Garden Varmints!

It has occurred to me that the battle of the varmint is ever changing. It has been a challenge to every gardener, farmer and plants-man since their first planting. The source of the trouble varies not only according to season but also according to the type of animal. The customary squirrel can be outsmarted by a child's pinwheel, an owl decoy or a quiet pellet rifle. Raccoons and bunnies can be trapped with a cage or completely kept outside the garden with an electrical fence around its perimeter. But what do you do with the two legged garden varmint? Yes, the child is cute as she is walking down the street but somehow as she leans and stretches over the fence that harbors the "Danger, don't play here" sign to reach the last of your small berry patch she looses her innocent appeal! Caught in the act of helping herself and briskly asked not to pick the berries the little girl exclaims, "They taste good and the other little boy has jumped over the fence to get them before too."

Of course, this would probably not present a problem if the berry patch was larger or if we were not attempting to grow as much of our food on our micro plot as possible for personal consumption. Dissuading and admonishment did not seem to have much of a discernible impact on the little girl. In fact, she continue to try to reach the berries for a few more minutes. She will surely return when no cars are in the drive way. Perhaps George Orwell correctly wrote "four legs are better than two."

Onions are IN

Red, Spanish and sweet onions planted in the fall have begun to show their scapes and will be ready to harvest soon. The last of the spinach has been plucked over the last week before it succumbed to the warmer temperatures. The potatoes were planted eight weeks ago and the "earlies" are blooming. The rest of the vegetable seeds have been in the soil for five weeks and the vegetables and fruits are springing forth on the tomatoes, beans and tomatillos. The cucumber and zucchini are following closely behind. Meanwhile, friends in Kentucky are just beginning to plant their spring garden and we are weeks from harvesting! In fact, a shipment of seed potatoes that was on back order from a grower was delivered this week and we forwarded it to our noted friends in Kentucky because it is too hot, wet and late in our season to grow them here in Florida. Living in the South has its advantages!