My best year yet for Apricots. Picked enough for about 10 pies which I hope to get done and into the freezer today. Al

You've worked to hard to defend your crop! Congratulations.

Hurray for you, Min!
I lost my nectarines this year again, so the tree is coming out. The avocados, however, were almost unscathed. I think Mikey and Sam the Dog removed the rodents who knew what, when, and where the avocados are, and it has taken the new generation until this week to rediscover them. I put bird netting over my cukes and eggplants, and that has prevented further losses. Avocados and cukes for everyone!
Renee

Inquiring minds want to know your secret, Al or are there no rodents at your place?
Min

Thank you Socks- we all need some commiseration when we discover that we have been robbed. It helps that others understand (and often share) the frustration. It's Us against Them and they outnumber us! An ancient war i know. I keep thinking of the "First Farmer," wearing an animal skin, who has grubbed out a little plot of land and made food grow, only to find that it was stolen overnight. I bet he threw some rocks! Min

There are now less rats here. Last year I used over $200 worth of rat poison. In mid season we were quite popular with the buzzard population, one landed 20 feet from our front window, very impressive! Al

The kind of rat poison that won't hurt birds that eat dead rats?

Good for you hoovb- i wanted to ask the same thing! Min

Yay congrats! I'm with you, Calistoga. Learned a thing or two about proper watering practices and saw our 2 Apricot trees EXPLOde this year. Last year we had about 5 total apricots, and one of the trees didn't produce anything. This year, there is no way we can eat all the fruit. Friends and family have been benefitting :)

I remember my grandfather putting small paper bags on every persimmon that he could. It looked like a lunch bag tree!