Ah the joy of having reliable brakes - it meant I could go out and about quite happily this afternoon, after a morning of staring at the computer screen. Today's foray was "just" to feed the boys in the country, check round the property and water the seedlings. It is also a magnificent day here today - blue skies, a bit of a breeze to take the edge off, and lovely sunshine. The official shade temperature is supposed to be about 25ºC today, and it probably is about that, but when you are out and about, you are not always in the shade, so it feels a lot hotter. Still, I topped up my vitamin D levels nicely I'm sure!
So what did I see out and about? Well the contents of the tin of cat food disappeared very quickly as all four boys were hungry for food with gravy on it and even ate their carrots, before joining me down the garden. Fergus found his usual dust bath, but this time in the shade.
After a certain amount of shuffling around for the best position, Donald took the spare chair and Spooky curled up on the ground, again both nicely in the shade.
Clause was feeling vulnerable - I had found a further two ticks on him and wanted to get them off, but he wasn't going to be pulled around today, he wanted to be left alone, so he took to deep cover.
The potagers are coming on - I really didn't think the tomatoes would take when I just shoved in the bare rooted seedlings we had been given, and I was quite sure the lettuces wouldn't do anything. The shallots were a gamble and I wait to see how they turn out. The broad beans are nearly over and the bit of plot in between will be sown with borlotti beans soon. Beans are good on the vile clay soil there, as the roots are supposed to be good for breaking down into the soil and also for fixing nitrogen.
I also checked the orchids in the other plots. We've not had as many bee orchids this year as expected and many less than last year, but the lizard orchids are now doing their thing. They aren't pretty but they are rather dramatic.
I was surprised to find a bird's nest orchid as well. It's a pretty name for an orchid that is even less attractive than a lizard orchid. It is parasitic and grows from something rotting in the soil, normally roots of something else. It has no leaves, all you ever see is the flower stalk. I've found them at my Mum's and in the One Acre Wood, but it was a first to find them where the boys hang out.
Comments