Started the foundation for the meat rabbit colony coop. This is the part I hate: leveling, putting down wire…all the boring, tedious bits. Before I can finish it, though, and move on to the fun building, I need that one stumpy limb of the old apple tree removed. Thankfully, my uncle has a chainsaw, and is willing to come help me out! He’s coming Weds, so hopefully the weekend will be nice, and I can get some work done here.
While I’m waiting on this, I started designing my “Insect Hotel”.
It’s behind the big roof garden quail coop, so it’s out of the way…yet will be attractive enough to be a cool surprise when you walk around the corner! I’m going to plant a few things in the pots, and around the base of them, and keep building the cinder block and wood platform up higher. Each level will have different things on it: blocks of wood with holes drilled through for mason bees, bundles of straw and reeds, pinecones…basically all the things that bugs like to overwinter in. Beside it, is the rhubard, just starting to show leaves, so that will be quite pretty, I think.
The bottom layer is for any frogs or toads that would care to move in. I’ve put some overturned flower pots underneath, and barricaded it off from the squirrels. There is also a tiny little dish of water – although hopefully later this year I’ll have time to install the larger wildlife pond I have planned. It’s a few feet away, on the other side of the compost.
And look! I found this broken mason block, and was about to throw it away, when I realized it makes a perfect frog house!
Last of all – look at this cool addition to the garden: a little olive tree!
I did not know that any type of olive would ripen in the Pacific NW where I live, but then I discovered this one! It’s called ‘Arbequina’ and is self-fertile. It says it often started bearing the year after planting, which is very exciting. I hope it thrives.
Out of Eden 