What is there left to say? I think it is now down to damage limitation. A case of deciding what is to wither and die and what should I concentrate on saving/nurturing, because trying to keep everything going just isn’t working. Dragging hoses and sprinklers here and there is a waste of time and precious water, I am kidding myself that having a sprinkler going on a patch for an hour before moving it on is doing any good – by the time I get to the end of the row the first section doesn’t look like it has had any water applied to it. Added to the problems caused by the drought I am also being overwhelmed by pests of various shapes and sizes – birds, rabbits, hares, badgers, Muntjac deer and butterflies, all of which come and go as they please, stuffing their faces as they leave. There are clouds of Large White butterflies at the moment, feasting on the leaves of the brassicas and then laying their eggs on them which very soon develop into voracious caterpillars.
The weather forecasters have been saying that the week ahead is going to be less hot and more changeable, but in the Met Office chart that I just looked at the temperatures are still going to be in the mid 20’s and there is next to nothing in the way of rain, though the BBC is predicting a few more spots on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Two weeks ago I tempted fate by saying that the horseflies had failed to feast on my tender flesh, due to my razor sharp reflexes and my exceptional swatting skills. Well since than I have been zapped left right and centre! It’s almost as if they read my blogs and decided to make me eat my words. Well I am happy to do so, and would like to publicly apologise for my braggadocio, particularly if it means you will leave me alone.
It was also 2 weeks ago that I posed like a trophy hunter with my discarded snake skin. Well this week I saw one still wearing it’s skin. I heard a rustling in the long grass near the fence, and when I peered in I saw a long grass snake elegantly glide through the wire mesh of the fence away from me. It was a long one, but not as big as it’s mate who left its skin behind.
On Thursday afternoon the sky was filled by clouds of ladybirds on the wing. They were everywhere. It is another reminder of that drought summer of 1976 when the same thing happened.
I have an update on the pheasant chicks. Early in the week, on Monday and Tuesday, I saw the chicks with their mother, and counted 5 of them. The same number were with her on Friday. This afternoon there were at least of them 4 in the polytunnel, but the hen wasn’t with them. I’m hoping that she is okay.
This week there are some additions in the shop, albeit some of the items will be in short supply. There will be purple sprouting broccoli, a limited number of smallish cauliflowers, patty pan squash and spaghetti squash. Lettuces are red oakleaf and there is chard again. Tomatoes, cucumbers and courgettes are currently plentiful. Apples are Crimson Crisp from Kent, there are lemons and avocados from Spain, but no oranges. I am getting in some celery this week.
I went camping last night. It was my annual jaunt with my friends Alf and Mike. The weather was perfect and much nonsense was talked into the night around the campfire. There was a debate as to whether or not we should have a fire given the dry conditions – Alf really didn’t want his 25 acre woodland going up in flames, but he had created a bit of a break so the risk assessment came down on the side of a modest fire. This morning we had a fried egg sandwiches for breakfast, courtesy of our hens, and very nice it was too. It is very much like Last of the Summer Wine, 3 old blokes talking twaddle, but it’s an occasion that we always look forward to.
Right I’m done. It has cooled down a bit so it’s time for a dog walk. Have a great week.
Phil