Buff Orpingtons at 4 weeks

It's been 7 days since we added these kids to the family. Everyone is doing well...well enough that we had to step up the tub size this week. These Rubbermaid tubs get a work out around here. They can be used for so many things! I may give serious thought to turning this batch into a plastic pool before they're ready to be out on their own. That has a lot of merit with this many babies. It would be a good way to introduce them to the other hens as well.

They're socializing pretty well too. I try to handle them daily...the cat has met them...that was hilarious, wish the camera had be available! I had put the chicks in the bathtub while I cleaned their tub. It's a great little place for them to hang out...and easy to clean up afterward! Anyway...while I was out scrubbing up, hubby came out to talk to me, and Half Pint decided to introduce herself to the chicks. When Hubby found her, she was lying on the floor of the tub with the chicks climbing on her...that's how this house rolls! Jasmine has bathed all of them at least once.

There are some other things going on here... My peas are up about 2 inches inside their cloche. I'll let them get a little bit taller before I remove the frame and plastic. I'll remove the plastic as soon as the chilly weather gives up. I probably could take it off now...but it helps keep out curious kitty cats. I picked up rhubarb plants and asparagus plants...some day-lilies and I'm not sure if there was anything else...I got a little carried away as it was. I put the rhubarb and some of the asparagus in the beds today, and I put one package of day lilies in a barrel. There's another barrel right beside it...I think I have another package of the same kind...or there's another color too...I'll have to think about cluster or contrast!!

When we built our beds in the very beginning, we covered the bottoms of the beds with hardware cloth. I can't tell you how incredibly smart that has proven to be! All around the garden, we're constantly stepping into gopher tunnels...that collapse beneath our feet. I want to know where they're tossing all this dirt! I want it back!! LOL!

Our perennials and bulbs are blooming. So far we've seen the camellia bloom, the paper-white narcissus, snow-bells, and some of the daffodils. The thyme...I'm finding thyme in a lot of areas all of a sudden... I'm not sure if I bought that much more, or it's spreading some on it's own... Interesting. Not that I mind. I love the thyme and use it regularly.

My climate here is supposed to be a Zone 9...if that means hot and dry, seasonally wet where it usually doesn't get too cold...not much below 32°, then that's pretty much what it's like here. I'm finding my herbs do much better in the shade here. The summer heat is just too much for most plants. Container gardening only works well with clusters of pots with almost constant drip irrigation. The transpiration rate is just too high in the summer. Containers get too hot and become cookers here in the summer. On the other hand...solar cooking is incredibly easy (I'll bet!)!