The work this past weekend went on. There was one good day and one bad day--weather-wise, that is. The beet patch was dug and raked to a fine tilth and the seeds planted. Over in the New Garden, I had to finish with the potatos. Half had already been planted some days before, but now it was time to finish this task off. I start out by making a furrow with a tool that looks like a plough with a handle. I make three or four passes to get dirt out and onto both sides of the trench. After the first pass, I paused to take some pics of the worms. You have perhaps read of how I handle my ground with min-tilling techniques and then covering it for the winter. One of the main benefits are the worms, and I have commented on how incredibly many worms were in the ground when I open it. My gardening neighbour was skeptical, but was on hand when I ploughed the ground and his eyes popped out of his head when he saw the worms that my hand-plough turned up. Have a look: ...and then closer-up I count nine in this one segment: Here you can see how the spuds were placed in the trench. This was filled-in with a very shallow layer of dirt and then some bone meal.and the rest of the trench was filler to ground level. It was nice to get the job finished and stake the sections. I face the written labels away from the sun so that it doesn't get blanched by the uv-rays. This means that the labels face northward, of course. I then moved on to clean up the two strawberry beds, removing snails and dead leaves. I put back some of the old straw to protect the ground. Once the plants begin to form berries, I will dress them with fresh straw. Down at the southern end of the lottie is one of the canals. I leaned over and took this quick snapshot of the canal and part of the neighbour guy's (Klaas) plot. It's amazing how bald the dike looks early in the spring. By may, there will be grass hip-high waving in the wind. Leaving the New Garden and walking back across to the Old Garden it was time for tea and bikkies. I washed my hands and while the water was heating to a boil, I started checking some Clematises for life. Scratching the bark with my thumbnail. I wanted to check it more proximal to the roots,so I bent over and ...as I did I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. My first thought was...."RABBIT"! HOwever, after a closer look, I saw a huge nest with maybe ten eggs! I slowly backed away and then bounded off to the shed for the camera...when I returned the mother was back on her nest: Moving laterally a bit I could see her eye. Well, this is a development. After calculating, that a duck usually lays one egg per day and there at least ten eggs then it had been six days since I saw her---that's 16 days. The incubation period is 21-30 days so...let's see....hmmmmm.... I do not know precisely when she came there, so I am guessing that anytime within the next two weeks the will hatch and make for the canal. They will not be able to reach the water because the skirting is too high for them to jump...so I shall have to make a ramp for them. I just hope that the ducks do not eat all my fresh green veggie and flower sprouts before they leave. It's a mixed blessing, these ducks. I shall enjoy them but it must not happen next year. I just do not know how that mother could have made that nest without me seeing her at all. Oh, she's good. She is very slick, that one. I shall keep you posted on how it is going with them I do now actually have great hopes, because there are weasels, jackdaws, hawks, magpies and a stray cat about. I shall interfere with nature for the space between the nest and the canal (~10 meters)....then nature must take it's course.
Thanks for another day at the lottie, Sjoerd. Always fun and interesting. My soil has loads of worms of all sizes too. This particular area used to be a cotton farm before it became a housing development so the soil is still very rich. Hopefully a few of the ducklings will live to adulthood. I certainly wouldn't want to be around when one of them is caught by a predator, it's sad to watch nature at work sometimes.
Your potato plot looks good, Sjoerd. And so does the mother duck, I must confess. I understand that you're not happy about playing host for her, and I do hope she won't graze on your veggies before she leaves. Pity you didn't spot her before. Duck's eggs are very tasty.
It's always good to see the progress you're making on the lottie Sjoerd. Your potato plot and strawberry plants are looking good. I'm lucky too as I have a really worm packed garden. Ours was all farmland before it was turned into garden space. It's had years and years of manure from cattle and sheep so the worms think they're in paradise. I hope 'your' duck moves on once all her eggs have hatched as she could do some real damage to your lotties and your produce.
I enjoyed your lottie again today.Its always so interesting.I have lots of worms too.I hope I can plant a few things this year.My flowers are taking care of themselves.I enjoyed your duck .I hope her and her babies make it to the water without hurting your little plants.Your strawberry plants look great.I enjoyed my trip to your lottie very much as I always do.
I love it when you take us to the lottie with you Sjoerd. I always find it a blessing when I see lots of worms in the garden. 10 eggs? Wow, that is going to be one busy mama duck!
You are welcome, TONI--IOt is indeed sad to watch nature at work sometimes. Thank you KK-- I read about that ditch and the bean kurd waste that gets put into it sometimes. What a shame. I'll guess that it smells not good sometimes. Thanks for your nice words, DROOPY--I don't know if I could eat a duck egg now. I tried one in the Philippines once. A method of preparation preparation called, "Balut". I always like to try local foods in the countriess that I visit...but I could not eat that. It is a delicacy in some asian countries, so I felt a little embarassed when I could not eat it at the time. Thank you EILEEN--It sounds like you have some excellent ground there. Yes, I hope they will move along too. I am prepared to give them a helping hand if they are reluctant. hahaha I am happy that you enjoyed the posting, GLENDA-- I hope that the ducks will head straight for the water too. I appreciate your comment about the strawb patch. If the weather ever warms up those little plants will be up and away! I'm already dreaming of strawberries on cake with whipped cream....oh my, I shouldn't have had that thought.
Hiyah NETTY-- Sorry, I was answering the posts while you entered yours. Excuse me. I appreciate your nice comments alot. I always like seeing the worms in the garden as well...and I even feel a little twinge when I dig-up and expose so many. I reckon that they will recover though. The mother duck will absolutely have her hands full caring for all those babes. Thanks again.
After reading your latest post, I must admit...I am guilty of soil envy. I was working our front garden bed and had to have my husband dig out a wheelbarrow full of red clay so I could add compost and soil amendments so I can plant some new bushes. Can't remember seeing any worms at all! I am glad you are posting photos along with your narrative, I enjoy seeing how everything is coming along. I am still amazed how large your garden is. Everything is looking good. I understand your mixed emotions regarding Mother Duck. I felt really guilty about trapping the baby chipmunks but it has to be done. We caught five today and relocated them all to the same area...so hopefully they will reunited.
Hello Gail-- Glad that you liked the posting. My goodness, if you have to re-work red clay, you have your job cut out for you then. It's hard work, but not an impossible task...and well worth the results in the end. I'm sdorry that you didn't see any worms. I guess that they aren't everywhere..and clay isn't known for it's nutrition exactly. You may get some now that you have amended the situation. What do you think? Congrats on catching the chip's. Re re-locating scheme seems to be working well. I have not read anything about them finding their way back home like was posted about mice doing. From what I read it sounds like theyu actually prefer woods even though they can co-exist with humans. Your method is good.
Sjoerd: you've made my day with the great pictures of your lottie, Mamma duck, and the WORMS in your soil..all were just fabulous as was the explanation of what each photo was about! I'm in the process of waiting for 2 1/2 pounds of 'taters to come on for cutting/callusing/planting and your pictures have me chomping at the bit to get started once they arrive! You're in for a treat when the ducklings hatch out: for a few days it'll look like a bunch of little fleas running around..and they sure can move FAST, head right back to Mamma in the blink of an eye! Do take some pics of your "duck herding" to share.. .
Thanks Weeds'n Seeds--I hope your 2½ lb. of potatos came in. Have you planted them already? BTW--what kind did you order?
Hello Sjoerd. Its almost like home to read your garden news. We live near a County creek, which looks more like your canal than a creek. We already have seen a mother and father Mallard with 11 babies swimming happily along the creek just below our garden. Even your potato rows seem familiar as they look so like mine. I have three rows of Pontiac Reds and they look amazingly healthy. I have begun hilling them already. I have high hopes for a bumper crop this fall. I really appreciate your pictures. Maybe you can find some food the ducks will like so they stay out of your veggie patch? I hope you can get them to the canal safely.
Hiyah Growingpains-- It was so nice to read your posting. The mother and baby ducklings have moved on. I was lucky enough to be present when they fledged (I was just arriving on my bike). I built a ramp and they used it. It all went off just as planned. I was well pleased. The potatos are peeking through the soil again now. I have had to bury the leaves a couple of times already to protect against the frosty nights here still. I shall have to read about Pontiac Reds. I'm always on the lookout for a new spud to try.
