Rain, Rain, Go Away!!  The abundant rain has made the cucumbers ripen quickly these days.  I was throwing the overripe ones over my shoulder into the bushes.  Bernie surprised me by searching out these fruits and eating them!!  He really likes cukes.  He also enjoys onions and potatoes.  Yesterday he ate the split shoulders of a tomato that I had throw in the compost bucket.  He was sneaking potatoes when Dad and I were harvesting last week.  I just found the half eaten potatoes today when trimming the rows.  Bernie is such a joy to have at our farm.  He has really blossomed and calmed down in the six weeks that we've had him.
      He is truly earning his keep:  A stranger stopped at the intersection a few days ago and was out of the car approaching the garden.  He let out some fierce barks and met them before they walked 20 feet.  Hackles and muscles were definitely a deterrant, since this person did not stick around.  The out of state license plates made me think this person could have been lost, but approaching a lone woman in a field in the country is not the best way to find your way.  Bernie came out of the hedgerow at a run, and it was awesome to view.  He knew the property line, and stood his ground till they pulled away.  I am so proud of him. 
    On the bee front:  We were prepping for market yesterday and heard a LOUD buzzing sound.  Lo and behold, a swarm was moving through the air about 15 feet from the ground.  I was excited to see this phenomenon, and dismayed since they were probably splitting from one of our colonies.  It is late in the year for them to be swarming.  Redemption, they rested in a buckthorn tree on our property.  This morning I cut a path in to the tree, set up a hive body, and gave the tree a hearty shake.  The third shake gave the desired result, and a blob of bees fell into the box.  Many bees were flying around in alarm.  I'll go back later today to evaluate if the queen fell into the box.  If she did, the other bees will stay with her, and "TADA!", a new colony for free.  Cross your fingers for me!!

 

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