which caused a ripening of tomatoes, peppers and strawberries that far exceeded expectations. We pulled the basil a few days ago, and the tomatoes, peppers and beans will come down in a couple of days, but there's not much left. I also came up with a wonderful risotto recipe, based loosely on a Moosewood recipe, that used home grown orange and chili peppers, tomatoes, green beans, and home made pesto. Email for the recipe!

July 16, 1997

Cherries lasted into July 4 weekend, easily the latest ever! The truly hot weather didn't arrive until June 25, so there are some unusual conditions this year. The lettuce hasn't bolted yet, cucumbers and pea pods are ready, and both strawberries and raspberries are plentiful. The day lillies have finally started blooming, and are becoming really spectacular...

June 6, 1997

Winter is finally over. June 6, and we can finally say that. There are still blooms on the Magnolia, and the chives are wonderful. Everything else is very late. Cherries may come in July. We have not used the pool yet, the weather only turned warm on June 4. The pear tree didn't have many flowers this year; I guess the concert wiped it out. All plants are planted as of yesterday.

As of October 31, 1996:

Last night was it. Took down the tomatoes. 16 pounds in the paper bags. Last of the peppers. Last of the beans. Lettuce is still covered, hopefully we won't lose it tonight. Still hoping for more raspberries and strawberries. Another year gone.

As of October 4, 1996:

Last night was our first frost of the season. Everything got covered, but our covering for the basil failed. Cukes are finished, and apples are mostly gone. Pears are still going strong, we supplied about 20 pounds to performers and crew at last week's Woody Guthrie tribute concert in Cleveland. The new crop of lettuce and spinach is ready, so we can finally do a full salad from the garden. The tomatoes are holding on, we'll have to pick them soon.

As of September 5, 1996:

We are currently harvesting a pint and a half of strawberries a day, as well as about 20 tomatoes, and many green beans and cucumbers. One apple tree has come and gone, and the others are starting. Pears are also starting, a bit early this year. Final corn score was Orels 28, skunks 10. Vigil was kept nighlty during August, and skunks only got two more ears, one of which was bad, anyway.

As of August 8, 1996:

Sometimes I feel sorry for people who live in cities. To harvest is to live. Heat wave this week, the tomatoes are finally coming in. Strawberries, strawberries, strawberries!!!. How did we live off store-bought produce? I don't know, but I love harvesting season! Latest score: Orels 21, skunks 8.

As of July 28, 1996:

The Enemy:

We have corn, and we are at war! The foes are our two otherwise friendly skunks. So far, the score is 13 ears for us, 7 ears for them. Please, if you know how to get them to eat more birdseed instead, send us email! Raspberries have come and almost gone, the second crop of strawberries is about to start, and most of the major veggies are here are near. Yellow beans, cucumbers, chili and jalapeno peppers are all here, tomatoes will be ready within the week -- and what's attacking the romas?. And, the real shocker, we have ripe apples! We don't understand, and haven't figured out the variety, but we don't mind.

As of June 27, 1996:

The weather is still weird. 90 one day, 60 the next. The peonies came and went. Lettuce is out, still picking! Strawberries arrived on June 23. The cherry trees yielded one edible cherry this year, after yielding 3 or 4 pounds a day last year. Hopefully, raspberries will be out soon; tomatoes are just starting to take form. Some of our old favorites made it back, inclduing the fever few...

As of June 5, 1996:

Weird year. Many things died over the winter, we mourn the loss of the silver lace vine. Peonies are ready to burst open, irises are in bloom! Lettuce and spinach ready for picking, some tulips still open, and the magnolia is still open, too. Weird year.

As of May 17, 1996:

May 15? Did I say May 15? Yeah, well it snowed on F***ing Mother's Day!! We recommend the wall of water system to protect tomatoes, it works very well.

Planting day will be tomorrow, May 18.

Flowers!

Flowers have arrived in Michigan! The tulips are out, as are the daffodils, and trllium, too, and I don't have any pictures yet. ;-( The magnolia has survived the winter, and finally bloomed on May 17. The Cherry blossoms have arrived; we are waiting on the apples and pears. More to come...

As of April 27, 1996:

Growing season has arrived! Vegetables are under grow lights now, and should be in the ground around May 15. Birds have returned, the blue heron rookery nearby has been very active.

As of November 5, 1995:

Two recent frosts, on September 22 and October 18, have conspired to eliminate most of the flowers. A hard frost on November 3 finally knocked out the tomatoes and peppers, but not before we harvested 45 pounds of tomatoes in a last hurrah! They'll be ripening in the basement until sometime in 1996, most likely. The peppers will try to survive indoors.

The tree fruits are mostly finished, except the last of the apples. The last pears were eaten by four-legged poachers on November 4.

That's about all for the 1995 growing season. If you're into gardening, check out the virtual garden! We recommend it!

Sightings at/under the birdfeeders:

grackles
red-winged blackbirds
mallards
robins
goldfinches
housefinches
cardinals
morning doves
tufted titmouse
blue jays
chickadees
pine siskins
woodpeckers

Pool Conditions

Pool open. Pool wonderful. Pool blue. Pool warm.