DO NOT TELL, because it’s a secret, but not all parts of the farm are currently gorgeous.

Many are. Many are stunning. Just not ALL.

See, Cairns Farm is a nut-free property. No ground nuts. No tree nuts. On purpose. One of our kiddos experiences life-threatening allergies to nuts, so a nut-free place to play and breathe is necessary. But once upon a time — say, the day before we completed the property purchase — Cairns Farm was nut-full. Huge walnut trees. Sporadic hazelnut trees. So Job #1 on the farm was removing them, and, while the tree folks were there, trimming the ancient oak trees for health and safety and brush mowing to remove runaway blackberries and unsightly weeds.

All of which is to say, we removed some plants from Cairns Farm a few months ago, and, now that Spring is upon us, it’s time to replace them and start filling in a few holes.

Nana and Kim spent hours researching local plants ahead of the annual native plant sale, purchased dozens, and on Saturday, we spent the day putting tiny bits of hope in the soil.

Cousin Planting School was upon us, Kim showing the minions how to hold our plant babies…

…dig deep enough for roots to flourish…

…and lay them carefully in the ground.

This little bit of earth is brown and barren right now.

But it won’t be for long.

Our little things are resting now.

But they’ll be grown before you know it.

P.S. Some of the trees and shrubs we planted, for those of you interested in specifics, are California Victoria lilac, ocean spray, Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, Oregon grape, pacific madrone, vine maple, Nootka rose, red flowering currant, white alder, pacific dogwood, red osier dogwood, Indian plum, serviceberry, kinnick kinnick, pacific wax myrtle, sunflower maximillian, and, honestly, a lot more I can’t remember.