The crows that plagued the corn maze last year are apparently off bothering some other farmer. It looks like we’ll have the full six-acre field with a good stand of corn for the maze. We do also have plenty of weeds in the maze field, but we’ve been working hard to control the pesky weeds before they get too big, and it looks like the hard work is paying off. I’m still waiting for the summer heat to arrive. That’s what we need to grow those 10+ -ft corn stalks. I’ve been thinking about this year’s maze theme and design, but I won’t be making any announcements about that for a while.

 The gourds, winter squash, and pumpkins are coming along nicely. I’ve been watching the first flowers appearing in the last couple of weeks. In fact, I’ve already found the first tiny gourds and winter squash forming. Now that we’ve accomplished the first big blitz on the corn maze weeding, it’s time to tackle the big pumpkin field before things get out of control.

 Our first planting of sunflowers is starting to form flower buds, so it looks like we are on track for our Sunflower Celebration in August. Just last Sunday I noticed the tiny sprouts from our last planting, so I’m looking forward to enjoying the sunflowers right up until our October frosts.

 I mention all this because it does seem sometimes that we can never catch up, something I’m sure I share with many of you in your own jobs and home lives.

That’s where our lavender and other herbs and botanicals come into play.

It’s difficult to spend any time in the herb and lavender plantings without pausing to enjoy the pungent aromas and observe the flowers, some subtle, others vibrant. No matter the season, a little time in the herbs can lift one’s spirit. I always enjoy spring in the herbs, as the plants awaken from winter dormancy and sprout new growth. The chamomile bursts into bloom early, drawing us back to the herbs with a cloud of tiny apple-scented flowers.

Then comes July and the lavender bloom, the crowning glory of the herb garden. Of all the herbs and flowers, lavender excels in inviting one to pause and just enjoy the moment.

Of course there is plenty of work to do in the herb plantings. We’ve been harvesting chamomile daily. Weeds are aways returning. The lemon balm, sage, rosemary, peppermint, spearmint, thyme, and probably several other herbs are nearing their first harvest of the year.

I have been concerned about the delay caused by the cold weather, but the Royal Velvet and Maillette lavenders are now blooming. We have already started cutting a little for our own enjoyment. They will be in fine shape this weekend for our Lavender Celebration.

This weekend we are opening the farm so you can come and share our enjoyment of the lavender in bloom. Take a break. Come on down to the farm for some fun and relaxation.

Enjoy the opportunity to stop and smell the lavender.

 ”Dr. Maze”

 (This is the intro letter from our July newsletter. Click here to sign up for the newsletter.)

Much is changing, but some of your favorites will remain.

The partnership that owns the farmland and has operated the farm for the last 10 years has decided to get out of the farming and farmstand business. Instead we will concentrate on renting the land at The South 47 Farm to other farmers and farming organizations. The partnership feels this is the most sustainable way to keep the land in farming.

Carol & I have decided to take on and continue some of our favorite projects as our own family farm, Dr. Maze’s Farm. We will continue the familiar fall harvest farm activities and the teas and the essential oil distillations, and we plan to add even more excitement. Other farmers will be growing vegetables and fruit.

In September and October visit Dr. Maze’s Corn Maze & Pumpkin Farm for harvest time fun! Explore our fabulous mazes, pick a pumpkin from the field, greet the goats and alpacas, shop at the farmstand, take a hayride, and enjoy refreshments. Discover our three dozen varieties of pumpkins and winter squash, as well as gourds, cornstalks & other fall decorative objects.

Visit Dr. Maze’s Botanicals where we create herbal teas, essential oils, mists, and other botanicals from lavender, rosemary, mints, chamomile, and other plants grown right here at the farm. We plan to expand the herb plantings and start production of a variety of new items in addition to our essential oils and hydrosols (herbal mists). We are planning to start with foaming hand soaps, lotion bars, and bath salts. Stop by to see our two hand-made copper stills and check out our selection.

Keep in touch with our website, blog, & twitter to see the new developments.

Here are a few of my favorite crop varieties.

Draw a line to match them with the crop.

If you are stumped, I suggest you do a search, I don’t plan to provide a key. 

Black Cherry                                                        Apple

Blue Lake                                                              Beet

Chioggia                                                                Cherry tomato

German Butterball                                           Cucumber

Miniature White                                                Green bean

Purple Cherokee                                                Heirloom tomato

Zephyr                                                                   Lavender

Royal Velvet                                                       Potato

William’s Pride                                                   Pumpkin

Winter Luxury Pie                                             Summer squash

This is by no means an exhaustive list of my favorites. I didn’t even attempt to add winter squash; I would have to invent a half-dozen subcategories to feature enough of my favorite winter squashes.

Neither are these my only favorite varieties for these crops. On another day, I might favor a different variety, depending on mood and what we were planning for dinner.

There are a lot of other good choices, but if you were limited to a single variety of each crop you grew, the choices here would be an excellent place to start.

Sometimes you just have to have more than one. I love a tomato salad with 3 or 4 different color tomatoes. And you don’t have to sacrifice flavor to get the color.

I can’t really say which gives the greater satisfaction, the anticipation of a long-time favorite variety once again coming back into season, or the anticipation and discovery of a great variety new to me. I plan to keep on enjoying both.