Summer has arrived a couple days early, with scorching hot temperatures.
Today it was in the high 80s most of the day, then inching into the low 90s around dinnertime. I kept a close eye on them throughout the day, looking for obvious signs of heat stress.
Around 5 p.m., I went back out to check on the birds. The weather sensor I have on the coop registered 90 degrees in the shade. I took a close look, and immediately saw that Loretta was panting. Gigi and Nelli also had their beaks open, and Loretta was slightly drooping her wings in an effort to cool off.
I grabbed the waterer, and brought it into the kitchen to refill it with cold water. To give it some lasting power, I placed a frozen water bottle on the inside before putting the waterer back in the coop. Then I ran up to the local market to buy cold watermelon. I know the girls love it, and I was thinking that eating something cold might lower their body temperature.
The girls rebounded quickly, and soon sauntered out for a stroll in the yard. It wasn’t long before they found a field of fallen mulberries on the ground. They munched for a while, most likely surprised by their good fortune. Watermelon AND mulberries in the same day???
It’s supposed to be warm tomorrow, too, so I bought an extra watermelon. The girls will love me for it.
In the garden
A couple weeks in, we are starting to see growth in the garden.
Today we spotted several baby cherry tomatoes on the vine. Also we spotted a handful of flowers on the cucumber plants, which are now growing up high enough to touch the trellis. Did I mention the corn is knee high?
The greatest surprise is that the cauliflower plants now have baby cauliflowers growing in them. I don’t know how else to explain it, but there’s a small white ball in the heart of the plant. This greatly excited Matt. I took a photo and sent it to him, and somehow I imagine that greatly disrupted his morning at work. I didn’t want the cauliflower plants because, well, I hate cauliflower. But it’s Matt’s favorite vegetable, like, ever! So this development is huge, and a victory of sorts for him!
Chicken Scratch Fever 