This whimsical creature visited the garden recently - it's a Spiny Softshell Apalone spinifera.

He was stuck inside the fence, so we pointed him back toward the pond, and he made haste to get back into the water.  Hope you all are staying cool! 

An often-broody hen like Henriella is worth her weight in gold.  

These were used to import coffee, then later as packing materials -- they came to us by way of our friends at Wild Birds Unlimited.  Burlap allows for breathing and is quick to dry when there's sun.

They have some ability to hold a form, and create a tent....like with the tall broccoli. 

Here's an after image, of the difference between uncovered (left) and covered (right). 

Here, a few cabbage in the row are covered with one burlap blanket.  We'll see in a few days, if this scheme worked in this latest blast of wet and cold weather.