先日の網掛ケージの出来に気を良くして、今度はバルコニーに置いてあったケールも網で保護することにしました。2階のナツメ苗の間に点在していた状態でモンシロチョウがやって来ると、狭いバルコニーを移動しながら追い払っていたのですが、ナツメの枝に服が引っ掛かってしまいがちでした。ケールを一箇所に集約して網掛することでチョウの産卵の心配が無くなります。ポルトガルケールはバルコニーに３株、庭に２株。普通のケールはここに４株、庭に１株。
Having confirmed the usefulness of the vegetable cage that I built a few days ago, I decided to cover the kale plants on the upstairs balcony, by gathering them in one place. These kales had been placed between jujube pots, and whenever I saw cabbage butterflies, I had to walk sideways chasing the insects. Every time I did so on the narrow balcony, my clothes got caught by jujube branches. By covering the kales with a net, I no longer have to worry about green grubs. Having sacrificed one pot of each variety, I now have 5 plants of each, including the ones in the garden.
庭の棗は、今年の春に地植えにした皇帝ナツメと、鉢植えの日本ナツメ。これ↓は皇帝です。
The jujubes in the garden are one 'Emperor' and one Japanese variety. This tree in the below photo is Emperor which I planted in the ground this spring.
２階のナツメ苗はおびただしい数の花が咲いていますが、着果の兆しは無し。対して、遅れて咲き始めたこの皇帝は、授粉の確認ができる箇所がたくさんあります。でも、本格的な着果が期待できるのは７-８月の猛暑のなかでの開花です。
The jujubes on the upstairs balcony have tons of flowers but no sign of fruit setting. In contrast, the Emperor started flowering late but I can see numerous flowers that seem to have successfully pollinated. However, I must not forget that it is really flowers of July-August, during extreme heat, that result in serious fruit setting.
こちら↓は２年前の７月に買った日本種の苗。そのときは猛暑の時期だったので、そうっと鉢増ししただけで、去年の春に絡まった根っこをほぐして徹底的に粘土の土を洗い落としました。そのショックで去年は全く成長なし。今年の春にやっと新梢が出てきて、それがもう50cmほどに伸びています（赤矢印が今春のスタート点）。
This is the Japanese jujube that I bought in July 2024. We were in the middle of a heat wave then, so I simply potted it without disturbing the roots. In spring last year, I washed off the heavy clay soil and cut a great deal of entangled roots. The shock to the plant was too much and there was no growth during last year. However, this spring, new branches shot out and they are already 50cm long (the red arrows indicate the starting points of this year).
花数も去年より多い。
And, it has more flowers than last year.
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
今日も暑かったですが、夕方は乾燥した涼しい風が吹くなか、城北公園へ向かいました。草丈が伸び始めた草地に座り込んでリラックス。
It was another hot day today. In the evening, we had cool breezes and we set off to the Johoku Park, where we sat down and relaxed among the tall grass.
タイガが目でオヤツを催促。ヨダレが風に揺れている。
Taiga urging me to pull out the treat, with her saliva swaying in the breeze.
今日のは牛タンの乾燥皮で、完全無添加です。
A healthy treat - dried skin of cow's tongue with no additives whatsoever.カリカリ音をたてて満足そうに食べています。
She savours it making a crackling sound.
あっ、カンタ。
She spots Kanta in the distance.
カンタはタイガより４歳ちかく年下なのに、タイガはいつも低姿勢で挨拶します。しっぽが完全に右側に倒れている。
Kanta is nearly 4 years younger than Taiga, but she always greets him as if she were his junior. Notice her tail falling to the right - she likes him a lot.
カンタはシュッとした甲斐犬です。
Kanta is a sharp-looking Kaiken.
紫色の舌班が見えます。タイガの舌班は口の奥に小さなのがあるだけ。
He has purple stains on his tongue. Taiga's spot is much smaller and is located at the back of her mouth.帰りしな、タービュレンのルイ君にも会えました。ルイ君はタイガより１歳下の12歳で、幼馴染です。
On our way home, we met Louis, a male Belgian Tervuren. He is 12 years old, and one year younger than Taiga. They have been good friends since they were puppies.
家の近くまで来ると暗くなり始めていて、東の空に満月がかかっていました。
By the time we reached our neighbourhood, it was getting dark, and I noticed a full moon in the east.
西の空は夕焼け。明日も暑くなりそうです。
In the west, there was a shepherd's delight, indicating another hot day tomorrow.
