Garden Update #4

Our Newest Backyard Residents

Almost immediately after our bird-feeder was hung, hummingbirds began to inhabit our backyard. There are only two birds that actually use the feeder and I think it’s a Mr. and Mrs. because hummingbirds are territorial. During mating season, one male dominates the feeder and only allows the female birds he’s mated with to share his liquid loot.

Just because only two birds are using the feeder doesn’t mean others don’t try. It was all out warfare the other day when 5 birds were battling it out in the backyard. I happened to be outside and all I could do was stand as still as possible as they swarmed around me and dive-bombed each other. They’re not as sweet as they look after all, but the Mr. and Mrs. prevailed and are sticking around.

As for the garden, it’s doing great except for the three strawberries princess Chloe smashed while lizard hunting this week and unfortunately, Frankie, my garden compadre, is now missing his tail. Consequently, she’s been spending a lot more time in the dog-run. But it seems like she uses this time to strategize, because all she does all day long is stare in Frankie’s direction.

Tomato Worm- Ewwwwww

In addition to Chloe, there has been another garden nuisance. A single tomato worm almost completely destroyed my Serrano peppers. Thankfully, they’ve made a full recovery and the hubby relocated the worm over our back-wall. The tomato worm was really weird looking with a sharp horn on its head. It’s the kind of thing that makes a pregnant girl wanna throw up in her mouth a little.

In other news, our first bell pepper has arrived. I didn’t realize bell peppers grow like flowers on a stalk. I kind of figured it would be more like a carrot or a potato. I wish the garden was producing more abundantly, but for now this single bell pepper will have to do.

El Pimiento Solitario

The parsley has been cut all the way down. It was used in the spaghetti for LIzzy’s baby shower along with a great deal of the basil plant. The parsley tastes exactly the same as what you’d get at the grocery store, but the basil is much more fragrant and almost has a bit of a sweet taste.

About to Bloom

The sunflowers are towering and finally about to bloom. I had to thin them down to two so they’d have more room to grow. Sunflowers also double as natural bird-feeders so maybe, if we’re lucky, we’ll have some more backyard-birdie residents soon!