August 9, 2024
Debby has arrived in Renfrew county. It rained a bit in the night, then got going in earnest early this morning. Presently we are enjoying the view of my new flower bed through a substantial curtain of rain. The Hummers were active earlier, but have now retreated to the shelter of the lilac bushes. Before the rain got too serious, one was sitting on a stake in the garden and periodically fluffing himself and giving a shake to dislodge the rain drops.
Recent garden endeavours involved digging the garlic out,
and pulling the storage onions.
Both are drying now in the barn, laid out on old screen doors suspended from the ceiling.
A Great Blue Heron was fishing in the pond last week.
I startled it up on my morning walk to the garden shed. It flew a circle around me just below tree-top level, cruised around behind the barn, and returned to the pond. That was unusual, as when startled out of the pond, they usually leave and don't return until another day. I was able to return to the house and get the camera.
In the big milkweed plant, I discovered a Milkweed Tussock Moth caterpillar,
but have searched fruitlessly for a Monarch chrysalis. I know they travel a bit when preparing to pupate, so they could be anywhere, but hopefully still in the garden somewhere.
The side shoots growing on the broccoli plants after harvesting the main heads, are large and some are pretty much a meal's worth for two. Must be the consistent rain we've had this summer.
In the fruit department, blackberries are ripening. The canes are heavily laden with fruit.
A bear has been through the patch, pushing a lot of canes down in a tangled swathe. I expect it will be back, as apples are ripening as well.
What a great crop of onions! And that broccoli - our side shoots were never that big. Must be all the love the garden is receiving, making everything grow so well :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Margaret. My broccoli side shoots are not usually that big either! Just short of 3 inches of rain came down over yesterday. Back to sunshine today, as the dawn is clear of clouds.
DeleteYour harvest look brilliant, here it's a very poor year, and we don't have to worry about bears.
ReplyDeleteMother Nature has timed out the rain events pretty perfectly for gardeners this summer, with sunshine in between.
DeleteThere is lots of natural food this year, so no worries about the bears...only hope they don't climb and break limbs off of the apple trees.
It's nice that the heron was cooperative.
ReplyDeleteNow, if only the bears would be cooperative, and stay out of my berry patch!!
DeleteDarn bears. They do love a free meal!
ReplyDeleteAre the Milkweed Tussock moths predatory on the Monarchs? That would be worrisome. On the other hand, insect populations ebb and flow amazingly. We had an overabundance of several species last year, and they are severely diminished this year. I suspect they'll be back soon.
There was a picture of a big fat bruin, with its belly practically brushing the ground, on a trail camera near the house last week! They are well fed this year with berries and apples etc.
DeleteBoth larvae feed on milkweed, but not each other; although the first Monarch egg to hatch on a particular leaf, will consume other eggs near it! Sure hope the 'ebb' of Monarchs this year, will turn into 'flow' next summer!