Native Plants and Food

A busy week with work (lavender farm and cat sitting) and cross county practice (Addie only) for the kiddos and Amy had a work trip to Buffalo.  We hope everyone is enjoying summer!!

Pictures from an Urban Nursery that is located in an industrial section of the City of Buffalo and is right along the Buffalo River.  Urban restoration methods have different considerations from our home gardens: poor soil (lack of nutrients, debris, fill) and sometimes land activity restrictions due to contaminated soil.  A few similar considerations include deer/rabbit browse and invasive plant species.

A labyrinth with native plants adjacent to grain silos along the river.

A shady area made by bending willow branches along metal.  Presentations to school age kiddos take place within the tree trellis.

View of the center looking up.

Another area of native plants that incorporates art: Again.

An amazing cotton wood tree!

Another restoration site along the Niagara River at a City of Buffalo Park (another Ralph Wilson park is located in Detroit). The larger excavator (left) is using the largest "claw" in the US for this project.  Large rock is needed to withstand the wind/wave erosion in the area. 

One section of the habitat restoration with the City of Buffalo in the background.

On Saturday, Ayson and Adam made homemade General Tso's chicken.  They even double fried the chicken!

 Ayson came to the garden to show Amy his amazing meal (our friend Kate took the pics of Ayson :)

Adam asked Addie what she wanted to eat over the weekend and Addie replied "pulled pork!"  Adam showing Addie the progress at the smoker.

Yum!

Sunflowers that Ms Annie gave to Addie and Amy,

Lots of blooming native plants in our yard from Monday afternoon.

The sky got super dark on Sunday late afternoon but we did not get more than a sprinkle of rain.