So, clippers, multi-colored bread twist-ties,hammer and nails in hand, I ventured out into the sweltering, humid 86 degree afternoon yesterday and tackled the chicken wire.

You know, it’s not hard. And I’m glad to have it as a resource that I can handle. It’s just a pain. But, I now have an extra layer of protection for my garden fence and I hope the baby bunnies will soon be weaned and ready to move OUT of our yard in search of food. I am just crossing my fingers that they don’t snack their way all the way down the rock garden path, enjoying the sweet delectable blooms of the purslane, wine cup, allysum, sedum and other snacks!

There is no way to protect the path (at least no way that I can think of other than netting). And, just to warn you, I will cry shamelessly if they attack it, as it’s taken me a long time to nurture it along to mostly full coverage of plants between the rocks and path.

So, I’m just not gonna think about it. There – that works for me!

*** I’m sad to add to my report that Tanner brought me one of the baby bunnies today — into the house, alive but hurt from being grabbed by a dog with big jaws. I put him back into the nest, but checked on him after lunch and he’d gone to bunny heaven. So, I removed him and tucked the other little fuzzies back into their nest and I guess I will go out with Tanner EVERYTIME for about the next 2 weeks> (Based on the development of the baby bunny, that’s how long I think it will be before they leave the nest.) So, not only are they liable to eat me out of house and home and garden, but now I can’t leave the dog outside alone for 2 weeks. Sheesh! ***

On a much happier note, I had some more radishes from the garden in my salad last night – French Breakfast Radishes. They were delicate and crispy and yummy. (Though my 5-year old, enticed to take a trial bite with the bribe of a roll, pronounced them, “DEE-sgusting!” But she tried one, and that’s a good thing.

Here we have the first little paper “lanterns” of the Tomatillo plant. For those of you not from Texas or the Southwest, the Tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica) is from the Slanaceae or nightshade family. It has small, round, green fruit and it is surrounded by a paper-like husk that splits when the fruit matures for harvest. Tomatillos are the source of Salsa verde, or green sauces and salsas used in Mexican food. My DH make delicious fresh salsa with them, with roasted garlic and peppers and onion and cilantro. Ummmmm … makes me hungry just thinking about it.

But we’ll have a while to wait for a full harvest with enough to make a snack. They love the hot sun.

They are often thought of as being a tomato sibling, and are mistakenly called “green” tomatoes, and while they are in the same family, they are a different genus.

And, here’s a shot of my bush beans – just because they are so pretty and I love that Tee-Pee (purchased at the Natural Gardener).