Thirsty Birds!

I was sitting on the porch, talking on the phone and saw that the birds were going nuts. A couple of them landed on the edge of the pond and made efforts to reach the water. They couldn't, it was too far down. I saw other birds landing near a wet spot in the yard, that's not wet at all right now. I can't believe it; how did I not think of the drought's impact on birds!

Not having yet found the perfect cobalt blue bird bath for my kitchen garden, I have nothing set up for them on a regular basis, but I could improvise! I took a plastic saucer, put a rock in the middle to stabilize it and filled it with water. The next day about ten birds were queuing up for a turn! If you haven't yet found the perfect bird bath for your garden consider at least putting something together. The birds are thirsty!

Attack of the Cicada Killers! Not!

My family thinks I'm nuts, but I was very happy to have a gigantic bee fly at me when I walked across the deck a couple of weeks ago. I know, now that you've read that you think I'm crazy too, but there's just something about cicada killers.

They're scary looking at more than an inch long, but they rarely use their stingers, more content just to give you a warning fly-by, much like those Maverick enjoyed in Top Gun. Luckily I wasn't drinking coffee. Unafraid of challenge, I have seen them wrestling with cicada's as long, but twice as wide as they are. Plus, and I know this is only my 2nd summer with them, they have already come to mean late summer; the time of year when it's too hot to use the porch anyway so it's okay to share it with some oversized bees. They nest under our porch and their eyes are frequently bigger than their stomachs, or at least the cracks between our decks. Every day we find multiple cicadas stuck like this. They're not dead just paralyzed an intended larval meal. I don't know yet if they ever wake up from their slumber and wonder how they got wedged in our deck. Maybe I'll pay attention this weekend; if I find out I'll let you know.

For some actual, factual information about cicada killers:

http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef004.asp

For some just for fun and funny information:

http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com/2007/07/return-of-cicada-killers.html

Is my Garden Half Empty or Half Full?

Lately, between the deer and the drought, I've defintely been feeling all of my beds are half empty. My neighbors warned me that the deer would be devestating and discouraged me even trying. Never one to let someone else tell me I can't or shouldn't do something just because it didn't work for them, I persisted. As I watched my tomatoes and peppers be eaten again and again, I told myself that at least the herbs were all right and came up with strategies to try for next year. Nonetheless, somewhere along the line (I think when the cranesbill I planted in the spring was pulled up and devoured) I started to forget all of my positive thinking.--half empty they were!

Then, one of my neighbors came over. I was ready for her subtly crafted, "I told you so" having rehearsed my response and practiced it on my husband, but do you know what she said? "I can't believe the deer haven't eaten more of your garden, it looks great." I wasn't ready for that, I had nothing to say, but I looked around and I saw that she was right; parts of the garden were thriving. My rosemary is growing, my lemongrass is shooting skyward, my sage has never looked so good and my scented geraniums are sprawling! I can breathe a sigh of relief--half full after all!