If you have read my blog for long, you know I love berries and fruits. That being said, when I saw apricot seedlings for our zone on Facebook Marketplace, I was all over it. I bought four of the nicest little seedlings. I like getting plants when they are small because they seem to acclimate better. Getting plants is a crapshoot around here. Everything is out to get them: deer, aphids, voles, chipmunks, mice, dogs, and who knows what else. The little apricots are no different. I bought fencing,
My husband and I fenced them, watered them, fertilized them, and covered them with hail netting. The very next morning one was eaten by something during the night. Drat. Now I have plastic collars, and fine fencing around them, inside the other fencing and under the hail cover. Argh.
On a positive note, I made cherry maple turkey jerky. It turned out amazing. I am very happy with the results. My resident hawk has been super protective of her territory. I went for a walk down by the pond and she scolded me from every tree. On a smaller front, I have a different hummingbird hanging around. A female red-throated, not the red rufus I had a few weekes ago.
I am very happy about my chubby little sunflower. He is a stout fella. He is covered by hail netting and fenced from the deer. On the deck is my scented rose. It is really thriving. I love the smell. I was so happy this weekend, as Dollor found a friend. Our neigbors come out a few times a year and this year they brought their dog Bella. She is about Dollor's age and they had a blast. Despite the heat they chased each other around back and forth. Then after a rousing game of tag they stopped for a drink. It was so fun to see them enjoying themselves. I don't have much else. What are some of your major pests? What do you think ate my apricot? It is still hot and dry here. We had a couple of rains but could always use more.
