Jewelweed grows near poison ivy, as it’s an antidote.

On a perfect summer day, I recently took pictures of the farm’s grounds, gardens, & orchard. In the late afternoon, the sun hits the orchard from an angle that makes everything in the distance appear illuminated. Given the fragility of local ecosystems, I believe it important to keep with perennials & sustainable planting. So the farm & field host all kinds of wildlife, fauna & flora.

There’s a casual loop with a mowed path to tread, which guides the visitor through various types of verdant & colorful vegetation. Copious types of fruit-bearing & berry-bearing plants, shrubs & trees yield bounty.

The bumblebees love the Joe Pye Weed.

Goldenrod accompanies the Joe Pye Weed in the wildflower field.

Pictures of the farm’s landscape bring me a sense of peace & solace, regardless of the season. There’s something special about seeing the life & colors that renews the introvert’s spirit. The resident wildlife frequently linger in the fields & tour the far edge of walking loop, near the woods. For example, there’s a family of wild turkeys, numerous deer (who are forever going after the apple trees in the orchard), red-tailed hawks, foxes, coywolves, & even a moose. Life in abundance.

One of the perks of so much rain has been the incredibly lush & verdant landscape.

Fleabane, growing near the blacksmith’s shed.

As I walk the paths that encircle the farm, I often take stock of the everyday beauty that surrounds in nature. It’s a privilege to see so many gorgeous & unique blooms, the different greens & textures. In these dog days of summer, early morning or evening are the best times for such a daily constitutional, in particular to beat the heat. Admittedly, I prefer the latter, as dappled sunlight dances to welcome the evening that settles in. There’s magic in the gloaming.

And the orchard saplings sometimes makes me feel impatient. Waiting for the fruit trees to fully mature (it’s been 3-4 years since many were planted) creates precarious situations of husbandry. There are so many pests to ward off, from deer & voles to Japanese beetles, that require organic strategies from neem oil to coyote urine. So many critters attack the trees, so it takes some vigilance to deter them. The apple trees can take up to 5-7 years to start fully producing. It takes sustained diligence.

A better look at the shed, concealed by fleabane & wild growth.

Farther edge of the farm’s property, looking towards the shed & orchard in the distance.

Like so many things in life, I often find myself focusing on short-term sacrifices in order to attain long-term goals. The orchard is no exception. Anything worth having is worth waiting for, so patience is needed to delay gratification. Part of that patience relies on faith, the belief that we’ll eventually reach the goal, a manifestation of all of the hard work invested. (This is a part of my personality, forever setting goals. Not always a good thing.)

Fellow introverts, what inspires you? What major goals have required the discipline to resist immediate satisfaction in order to gain something much bigger, more magical? What places in nature help you take stock of what’s important?

Tiger lilies grow in the field.

Black-eyed Susans.