Rain Gryphon

An interesting day, filled with things to do and see!


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A dead, gutted Shrew. Like all Shrews, he has those weird black teeth. He'd been lying in the yard for a day or two before I found him, I'm pretty sure. Dead Shrews are a not uncommon summer sight here. The birds get into dozens of fights every day, but with them it's largely stylized and restrained. The loser gives ground, and everyone is at peace again. With the Shrews, it's life and death. I may well have seen the Shrew who killed him too. Some time later I was sitting on the front step (sans camera, sadly), very quietly, and saw a movement down in the grass, which was a Shrew taking his chances to run quickly right past the end of my foot.


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I could hear this godawful fuss from the Starlings out front, and I wondered if someone's nest was being raided. I went to check, and found a baby Trash Panda. He was sitting by the base of the nest-filled tree where I saw the locust shells last autumn. My initial fear was that he was ill, but after watching him for a bit I decided that he was just out in the daytime for whatever reason (probably being young and a dumbass). I think he's just about weaning age, so may just have been out exploring. He almost got run over crossing the road back to the abandoned house (where I suspect he and his sibs live), and then later I saw him again, or another just like him, by the brushpile in back.


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The majestic Toad. He was sitting in back beneath the Sparrow colony. He has a certain self-assured presence. I just about stepped on him going back to check on the Sparrows, but he hopped at the last second.

As well, I got part of my container Tomatoes planted, and put some new Hens and Chicks into this weird-looking Mexican pot, with little sort of "balconies" on the side for the offspring to take root in.

Siberian Black Tomatoes! Being from Siberia, they have a short growing season, and are producing nicely already, even though I planted them late (end of May). I bought them on impulse, mainly for the novelty value, but they're an extremely flavourful, low-acid tomato, if a bit on the smallish side. I'm well-pleased, and will plant more (and earlier) next year. The variety is "Black Prince", from Bonnie.

They actually look more brown than black, I think. Sort of a brickish colour. Wonderful salad tomatoes!



I did a poor job of planting these, too. They're in open shade about half the day, and crowded too closely together. I think if I let them have more sunlight and space next year, they'll do even better. I could have left this one to ripen a day longer, I think. Still a tiny bit unripe in the very top quarter inch or so of the core.