Fourth of July Garden Update

The bumble bee genus Bombus

We have commented before about the large numbers of bumble bees that have congregated in the Church garden this summer, but we've been surprised that their numbers continue to increase. It seems like every squash, pickle, and zucchini blossom has at one or two Bombus buzzing in and out of them before rushing off to a neighboring blossom. If you visit the garden anytime soon, stand quietly for a few minutes (if the sun is shining) and start doing a rudimentary count. You'll quickly you reach a thousand...with more bees to count...before you give up.

Along with the helpful bumble bee have been the usual villain-bugs. On Monday morning we felt quite proud of our acorn and butternut squash vines--some squash was already as large as your fist--and by noon the same day the vines had wilted and were retreating into plant history. What happened? Borers, we suppose. Anyway, it makes you want to holler.

We've also had mice (and a fine red tailed hawk to eat them), fighting cardinals, an indigo bunting, crows, a wood thrush, and a poor lost dog that the dog catcher hauled off on Tuesday morning. We wish the dog well and have said a little prayer that he finds a home (which is a fair distance from the garden).

The apple trees remain pathetic but alive, the cucumbers are so numerous as to be a nuisance, and we'll have tomatoes in a week or two. Once again, zinnia and sunflower beds overshadow the plodding progress of the mere vegetable.

We thank God for giving us the pleasure of observing the entirety of His Universe in our small piece of dirt.