Tags
A Writer's Garden, Author Catherine Castle's garden blog, Christian fiction, Elle E. Kay, Endless Mountain series, gardening and goats, Rose of Sharon
Elle E. Kay is the gardener author on today’s A Writer’s Garden, and she’ll be talking about her four-footed visitors who also love her garden. Welcome, Elle.
Gardening and Goats
by Elle E. Kay
The Rose of Sharon is in bloom. It is beyond beautiful. The blooms capture my attention every time I walk by on my way. Unfortunately, they attract the attention of our nine goats and three sheep too. As do most other attempts I’ve made to garden. I’ve tried hanging baskets, which they try their best to eat from. I’ve tried fenced area, which they’ve maneuvered their way into.
This year, we’ve spent most of the summer house hunting. Looking for a house with large pastures where we can keep the animals closed in. As much as I like them visiting the porch and coming to the backdoor, I look forward to a new home where my gardens can once again flourish. I love watching the hummingbirds take a drink from the flowers in the hanging baskets on the porch. I love seeing the bees steal the nectar from the perennials out front. And I love the birds that make homes in the trees and come down to eat at the feeders. I loved my water garden with the blooming water lilies.
My gardens are a comfort to me. I look forward to bringing them back to their former glory, without having to give up the simple companionable pleasure the goats bring. So, hopefully, we will find the property we’re searching for where we can strike the proper balance. I will dig up some of my favorite perennials to take with me, but the Rose of Sharon will probably have to stay.
About the Gardener Author:
Elle E. Kay lives on a farmette in the Back Mountain region of Pennsylvania. She is a born-again Bible believing Christian.
She loves keeping perennial gardens. She enjoys the wildflowers strewn about her property as well.
Stella was her debut novel. Claudia, the next book in the Endless Mountain Series, is expected to be released later this year, with Sofie following shortly after. Elle writes children’s books under the pen name, Ellie Mae Kay.
Her website is updated with the latest information about her upcoming books. http://www.elleekay.com/. She also has a blog, where she writes mostly devotional posts based on traditional hymns http://www.elleekay.com/blog/. Elle is on most social media platforms.
Stella
After an encounter that leaves her petrified, Stella faces her stark reality. Can she find the faith she needs to persevere? Jason is a complication she’d rather not deal with. Can she trust him? Something is awry in Stella’s world. When she is abducted will anyone hear her cries?
A Christian romantic suspense about a young woman battling to find her faith in the midst of struggle. It deals with the heavy subjects of rape, pregnancy, and kidnapping through a lens of faith and hope.
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15016833.Elle_E_Kay
Catherine Castle 
Elle, you brought up images as I read your post. I have particularly enjoyed the Rose of Sharon in the yards we pass as we take our mountain and river drives. The farmer down the way said he gave up on goats and went to sheep because goats could always find a way out. We’ve had more hummingbirds this year and laugh as they chase each other away from our feeder. I hope you find the perfect place for gardening, goats, and sheep, Elle.
I’ve heard that goats always find a way out… it hasn’t happened yet with our pygmies, but it is a frequent complaint in the goat community. I think it’s usually the males trying to get to the females, but most of the time we don’t keep males around, so we haven’t experienced it.
My brother and sister-in-law have goats and she complains about the same thing!
I’ll bet she does! 😀
Pingback: A Writer’s Garden–Elle E. Kay Talks Gardens and Goats – Ellen Kelleher's Author Blog
I enjoyed reading about your 4 footed friends but know they can be a pest. Best wishes with your house hunting.
Thanks June! I appreciate it.
Adorable goatie! I have a pygmy that I love! He is the best pet ever.
They are fabulous, aren’t they? Vicky (the goat in the picture) is the star of my children’s book series (under Ellie Mae Kay), “The Adventures of Vicky Van Goat.” 😀
Now I have to look up the Rose of Sharon. Harmon post.
Thanks for introducing me to a new flower – I’ve never even seen a photo of the Rose of Sharon before. So does this grow in Palestine/Israel, too?
I can’t say for sure if it grows in Israel/Palestine, but it’s mentioned in the Old Testament. Song of Solomon 2:1 “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.” #KJV
Maybe that’s why I love them so much.
Goats are amazing. I can say that even after one ate the laundry off the line.