mixed results...

yesterday this tree was crawling with bees...

today all i see is blooms...

which in itself isn't an issue...

neither is the fact that the dragonflies that were on the hunt yesterday are nowhere to be sen....it is a gloomier day than yesterday with a threat of rain which keeps a lot of organisms indoors...

and the temperatures are unseasonably cool...the average is eighty ( fahrenheit )...and i control none of this and yet it adds to my unease...we have had eleven inches of rain since may first...over a quarter of the yearly averages ( i know...averages lie and the way things are shaking out they are going to have to be reset anyway...wet gets wetter...dry gets drier...despite what the deniers say )...withthat and the cool temperatures...

the tomatoes are stalled...

and the peppers are yellowing in their displeasure at all the rain...

while i have functional maize plants...

something has been gnawing the tops off some...and at this stage of the season the squirrels are innocent...it is the rabbits that are bludgeoning my maize and in response i planted thirty-two more this morning..and i have more seed..it is late but i will have mature plants...they will not get them all...

deepening and adding luster to my discontent with them they have been at the northern tepehaun teocintli as well...it is far too late to do anything about this except hope they leave some alone...possible if unlikely...all i can do is freeze the seed i have and try again next year...no one should mistake how unhappy this make me...

the zea mexicana plants remain unmolested for the nonce...they may not be anywhere near as tasty as their cousins or their descendants...i can't feature that they have not been discovered...so there is hope for "wild and weedy" ears...

there are positives going on as well...the third year asparagus is robust...

it has bloomed so there is a possibility of "berries"...

and the second year asparagus is happily cohabiting with the new york import berries...different root depths means they are not in competition for nutrients so the should both stay green...especially after i toss in come compost to dress the bed...

the concord grapes have finished blooming for the most part...there should be a fair crop in the catalpa tree...

and a few in the fir trees as well although those are newer vines and may not come int full production until next season...

the winter rye and wheat are booming along...

and the rye shows signs of ripening...

the michigan purple in the campus garden has already bloomed and the cool, wet weather has the one here making noises about doing the same...fruits perhaps if i am fortunate...tubers at the very least...

unsurprisingly the jerusalem artichokes have formed a wall of green intransigence...that walking onion however is inordinately large in my experience...it must feel at home...and, seemingly, unintimidated...