It’s a sad story in Mother Nature’s world. There was once a pair of doves that would come and eat in our garden. They became quite tame and knew how to let me know that it was time for the seeds to be served. This season though, only Larry showed up and his bride never did arrive. Sad enough. However little later another pair arrived on the scene and began to chase Larry away. How rude the interlopers were. I do try and feed only Larry, but it is impossible to always be vigilant. That’s ok. I do what I can for ole Larr. Here, he is tucking-in and his table guest is a little tit emptying the bee comb of drone larvae. Well, that’s Larry’s story but there are other things to mention here. Like a show and tell with the termination of the broadbean patch. Here you can see the vigorous plants still standing proud. Then, the empty patch. It has a woeful sight with the harshly sun-bleached soil. And then, one of the compost bins was filled. Then there are the toms. We are trying some new types this year. Mel had asked to see some of my toms, so here re some: Inside the greenhouse there are some stalks that need to be tied-in and suckers as well as branches needed to be removed. But wait, there are more: Speaking of “tying-in”, we have a method. It is the use of a clear plastic KFC milkshake cup to hold the twine. I just shove it into my trouser pocket, pull the twine and clip. Here, a portion of a days’ harvest It has been hot work, but now it is time to cool our heels at home.
What a wonderful harvest! Thank you for the Tom pics. So incredible that you have red ones already! And that your beans are finito. I have my first little green bush been flower today, my first squash flower and a blushing baseball hiding inside an Early Girl tomato plant. Very exciting for you. What do you do with your tomatoes? ( besides nom nom nom) I'm glad to hear you are looking out for Larry as best you can. I'm sure he will try to still hang around because he knows you. Too bad that he lost his mate; I'm certain they feel those losses. My dove and your dove should hook up - mine is so far out of its range and comes to eat and call for a mate every year, but only for a week or so. He doesn't know that he is the only one here for hundreds of miles. They could meet on line - we could make a "dove dating app", or "bacherlor looking for fellow bachelor to hang out and share a few seeds".
Glad you liked seeing those toms. They look good and taste good. We will have to make some decisions about what to keep and what to let go now. The toms are used for making concentrate for the coming year. On the other side of the greenhouse are toms for salads, BLT’s, hamburgers and giving away. Great news that your toms are beginning to show colour. It is starting for you now, isn’t it. I think it is a luminous idea to get our doves together. How nice that would be. Chuckle. Oh, I wanted to make it clear that the beans that I took down were not all of the bean that I am growing this season— I have three other types still producing.
Those tomatoes look delicious Sjoerd. I hope you are enjoying them! Ours are all still green. Your dove story reminded me of our parakeets. Did I tell you all about our parakeets? We used to have a flock when our kids were young. We bred them & would give away the babies. That was years ago & our flock dwindled to 2 males. (They live a long time). They were buddies. Blueman was very old & failing. Finally he was hunkered down at the bottom of the cage. His buddy, Sunshine hung out with him down there at the bottom of the cage. He would preen Blueman's face and on two occasions, he spread his wing over Blueman. I kid you not. Blueman finally died & Sunshine hung out at the bottom of the cage for two days. I thought we were going to lose him too. People think birds are bird brains but there really is some intelligence there.
You had not told me that story. It is touching, Cayu. I realise that there is some intelligence there, and perhaps emotion as well. I know that our type of doves mate for life, and as far as I know when one mate is lost to a falcon or some other death, they will not take another partner. It is interesting.
Your lottie is always so beautiful. I just wish I can grow tomatoes in my garden. Your toms looks so delicious!
Thank you so much for your warm words, KK. It makes me feel like all the work is worth it when another person gives compliments. Cheers.
Gosh, look at all those tomatoes! I know somebody who would snack their way through those delicacies. And lovely harvest too. I really like your twine set-up. You're a clever one, aren't you. Poor Larry. Maybe he'll find a new mate.
