Garden Pest

The hotter the days get, the earlier I try to get into the garden and get the day's chores accomplished. This morning I got all the little corn seedlings transplanted. I also planted 6 zucchini and 6 summer squash plants. Krista joined me and we weeded the potato patch. She was up by the house, I had my tush in the air and was picking up chickweed to feed the chickens, when I heard a crash! I turned my head and saw this moose. She was tangling with our Japanese laundry poles.

The 2nd time she came back 

I yelled, "Turn the fence on."

I ran for the house and my camera.

She headed for the garden. She touched the top wire with her head and jerked back, and RAN to the front and into the road.

Then she came back (which is when I got the photo of her at the trampoline). She was mad.

She looked at us, shook her head and ran off again.

I heard squawking and clucking and  knew she and Lucille had tangled. I went looking and calling for Lucille. Lucille came to my calling (she really is a pet now).  I went to meet her and her eggs were broken.  She ran back to the chicken yard to tell her tale.

This is the third time moose have tangled with the fence and the second time they've been shocked. It seems to be doing a good job at keeping them out.  The first time a mama touched it and jerked her head back. Her baby touched it, and as Dad reports, she jumped 3 feet in the air and took off.   The 3rd moose just walked along the garden fence line and left.  This afternoon mama and baby came trotting across the side yard....I guess we're the shortest route to the mountain. LOL

Here are some shots from the garden....the fence I'm talking about is just two wires strung on t posts around the garden. NOW....Lucille and Blondie (free range bunny) have started getting into the garden the past couple of days. An electric fence won't stop them.  We are going to have to get another fence up - but wanted to be sure we would leave the garden where it is before building anything more permanent and time intensive than this.

Broccoli & Cauliflower in foreground
1st bed -  beets, kale (3 kinds), spinach and radishes
2nd bed - carrots, couple kinds of lettuce, couple kinds of cabbage

Zuchini

Potatoes - now that I know I have the room -
I should plant more next year. 

I had hoped this bit of fall decor would keep the birds from eating the second planting of corn...and possibly fool the moose into thinking there is a big, mean, man with a gun in the garden.

Corn 

Jumanji - I no longer sit in here to warm up! ::snort:: 

We have green tomatoes, tiny peppers, cucumbers and melons in here. I've already had a meal of beans from the greenhouse. I need to just cover that mucky garden corner with a BIG greenhouse.😏

That's it for now. Lots of green....this week I need to plant the rest of the seedlings that are in my kitchen....and I need to research how to prune tomatoes. They are big, bushy and green...but I'd like tomatoes at the end of this process.  I'll also continue to work to keep the moose, birds, rabbit and chicken from eating the garden. LOL

Hiking Gold Mint Trail

The only thing one would expect Gherkins to do in record breaking weather is to hike the Gold Mint Trail in Hatcher's Pass.  I've been wanting to walk this trail...it's CoRiell's happy place.  Jamin suggested a hike. Nolan had the day off. Krista wants to get out and enjoy Alaska. Arielle and Benny joined us. Alex, Stacia and I are always up for an adventure. Dad and Michael stayed home. It was wise. 

Benny, Alex, Arielle

Krista, Nolan, & Jamin 

Stacia

 I'm conflicted about Fireweed! I LOVE them - I don't love the signal of summer progressing into winter (with a typical 2 week fall). It is reassuring to see these are not near blooming to the top yet. 

I may have to go back to check their progress in a couple of weeks. 

Benny rode most of the trail on Uncle Jamin's back 

Beautiful

 The BUGS were ferocious! I don't remember them being so aggressive before. I have begun to wonder if the All Natural bug spray I had was an attractant...or maybe the dandelion salve slathered on my arms and legs drew them....

Little Su - Glacial River

 Alex and I quit before the others. He'd had it with the bugs....and I wasn't going to let him go back on the trail alone - I AM bear aware after all. Even so my fit bit said I had over 70 minutes in the heart target zone and I'd walked 3 1/2 miles. 

Arielle, Benny, Jamin, Nolan, Stacia, Alex, Krista in front

This is moving naturally at it's best...as well as spending time with family and strengthening the "tribe." All good stuff.  We're building a lifestyle...looking to create an environment which consistently nudges us to healthy choices.  As a side note, Dad remarked this week I was going to turn green if I didn't eat a bit less salad. ::snort:: In the meantime, he is eating at least one salad a day. It's all good.

We stopped on the way back to town for a photo or two at the Little Su...whew...I have no idea how hot it was - but it felt hot traipsing around the trails.

Krista and Stacia

Stacia, Me and Krista - photo by Krista