Peanut and her crew remained in the garden for twelve hours solid, then, without warning, she simply marched off with her chicks in front of my very eyes!
The next day my phone rang off the hook as neighbours reported sightings of them, splashed across local social media. It seems they went walkabout across an area of about two miles, finally ending up in the grounds of a nursing home, where a neighbour of the peacock guy, rounded them up into a horse box and took them all back home. The whole spectacle created quite a buzz across the neighbourhood, with multiple people getting involved, helping them across roads and over walls and fences.
So, a happy ending for now, however, having done the trip once, I’m sure they can all do it again. I really do believe Peanut came by to say hi and show off her brood, then maybe she checked out some old haunts she frequented before she moved in with me.
It was an absolute pleasure spending a day with Peanut and her brood, and now that I know a horsebox is available for future round-ups, I won’t be as concerned if she shows up again.
Given these strange times, I’m trying to grow as much food as possible, in a variety of different ways. Much of it is very experimental.
I’ve up-cycled an old palette and planted it with herbs grown from seed and micro chard, which I prefer small, as the tiny leaves are delicious in soups and salads.
The palette is in The Allotment at the moment, ideally it would hang on the fence by the herb station, but I’m concerned Buddy would use it as a ladder to climb the fence! I’m really looking forward to the plants bushing out and greening up.
I’ve often wondered how quickly seeds can be grown from fresh veg, so I sowed cherry tomatoes, long red peppers and courgettes and also planted some onion bottoms.
I was surprised to see everything but the courgettes come up within a week, I always thought seeds needed drying out. Obviously it’s too late in the season to grow any of these on, apart from the onions.
The garlic bulb sitting on a glass of water is now ready for planting, as are the ends of the spring onions. As one batch moves on, another is prepped to take over.
You can just snip at the stems of the spring onions growing in water, rather than plant them out. Always leave a third of the stem though.
As the lettuce growing in pots is harvested, I re-used the space to plant the garlic, re-grown spring onions and carrot bottoms. The carrot bottoms won’t produce a carrot but do provide delicious micro greens, and if left to grow, seeds!
I always leave the lettuce roots in the pot after harvesting as they often grow back. It’s comforting to know how easily you can re-grow vegetables.
The herb cuttings that were rooting in glasses of water on the windowsill are ready for planting now.
I’m also growing watercress in glasses, as it thrives and grows so much faster than it does outdoors. It’s also far easier to harvest when it’s on a windowsill in the kitchen.
The micro greens are almost ready for picking, I have to admit to grazing on them regularly, as they are delicious.
It’s best to start picking them when they have three sets of true leaves.
I love the fact that this batch used up all my old seeds, for the next batch I’ll collect seeds from the rocket, spinach, chard and a few brassicas that I’ll let run to seed.
I hid some of my brassicas in the greenhouse given I was out of space, and of course the cabbage white butterfly got to them as the doors are left open during the day. They cheerfully munched away on the brassicas, utterly decimating them, and not having the heart to kill them I left them to it. I do love butterflies, even the dreaded cabbage white.
I must admit to being fascinated by the cocoons forming on what’s left of the plants, It’ll be interesting watching them hatch and I’ll be able to involve Littl’urchin in the process. It was interesting seeing how the caterpillars folded the leaves around themselves and spun a web attaching the leaves to some nearby seed packets to stabilize their new homes.
And Finally….
the dogs are getting far too many walks of late, every time I so much as twitch, all eyes are on me!
Talking of walks….
Littl’urchin seems to be a cow magnet, the minute the pram arrives at a fence, the cows come over, as do the sheep and horses!
It seems it runs in the family, absolutely everything followed my mother, daughter has the power to raise earthworms from any piece of lawn she sits on and attracts spiders by the dozen, I seem to attract wounded wildlife and domestic pets, while Littl’urchin’s a farm animal magnet! Strange but true!
Until next time, stay safe folks!
Thanks Jason, those birds sure are looking good, hopefully they will stay put and keep off the roads. Microgreens are a great way to use old seeds, obviously better with new ones. They have so many health benefits, now I’m harvesting, I have to say they are delicious. xxx
Peanut and the gang look pretty good to me. Very impressed by your micro-greens operation!
It is, as always very entertaining reading about things that happen around your home. Creative story-telling and so full of humour! Love how you got creative with that wood pellet.
The way you described your dogs really had me laugh!
Those animals must have found her ( Littl’urchin ) too cute not to take a closer look!
Thanks Jade, there is never a quiet moment around here, something always seems to be brewing, but usually in a good way. Maybe you are right about Littl’urchin, she sure is cute, but now is growing fast and has a mind of her own which I admire. xxx
It’s fun to read about how you are experimenting with different ways to raise food. The palette is great. I really like the way it looks.
Thanks Sheryl, I’m enjoying making the most of the space I have and experimenting, the more you grow, the more you experiment with new dishes too.xxx
Now I have no question that Peanut brought her brood to you purposefully. She performed quite a service for the neighborhood, too. In these days of various restrictions, something unusual to watch can brighten the whole day.
I continue to be astonished by your expanding garden. My question is, where are you going to store all your goodies once they’re grown? My grandmother had a fruit cellar out behind the house. She canned everything — fruits, veggies, all of it. She never messed with herbs, though. She was more interested in green beans and cherries and such. But I always loved being sent out to fetch something, opening the doors, descending into the darkness, turning on the single bulb, and seeing all those glimmering, colorful jars.
Thanks Linda, Oh I agree, Peanut did entertain the community for sure, I was just horrified, constantly waiting to hear her or her chicks had been separated or run over, yet it seems they are more resilient than I think they are.
We invested in a new chest freezer to preserve most of our harvests, but, your grandmother’s fruit cellar sounds far more appealing! The thought of all those glistening jars! Preserving is an art, as I am discovering.xxx
This has to be the opening paragraph of a book…
I always loved being sent out to fetch something, opening the doors, descending into the darkness, turning on the single bulb, and seeing all those glimmering, colorful jars.
I love what you’ve done with the palet! It’s very stylish looking, too. Hope it does well for you. That was fun seeing the results of your planting experiments. You mentioned leaving a third of spring onions when harvesting. I had not heard that before and have snipped right to the soil line without the plant dying back. They do get rather huge over time and I need to start new ones.
That’s just brilliant about Peanut! She’s a celebrity now and may make the trek just to make new friends ;-). So glad there are addition options to getting her out of your busy neighborhood and back to her acreage.
Thanks Anne. I must admit to being surprised at how quickly the herbs and chard have grown in those cans, maybe they are warmer in there. As fast as I snip, back they come.
I cut fresh spring onions down to the stems, but when grown in water or re-planted, I always leave a third of a stem on to enable them to grow back a few times more, snipping at them works well.
Yes, Peanut is hot media property right now!!! So glad she is on the right side of the road!xxxx
OMG Peanut really is smart! Surely she came back to you to introduce her little ones, how sweet !!!!
Let’s hope she doesn’t mess around, but I don’t think where you live they take it out on animals… as happens in many places, unfortunately.
We too have “expanded” our vegetable cultivation: you never know, after the first panic in March and the rush to buy seeds (it was not possible to buy seedlings), we realized that it is possible and even cheaper.
Now I have moved on to phase two: I try to keep one or two specimens aside and then extract the seeds when the time is right! Great idea with garlic and onions (I did it with potatoes… just delicious).
We have had lots of green beans, snow peas, cucumbers of different types and now we have tomatoes, peppers and chillies.
And then there are also citrus fruits, while for the first time, I sowed peruan pysalis but for now there are only shrubs about one meter high. I haven’t seen any flowers yet, which seems a little strange to me.
The idea of using palets is great! Here’s what I can do when Emanuele Giosuè finishes his year’s exams… I supervise works, he prepares the grate by inserting the lower boards to put the earth.
Time flies, dear Dina. I wish you all to remain in excellent health… looking to the future with great serenity!
A big hug
I do like to think Peanut came back to show off her family, such a lovely family.
It was hard trying to buy seeds here too in early spring, I will make sure, like you, that I collect them from the fruit and veg in future. I do like to be self sufficent. Your harvest sounds wonderful!mGood luck with your Palettes, and good health to all of you. Love and hugs.xxx
I would have loved to have seen proud mama Peanut’s tour of the neighborhood. It must have been a spectacle. You made me laugh to see the lineup of expectant pooches on the couch. Ours also have come to expect multiple walks and play sessions every day and watch us like hawks for clues to what is coming next. They are loving this pandemic. Finally, your heart is softer than mine because I have no tolerance for cabbage white butterflies in any of their incarnations. I finally had to grow my brassicas in a screened-in box to keep the darned things out.
Looking at the posts on social media, Peanut’s parade certainly was something! Dogs catch onto things sooo fast….Oh….I agree about the butteflies and the damage they do, but….I still can’t harm them! It’s as though I’ve been programmed against it! Thanks Brenda.xxx
What a lovely happy ending to the Peanut story.
I was fascinated to read about your creative ways with veg and salad growing.
So you are all animal whisperers, even the baby? Watch out, peacocks are one thing, but you don’t want herds of cows grazing in your garden.
Thanks Chloris, it was marvelous seeing Peanut and her brood settled back home, for how long though. Oh my goodness…..the very thought of herds of cows…that will haunt my dreams, I’ll be sleeping with one eye open!xxx
Yay! I got onto your site this time!
I am thrilled to hear about the follow up to Peanut’s visit chez toi. What a lovely thing to happen, to bring her wee ones ‘home’ to proudly show you. She does sound a whole lot more independent. It does sound like a future visit may be on the cards.
Cows are very curious animals. They were very protective of me when I was heavily pregnant. Hubs couldn’t believe his eyes. He’d gone off up the field to explore a Martello Tower, a side trip for which I was far to huge to entertain; I doubt I would have got into the opening let alone up the winding steps. The cows surrounded me as if I was a member of their group, but also gave me my space. I have been known to commune with bovines except when a possessive bull intervenes and orders the member of his harem to return to his fold.
These days I try not to attract sheep. In days gone by I would talk to particular ones, or they with me. The lady farmer noted this ‘friendship’ and referred to the sheep as ‘the one you talk to”. As for horses, that’s selective. I haven’t had the ‘getting to know you’ experience with pigs because there aren’t any being reared in the vicinity. Hubs is particularly good with birds. His mum and great uncle were too.
Your veggies and preserves are coming on. You’ll need an out-house for all your storage needs ‘ere long. 🙂 xxxxx
So sorry you have had problems getting on this site, I have updated it hoping that would help. Peanut is far more independant now….I can see that in her posture and eyes! Just loved your story re the cows when pregnant, goodness, animals are so intuitive. Seems you are an animal whisperer, along with hubs! Welcome to the club! Re the supplies, we invested in a new chest freezer! Thanks Menhir.xxxxx
Well .. I should have read this post first obviously ! LOL
I did mean to mention I so love the photo of the little one in the field of yellow flowers !
Fingers crossed Peanut and chicks will stay in one place … for a while ?
Yes .. some humans have such an inner kindness and caring button, that animals, birds .. all creatures, seem to know it and want to share some “face time” with them.
If only there were more of those people on earth .. maybe the world would be a better place.
Good luck with the food experiments ! if it was left up to me ? we would be very thin indeed ! LOL
Thanks Joy. I have always known that all mammals, and creatures, gravitate to certain people when in need, I’m also a homeless person magnet, it can’t be eye contact as they tap me on my back, it has to be a vibe. Here’s hoping you never get too thin…lol.xxx
I wonder whether Peanut has a sense of home like homing pigeons? Lovely to see her and her brood again. I like your upcycled palette and tins for growing small plants. We grew chard for the first time this year – the large variety and we are enjoying it with potatoes like bubble and squeak as it’s similar to spinach.
I do think peacocks map their enviroment, just as all birds do. It was just lovely seeing her with those chicks, she’s had lots of others but hasn’t kept three alive in one brood to date. She is learning fast! I plant some chard out, to harvest like spinach, but keep lots small, it’s surprising how different they taste, age-wise. Must try it in bubble and squeak. Thanks Linda.xxx
Maybe Peanut wanted to show hear brood her past haunts. Thinking of watercress growing outdoors – we keep having to remove bucketloads from our garden pond.
I’m quite sure Peanut wanted to show her brood her past haunts and maybe all the places she found food and people who fed her, all part of their education. I had to remove all the watercress from the pond, it completely took over, it goes even faster in large glass jars indoors. Thanks Sue.xxx
What a fantastic post, your garden tips are amazing thank you so much for sharing. I love what you have done with the pallet and tins. I am going to show that picture to my daughter. She has a mud kitchen in the front garden made from pallets. She wanted to grow some plants on it and that would be a great way for her to do it!
Thanks Sustainablemum, I do enjoy experimenting. Oh, I do hope your daughter gets things growing on the mud kitchen, keep me posted re your blog, I’d love to see what she grows.xxx
I enjoyed reading about peanuts adventures but pleased that for the moment she is back home.
I’m sure Littl’urchin loves seeing the cows, sheep horses and all.
Enjoy the upcoming weekend, I think it will be a warm one.
All the best Jan
Thanks Jan, I too am relieved that they are all back home, although I suspect they will be back. Littl’urchin loves seeing all the animals, chickens are her favourite at the moment. xxx
Lovely post and pictures, I especially like the one of the dogs. That’s good news about Peanut and her brood, fingers crossed that they don’t reappear. xx
Thanks Flighty, they say you can’t teach old dogs new tricks, you can, as long as they are good new tricks! I have a feeling I haven’t seen the last of Peanut!xxx
No question that Peanut was bringing her brood to show you…how wonderful is that.
Love all your veggie experiments. We need to think very carefully about food etc….
Really loved the story of Lil Urchin attracting cows, sheep etc. and you and your Mother having similar gifts. I am not surprised at all…there’s magic in all of you XXXXX
Oh, seeing Peanut and her chicks was utterly wonderful for sure…..worrying though it was at the time. Now that I can look back, I can just enjoy the reunion. How I wish we all had magic!!! I think animals see auras or sense something that tells them who the softies are. Thanks Janet.xxxx
I always love your posts, Dina! I think your family exemplifies the fact that everything in creation is interconnected, and that should teach us to treasure and care for it in the right way, as you do. xx
Ahhh, thanks Gill. Oh yes, I have always believed that everything is interconnected, I even suspect google is now aware! xxx
A lovely ending to Peanut’s little jaunt. I’m sure she must have come to show off her babies to you, she’s a proud mum. You have so much growing and the experiments are interesting, it’s always fun to give something a go and watch the results.
Thanks Jo, I was relieved re Peanut being rounded up. It was such a pleasure to see her and her brood though, I still can’t get over the fact all four of them crossed a busy dual carriageway. Yes, experimenting is always fun and usually you learn a thing or two.xxx
Good old peanut! I love your recycled pallet garden; such a brilliant idea. I might give growing watercress a try. I love it but have never tried growing it. Sorry about the cabbage whites getting to your greenhouse brassicas but, as you say, Littl’urchin will love watching the whole life cycle. Fancy her being a cow magnet, the little Sweetie! xx
Thanks Veggiemummy. Oh do try growing watercress, it’s as easy as cress. Plonk it in a glass and it’ll be up and running within a week. Yes, good old Peanut, it’s always good following her adventures, and seeing her brood.xxx
Lovely post Dina, you are an inspiration when it comes to growing vegetables, everything looks so neat and orderly, we’ll take on your garlic soaking in water before planting, and I think we’ll try watercress, it is full of vitamins and good stuff…for some reason we haven’t tried that before.
Glad to read of Peanut’s adventures, and absolutely love the three dogs on the sofa photo….ready to go!
Littl’urchin attracting the cows, well isn’t that lovely, the cows know a good family when they see one.
Thanks Gerrie, I am an amatuer re growing veggies, thankfully nature does what it does best. I have say that very little inthe garden is neat or orderly, but I’ll take that, lol. I started my water cress by just planting shop bought in a jar, then the pond….it is utterly prolific, I had to remove it from the pond in the end. xxx
Great post and fantastic images. So its growing time again.
Thanks Peter. I’m hoping growing time is all year round this year.xxx
Oh, such a glorious post! Absolutely love the opening and closing shots of Sam, Annie, and Buddy; please give them smooches for me. They are adorable, as is your sweet granddaughter, and her genetic animal attractant, while fascinating, is not surprising, given your own magical connection to all things wounded and in need of healing. She just has her own version of the gift. 🙂
I LOVE your use of the palette and all the micro-greens, herbs, and veggies you’re propagating and recycling. I think all of this knowledge and these skills you’re using are very important these days. Good for you! So economical and efficient, too.
Thank you, again, for sharing your vibrant, green spirit and loving heart so generously. Your posts are always pure gift, and we sooooo need their good cheer and pep these days. Thank you! xoxo, K
Ahhh, thanks for such a lovely comment Kitty. Smooches delivered, canines say thank you and smooches right back atcha! It’s good to do a little experimenting re growing food, all the veg that we bought from the supermarket during lockdown was almost out of date as soon as it arrived. There was and still is a problem with picking crops, and as a result of climate change, UK potatoes couldn’t be picked last Autumn and stayed in the ground until late March, no wonder they were sprouting eyes as soon as we bought them. Here’s to this nightmare being sorted soon. Love and hugs, as always, to you all.xxxx
I love that Peanut returned to say hello and she brought her brood with her! Lovely to see, albeit stressful for the locals it seems! Your growing loot is very impressive too!
Thanks Ruth, it was lovely seeing Peanut with her brood, they are such beautiful birds, I wondered if any of her chicks would look like her down the line. I am enjoying growing more veggies than usual, you just can’t beat the taste of homegrown fruit and veg.xxx
Lol, your visitors and beautiful, I have two visitors which you’ll know of from my blog. Mine are more demanding and don’t cause such a flurry of local hubbub.
Your greenery abilities are astounding, I even managed to kill an air plant, even fake ones in my procession disintegrate.
Love how you attract wildlife, that’s so cute.
Thanks AnneMarie. Your visitors do sound easier to accommadate!! Hahaha…fancy being able to kill fake flowers! xxx