Garden Challenges - Wind, Bugs & Birds

  We had a "pop up" storm yesterday afternoon; lasted about an hour and dumped .6" of rain. Pretty localized storm, but the big thing was strong winds with it, blowing right out of the north. (Most of our rain comes from the south or southwest.)

  Here is what it did to my first and third sweet corn plantings.

  I straightened it up as best I could. Stomped the wet dirt down next to the roots, and even used a few stakes and twine. Hope to salvage most of it. Seems like this happens every year, but this might be the worst.

  Spotted the first Japanese beetles and squash bugs today. So the battle begins for garden supremacy...man against bug.

  The yellow squash is producing well and the zucchini is starting (in fact, Rita just brought me a hot buttered crust of zucchini bread! Mmmm...Mmmm)

  The Walla Walla and Candy onions continue to grow rapidly, even though the tops have started breaking over. getting some good size to them.

The blackberries are ripening fast and the birds, especially mocking birds, are always lurking. Here is our defense.

  Uncle Charlie is hanging out 24/7, pie tins banging against steel posts, and notice the ribbon. I wish I could post a movie; it is holographic reflective "Scare Tape" I got from Jung Seeds. When the breeze hits it it looks like a laser beam, and when the wind picks up, it sounds like distant thunder. I like it!