a robyns nest

I keep waiting for this little guy to start talking to me....

Clearly, I have too much time on my hands.

bzzzz...

We added a second level, or super, to our hive this past week.  Our colony has taken full advantage of living in such a rich agricultural area, and has nearly filled the 10 frames  they started with.  They have dedicated much of that space to their nursery, which is a good sign.  If they feel like they need to add members to the colony, then they must feel confident about their food source. 



We added what is referred to as a "short" super (6 inches deep , as opposed to a full sized super which is 9 inches) and a queen extractor (the metal grid you see in the pic)  The extractor goes between the original super and the new one, ensuring that the queen stays on the bottom level (she can't fit through) and thus, all nursery activity stays down there too.  This leaves the upper levels to be used by the workers exclusively for honey storage, which is where we will harvest from in the Fall.  Theoretically you can keep stacking supers  one on top of the other as your colony grows,  however,  our city requires us to stop at 2.

There we are, 2 story's high.  The thin silver layer between the two supers is the queen extractor.  Did you know that in it's lifetime, one bee will make only 1/12 tsp of honey? 

And while we're talking about bees, check out this  Heifer International project designed to help struggling families around the world earn income through the sale of honey, beeswax and pollen.   

 

neighbours...

We often joke with our neighbours about cutting a chunk out of the fence and putting a gate in; thus giving both our families easier access to each others homes (cuz it takes just sooooo long to walk the 50 feet down the driveway, along the sidewalk and back up the other driveway, lol!).  It is good to have good neighbours :)

There is one thing holding us back though.   The big leafy green monster growing along the top of the fence line has its own agenda.  Like most monsters, it is magical....





Do you see our dilemma?   I guess for now, the gate will have to wait ;)

As a general rule, I don't have a lot of patience for annuals.  They take, take, take...and for what?  A few months of color?  Maybe I'm just too practical.... but if I'm going to grow something, I want to be able to EAT it in the end.

I broke my own rules this summer though, I got sucked in by the  Cosmos.

 

Hey, I mean technically it's not a complete waste of resources, right?  I mean, the bees have been enjoying them.  So in the form of honey, I guess we will eat them in the end ;)

weekend...

For comparison, check out this pic of the corn from 1 month ago.... um, wow.  I swear, that's the same Boy hiding in there!

And, what else are you supposed to do when it's 107 degrees outside (other than hide INside)....

lemonade....

We are oh, so thankful for lemons this weekend....and for the sweet friend with a lemon tree who was giving these yellow beauties away by the grocery bag full.  I spent the morning zesting and juicing....the results?



A freezer full of lemon juice (portioned into lemonade-making sized servings) and lemon zest.  I had no idea you could freeze the zest, but found a ton of great home preserving info here. 

Perfect.  Lemonade, just in time for summer :)

oops.....

Soooooo....I planted a couple of watermelon seedlings earlier this spring.  They were a spur of the moment purchase, while shopping one day at our local food co-op.  At the time, they were cute, seemingly innocent little plants, with barely one set of uniformly green seed leaves.  I didn't read the tag which accompanied them beyond the words "watermelon".  Enough information for me....let's get 'em in the ground.



A few sets of leaves later and it became apparent that something unusual was going on.  At first, I thought the plants were diseased....I mean, a plant with yellow spots generally isn't a good sign, right?   But these guys just kept growing, and growing and producing more.......leaves with yellow spots. 

After staring at them for a good bit of time one afternoon, and realizing they weren't dying after all, I decided maybe I should read the tag that came with them as seedlings (insert sheepish grin here....better late than never, right?) 

OH!  Well, duh.  Looks like I got myself two watermelon plants of the Moon and Stars variety.  An heirloom apparently (which I can't even be pompous about because now you all know it was a completely unintentional purchase!).

Okay...so this isn't so bad, you're thinking.  And actually, that's what I was thinking too...until I read this.  Not only does the plant look like it's dying....but it is also prized (prized?) for the insane amount of seeds it produces.  A seed-spittin' watermelon, if you will.  Great.  Just freaking great.  Have you ever tried to get the worlds' pickiest 5 year old to eat a piece of watermelon that is chock full o' seeds?  Not happening, folks.  SO not happening.

And, did you happen to notice the average size of these seed-producing wonders....?  40 lbs.  FORTY pounds.  Each.    I wonder if my neighbours like watermelon......

mmmm....

I promise, I will take a break from nattering on and on about our garden...one of these days.   The expected arrival of some new fabric from the Far, Far and Away collection this coming week will probably be just the distraction I need ;)

in the garden...

..... I swear, if you sit still long enough, you can see the corn growing.  As friends visit in our yard they compliment me on my green thumb.  Ha! Little do they know.  The credit for this jungle-esque growth is our homemade composted soil.  Incredible stuff.  If you aren't composting, start.  Today.  Makes all the difference..... case in point:

Definitely should have purchased the 6 ft. tomato cages...this guy laughed at the puny 3 footer we put around him.... I wonder, do they make 10 ft. tomato cages?

garlic.....on steroids, er.... on compost, i mean.  Ranging in size between baseballs and softballs, these guys will be keeping the vampires at bay well into next year. 

Oh, and the ladies are doing well.  Happily terrorizing any and all insects within reach....and still very, very happy to see me when I come out to visit.

buggie love....

Can you see him??  All 1/2 " of him....but he's there, and stalking a spider too.  I love that audacity;  it obviously hasn't occurred to him that he shouldn't be stalking spiders when he's only 1 1/4 cm's long ;)



Considering the hurtin' that the earwigs have put on certain parts of our garden this spring, I was most pleased to see my beneficial friend this afternoon, tucked in amongst the new growth on our oregano.  And what made me even happier is knowing that somewhere, tucked away in other nooks and crannies of our garden, are several hundred of his brothers and sisters.

Grow little guys, grow!!

It's hard to believe by next fall they'll look like this mama from last November;  quite possibly their mama, I suppose.

The Boy and I had a great conversation about why the little guys need to be green right now, vs. this adult, who could probably be just about any colour she wanted and still not have anything mess with her.  I mean seriously, I watched this praying mantis eat a bee head first...she was no dumbie...would you mess with her?