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Growing Tomatoes

Very nice gardeners helpers

11 years ago

I think every gardener needs a couple of these. They have not looked at my chickens, but they have gotten a couple of squirrels. (yay owls!!) And they are beautiful.

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Comments (14)

homegardenpa
11 years ago
I wish we had those in my backyard, my backyard is overrun by squirrels and various bird species - which all love my gardens.

I saw a hawk grab a grackle earlier in the season, but that's about it for predatory birds so far.
noinwi
11 years ago
That's a beautiful shot!
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Lovely views!! And beautiful daylilies. Yes, they open new ones every day now, so exciting. I like Raspberry Fantasy, Beautiful Edgings and South Seas the most. My Strutter's Ball was doing great until I divided it this year. What an adventure for your little Babe.. Poor thing. I hope he'll now be afraid of that or any other big trees! His twin brother Max here climbed.. me the other day. I sure was scared it happened so quickly! Thankfully the scratches on the chest, neck and head were minor, but I was in a kind of shock for hours.
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I prefer large breeds of poultry, since they cannot fly high, are thus easier to fence in, and tend to be calmer in temperament. Chickens need enough room to prevent boredom. Mine have 1 1/4 acre, and they can be destructive if they get interested in an area. They can dig up trees, and they kick away mulch for fun! Delawares are very quiet, gentle and pretty. I got my new chicks because I really like the adult I bought at this year's Fair. Hens lay on average, 5 eggs a week, each. No rooster is needed. They start laying at 4-5 months and can go on for up to 8-10 years. Commercial layers are killed as soon as production eases up, but for a backyard flock, one egg less per week is not a big deal. I keep mine until they die, or I place them in another home, or something kills them. Chickens taste good and have no defenses, so it is up to owners to keep them safe. They will stay in a fenced-in yard, no problem, unless the fencing allows them to slip through. They need a *secure* coop to sleep in, with perches and nest boxes. No rooster is needed. Hens lay without male influence. I have only had one incidence of mites/lice. A puny Banty pullet moved right into my coop, snuggling under a Buff Orpington. She came from the neighbors, who have animals in appalling conditions. I took the stray to my vet, she was crawling with lice and mites.. We treated her, and dusted all the other birds, the coop and replaced all the shavings (beding material). I bleached the entire area. The hens were peeved at being dusted, but they are clean and have been parasite free ever since. I think having a few hens for fresh eggs is an option every homeowner should have. They are great for recycling (they eat everything leftover) and their droppings are terrific fertilizer. They are also very entertaining! Lisa
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On these sunny nice days I have been trying to place big, flat rocks at the front of my house. Every rock I try to move has a dog sitting on it. When I brought the rocks home Beau jumped in the truck when I put the tailgate down and was in the way. Honey was below the tailgate so I had to be careful not to drop rocks on him. It is wonderful to have so much help. Honey is a little vole killing machine and Beau has a rotten thing that I could not identify. When I bend over or get on the ground they both try to lick me in the face. I scream when they do this and although I live way out in the country, I wonder what my neighbors think.
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I for sure will, Kay! And yes Maryl, that's so true. I have been in the animal sheltering/rescuing field for a while and have seen all the ugliness and lack of responsibility out there that leads to "bad things happening" with these dogs. It's a shame. Our little wonderbull is the kindest soul ever. I am proud of him, myself and my family, for all of the continuing dedication to give him what he needs to be "one of the good ones." We take it all very seriously and Lego is actually kind of famous in our little corner of the world. We live smack dab in between two towns. One with breed specific legislation, and the other one without. So we have raised him from young pup to be an ambassador for his breed. He is so well socialized and trained that he goes everywhere with us. He walks in the towns parades, goes trick-or-treating, and goes to every animal fundraiser to meet people and educate. He's my little rockstar! but my most favorite thing about him is what a good farm dog he is. the special little feller who takes part in every aspect of what we do in the gardens. the way he rides in the back of the truck when we are hauling brush around the property. The way he hangs out with us when we are tilling for hours at a time, racking, planting, etc. and he respects the beds for the most part. doesnt cross the border stones or the pretty beds, and uses the stepping stones to cross the long daylily rows. he rides in the lawnmower wagon with the kiddo. he's out there with us to take pics and pollinate every morning. he keeps us company while potting stuff up. he's just always there, always being so great. I couldn't be happier to combine my three most favorite things, family, plants, and animals.
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melfield_wy
11 years ago
Wow!!! Absolutely beautiful!

(Homegardenpa: What is a grackle??)
homegardenpa
11 years ago
"Homegardenpa: What is a grackle??"

It's a type of bird. Mostly black with a iridescent purplish head and neck. They look kinda cool at first, but for me, they're more of a nuisance... Though Grackles are nowhere near as bad of a nuisance as Catbirds for me. Catbirds decimate my berries and and also go after peppers and tomatoes.

Because of catbirds all of my gardens are covered in bird netting this year. They are so persistent though that even nets only slow them down. They'll keep checking the nets every day to see if there's a hole or an opening they can use.

My first cherry tomato of the season would have been today, but a bird (more than likely a catbird) ate it... sigh.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Common Grackle
newyorkrita
11 years ago
Oh the owls are so beautiful. And my garden is full of Catbirds also. And Cardinals and House Wrens and Song Sparrows and Robins and Mockingbirds, well the list goes on. They do eat berries like in Serviceberries and blueberries. And they also eat lots of bugs including cabbage worms off my kale. I have water and birdbaths for them to drink so they don't bother my plants.
Ohiofem 6a/5b Southwest Ohio
11 years ago
Wonderful owls! What kind are they?
sunnibel7 Md 7
11 years ago
Beautiful! Barred Owls? We have some out back, but not too close to the house. We have red tailed hawks, american kestrel, and turkey vultures to help around here. The turkey vulture sounds strange, but they quickly clean up after the dog helps reduce the local woodchuck population. Anyway that's a lovely photo.
barnhardt9999
11 years ago
I got a pair of nesting red tailed hawks in my neighbors pine. Never once seen any tree rats (known as "squirrels" in some parts) in my yard. There is a baby rabbit working on the tips of my cantaloupe but his days are numbered. Yes, every gardener needs a couple extra sets of eyes with 20/2 vision.
czech
11 years ago
That is a terrific photo of your garden helpers!
missingtheobvious
11 years ago
So clever of them to perch on limbs of a perfectly matching color!
harveyhorses
Original Author
11 years ago
Yes they are Barred owls. I think they just placed a restraining order on me for stalking. :)
I have been noticing them for about a week, and it might be my imagination, but I don't think there are as many squirrels.
I know this is slightly OT, but I thought they are cool enough to share and not get scolded.
capoman
11 years ago
I have barred and great horned owls nearby, as well as various hawks and an ermine. There are no bunnies around this year at all, and it appears they are controlling the vole population that got out of hand last year. Squirrels and chipmunks don't seem to be touched at all. Squirrels don't seem to bother any of the gardens as they seem happy with all the spruce cones in the area to leave the rest alone. Chipmunks are a different matter. It is a constant battle with them to keep them out of the garden, especially the strawberries this time of year. What is really irksome, is that they take a single bite of a berry, drop it, then take a single bite out of another and so on, so they are decimating the strawberry crop. Since the predators don't seem to like chipmunks, and I refuse to use rodent poisons, I may have to resort to the "dipper".... Don't ask.
harveyhorses
Original Author
11 years ago
The voles got all my strawberry plants last year, and since nobody in my family is wild about them the bed got dug up and a hardware cloth bottom was put in. So far it seems to be working, but I have been told they will come in from above. My cats are doing o.k. with they chippers, but I understand your dilema. Good luck.
I don't know if it is the presence of the owls, or what, but there are fewer squirrels than a month ago. Maybe they are at the beach
digdirt2
11 years ago
Fantastic pics Harvey!! Thanks for sharing them with us all.

Dave

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