Hi, April! The Latest News from Farm & Larder and Bella Luna Farms

The classic adage is true: April showers are indeed bringing flowers this spring as the recent rain showers have kick-started the flower beds here at Bella Luna, with early daffodils and tulips beginning to make their appearance. As we are busy both indoors during drippy days and outside during the warm sun breaks, there are lots of developments to share:

Nestled amongst a sea of vibrant daffodils, other flowers have also begun to bud and blossom, including the rhododendrons, hellebores, and primroses, as well as evergreen huckleberries and hot pink salmonberry flowers—a favorite snack of the girls, both feathered and furred. The many fruit trees—apples, pears, plums and cherries—are all in bud or in bloom. Spring is also in full swing in the vegetable garden, where we have been planting like mad, getting the first sweet peas, onions and garlic starts into the ground, as well as early spring lettuces, Swiss chard and cabbages. The herbs continue to grow apace in the walled garden, kissing the air with the savory scents of thyme, parsley and chives.

The many bright and cheery blossoms are not the only new arrivals: Dave and Beth Richards of Woodinville’s Johnny Applebees LLC have installed several of their specialized orchard mason bee houses in sunny, south-facing spots here at the farm to help with crop pollination. Mason orchard bees nest in reeds and natural holes, hence the design of their handmade cedar “houses” which are filled with natural reed tubes. These busy, non-stinging bees are considered nature’s ‘super’ pollinators and as such are a very welcome addition to the farm.

We will have more news to share with you soon as spring continues, including information on the launch of our new weekly subscription options. As we know that one size does not necessarily fit all, we will soon begin to offer two different size boxes (the current option, plus a scaled-down version for smaller households!), as well a la carte options for those weeks when you need to add a few more items to your delivery. More details to come in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

As always, we wish you the best this season and hope you too are enjoying a bountiful spring!