Naughty Bad Chickens

This week I really hated my chickens.

Almost to the point of making the world’s largest batch of chicken noodle soup. Really.

The chickens are usually very good about eating pesky bugs, but a few of the newer hens are REALLY bad about getting into fruits and veggies. I mean they actually plot how they will get to things.

Like these blueberries.

Since when do chickens climb for Pete’s sake?

Hens Climbing Blueberry Bush

When I spotted these two back by the melon beds I wondered what trouble this naughty hen could be leading this poor stupid rooster into. Did they find a hidden cache of yummy, crunchy bugs?

What ARE These Two up To?

And then I saw what they were eating. It was not bugs it was…

Heirloom Melons Pecked to Death

NOOOOO!!!!!

D*mn birds. Not ONE little baby melon was left unharmed. It wasn’t just these two scatterbrained birds. Oh no, they were just the two that got busted for this heinous crime against vining fruits. There was plenty of melon-ary evidence scattered about the pasture and dry lot.

The vines were trampled and all young fruits destroyed. With the help of child#3 we did what we could to salvage the last three vines and we caged them.

Fencing in the Melons

I hope we get to taste at least ONE home grown melon this year!

As of this writing those three vines are still loaded with flowers, but I should probably go check on them to make sure. You never know what those darn chickens have up their sleeves.

dill and swallowtail caterpillar

Like most of the planet we’ve had one weird Spring season. We’ve had rain followed by really hot sticky weather followed by more rain…and rinse and repeat.  All this wetness while much of the Southwest has become a giant tinderbox. I wish I could send them some rain.

The good news is with all the rain I haven’t had to water anything except container plants on the porch. The bad news…the weeds are taking over.

Before everything reverts to jungle, I thought I’d share a few photos of what’s blooming and thriving in the herb and kitchen gardens with all the rain!

Clematis

Blueberries

Romaine Lettuce and Calendula Seedlings

Pretty Garlic Scapes

Daylilies, Feverfew and Echinacea

So what’s going on in your garden?

Crops are Out!

It’s that time of year…

The crops are all out, fields are groomed and the garden is dead. Yes, there are surviving garden stragglers as always, mostly the stuff potted on the front porch and the herbs planted along the house. That all usually does well until snow flies, or there is a three day long cold snap.

It’s officially ‘Fall’ now that we’ve had a couple of good frosts and the last few tomatoes in the garden have long been pecked away by the Poultry Posse.

All of my outdoor basil is completely black and tragic looking.

It’s so awful looking that not even Emma, the basil loving bunny will touch it at this point. The chicken pecked tomato plants and black basil also means no more garden fresh tomato, basil and mozzarella salads; truly the end of summer…

Even though glorious Autumn is one of my favorite seasons, I always get a little sad when I see everything turn brown in the garden. While I am very relieved that I don’t have to mow, suffer heat, tend or weed for awhile, I am also a little sorry, or maybe just feeling nostalgic?

Obviously I am conflicted.

At any rate, the tender herbs have been moved into the greenhouse, and lots of plants and herbs have been moved inside the house. That way I can keep an eye on them, and because I like fresh herbs in winter and plenty of greenery in my windows…and bathrooms, and bedrooms.

Yep, it is time to put everything to sleep in the garden

If I were not such a bum I’d be out there digging up the rest of the red canna rhizomes today. Nope, they can just sit another few days- remember, I am a bum!

There are still some things out there that look pretty good out there- like all the chives, most of the mints, the sages, and um…well, that’s really about it.

It’s all good though-

In spite of my temporary ‘Autumnal Garden Derangement’ condition, I do look forward to the quiet of the winter season.

After all, there is a cupboard chock full of dried herbs to enjoy this winter!  We’ve dried lots of herbs for cooking and teas, and of course all our favorite healing herbs are tucked away, too.

Add a good book, a crackling fire, some warm woolly socks, and I can hardly wait!

Packed Herb Cupboard

The weather is supposed to take a cold turn tonight with temperatures dropping back near freezing. After making sure that seedlings and tender plants were safely tucked in the greenhouse I decided to take a few pictures of some blooming shrubs and edible landscaping. If it all gets hit by frost tonight I’ll have gorgeous photos to remember them by. You know, exactly like Better Homes and Garden’s gorgeous photo spreads… I’m pretty sure they use a little bitty Canon and a cell phone to take their best shots, too…

First up for my show and tell, my favorite lilac-Mount Baker.

The fragrance is delicious.

Honestly-I just want to shove my nose into these flowers, snort deeply and keep it there all spring.

Mount Baker Lilac

Next…

Blueberry Blossoms

Blueberries in Bloom

Most years we don’t get many berries unless I cage them early. The chickens pick off the lower ones, and the wild birds get the upper berries. They are all such little pigs.

And finally,

Apple Blossoms

This crazy tree does not know it’s been pronounced dead…twice. It has blown over, been completely uprooted and snapped at the base of the trunk. Now it simply reclines.

This photo is from a few years ago – after the second time it went over in a bad storm. We had lots of trees to clean up and I hadn’t gotten around to cutting it down when I noticed it was still producing fruit.

It’s a Zombie Apple Tree!

Recumbent Zombie Apple Tree

Although a professor of mine from some years ago would have told me to “prune it at the roots” I did not have the heart to cut down a tree so determined to live.

Today it still grows in it’s happy-yet wonky-condition and even produces plenty of gorgeous Rome apples for me each fall!

I just consider it a living sculpture these days.

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Here it is bathed in early morning sunlight and absolutely glorious in pink.

Nectarine Bloom

Nectarine in Bloom

Nectarine Blossoms

Beautiful, isn’t it?