Today DH helped me finish enclosing 2 of my 3 veggie patches (the third is fallow at the moment). This morning I had caught Mr Turkey scratching around in the second one as it wasn't enclosed completely. I discovered that he was eating a potato that he had dug up out of the garden bed. I planted those last week but might have to just plant some more in case there aren't any under the ground any more :-).
By this afternoon, more plastic mesh had been purchased and the bed of potential potatoes was fully enclosed...we've run the mesh around the potted tomatoes and parsley. Three of the nasturtium seedlings that I planted last week have survived being dug up. To me, nasturtiums are a part of spring!
Yesterday, we were 80cm short of mesh for the other veggie bed, so that was finished off today too.
Mr Turkey dug up one lot of potatoes that had just started to have green leaves shoot up through the soil but there was only a little bit of damage to the first planting of potatoes in this same bed. The lettuces and tomatoes seem to have been spared...
Elsewhere in the garden all is fine...albeit some pruning and weeding needed in a few parts. The turkey doesn't see to go down the side of the house or walk around the front garden looking for things to destroy.
Many of the plants have been flowering for weeks...they thought it was Spring at the beginning of August not September! lol
My Marmalade plant ( Streptosolen jamesonii) has the most flowers that I've ever seen on it!
And my NZ Christmas bush has been flowering for quite a few weeks...
When DH mentioned to his friend Tim, that I had a turkey problem in my veggie patch. he sent us this photo. Apparently he makes these and he says they work...they fool turkeys into going elsewhere as they are very territorial. If the turkey keeps coming back and there is still 'another turkey' in that area, Tim says that they just won't come back. We are going to give it a try...
This is Tim's explanation...
' Here it is. It works, believe it or not. Male turkeys are territorial and if one with a large wattle doesn’t move on, then the newcomer does. I’ve done a few out of corflute and a friend’s friend’s neighbour in West End who is a landscape gardener was very sceptical until he saw the results himself. I should go into business. This friend of a friend said they would sell like hotcakes at the West End Green Markets.'
So, as they say, stay tuned!
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| One dug up seed potato with a big chunk bitten out of it, lol |
Yesterday, we were 80cm short of mesh for the other veggie bed, so that was finished off today too.
Many of the plants have been flowering for weeks...they thought it was Spring at the beginning of August not September! lol
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| My potted succulent here is flowering... |
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| The old fashioned geranium (pelargonium) has been covered in blossoms too |
And my NZ Christmas bush has been flowering for quite a few weeks...
' Here it is. It works, believe it or not. Male turkeys are territorial and if one with a large wattle doesn’t move on, then the newcomer does. I’ve done a few out of corflute and a friend’s friend’s neighbour in West End who is a landscape gardener was very sceptical until he saw the results himself. I should go into business. This friend of a friend said they would sell like hotcakes at the West End Green Markets.'
So, as they say, stay tuned!
5 comments:
O dear - the turkey saga continues - so disheartening to see your work dug up - luckily your were able to salvage some of it. I have heard stories before of putting dummy animals in your garden to deter 'real' ones - they have always been successful stories. Good luck with your new 'addition' - hopefully lots of frustration averted and dollars saved!!
Good Luck with Mr Corflute Turkey!
People around d here with ponds have the same problem with herons and decoy herons seem to do the trick. Being on the opposite side of the world it is strange that you are planting potatoes. We are digging them up to store for the winter! Good luck with your turkey defences! Xx
I hope Mr Faux Turkey does the job!
He looks very professionally made - perhaps your friend does need to start a business making them, before someone else does.
Hi Maria
Your garden is looking good, despite the efforts of your resident turkey.
Spring has really sprung here in Brisbane. I love this time of the year.
It's so dry through, my present tool of choice in the garden is the hose pipe!
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