Welcome back to another episode of Longview Alive! I'm Jessi Stead, your enthusiastic, underqualified, and unlicensed nature guide here at Longview Farm. Thanks for spending the next few minutes with me as we explore the latest wild happenings in our little corner of the natural world.
This is the first episode with its own 1-take podcast recording. Follow along if you like.
🌼 Summer is Blooming
The summer heat has officially arrived, and with it, a burst of color across the farm. My herb garden tomatoes are showing off their yellow flowers, since I've been diligently watering and pruning them.
I’ve been amazed at how many plants I don’t recognize as they mature.
Letting our fields grow fallow has revealed wild onions and wild carrot flowers - better known as Queen Anne’s Lace.
Around the barn, the Virginia creepers are making a comeback. These native plants will soon turn a stunning red in the fall, and we’re happy to let them grow freely, knowing they are not invasive.
Nocino Workshop Highlights
Last Saturday, we hosted our Nocino workshop where we gathered green walnuts from our black walnut trees to make a delicious holiday liqueur. If you missed it, don’t worry—there will be a part two workshop before the holidays and a final reveal event. Stay tuned!
Next to our walnut trees is a mysterious tree with spiky green balls—terrible to step on in the fall once they dry out and turn brown! Will you help me ID them?
🦋 Cultivating Native Species
One plant in particular is perfect for pollinators… Milkweed! It’s easy to spot with its pink, bulbous flowers and I’ve seen a number of happy butterflies and bees buzzing around them. We’re careful to mow around them so they can continue to provide a natural habitat for our flying friends.
We’re cultivating jackfruit pawpaw trees, which produce a tropical-flavored fruit that surprises locals when they discover that it is in fact native to PA.
🍇 Berry Watch
Last week, I mistakenly identified a young blackberry as a wineberry—oops! Turns out we have >1 blackberry bush! Here’s a closer look at the wineberry bush (on the left), poison ivy (middle), and blackberry foliage (on the right.)
Plan your visit to Longview Farm for Wineberry season is just around the corner!
When you visit, bring your own basket and watch your step—those wineberry bushes are prickly! Expect about a week and a half of ripening, especially in shady spots. We’ll mark paths and clear poison ivy to make berry picking safe and fun.
I successfully made jam with the mulberries we picked last week - mulberries are naturally full of pectin so I just added sugar and lemon juice. I cannot wait to do the same with the wineberries!
🎨 Support the Farm and Gallery
This Saturday is the last day of Shayna Parker’s show, and next week we’re excited to open “Kami: Interpreting the Beauty of Nature through Three Generations” featuring Kiya Nicole, Miho, and Eiko Khan.
Join us for the opening reception on the first Saturday in July (July 5th) from 5–8 PM. Refreshments will be served!
Please consider supporting Longview Farm and our gallery by purchasing merch or artwork from our website: longview.gallery
Until next time, take care and see you soon!
🌻 Jessi
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