It has been a very mixed past two days. I  have come to the conclusion that we have been invaded by a new nemesis:  the army worm.  They don't seem to kill as fast as an army bug, but they have eaten more than their fair share and are now trying to cocoon in my asparagus fronds.  I must say they squish delightfully when stepped upon.    It is hard not to be a bit vengeful when nearly every strawberry out there has a hole in it.   Last week, we visited a winery in Texas that had been attacked by these worms and the department of agriculture had to be called.   To top of the indignity of fighting pests on a spring day, I think cane borers have killed a blackberry bush, one of the ones that was 3 years old now.

    
     However, it can never be all bad on a beautiful day like today.  Jack found baby blue berries on the bushes we planted in the fall.  This will be my 3rd try with blue berries and I need to learn faster.  I am encouraged also by a shoot that has appeared where a plant died last year.  If the berries can make it through the summer, we will move them in the fall, and they will be the first official plantings on the farm. In the mean time, we will pay my sister to water them.  I did manage to pick a handful of strawberries and am almost salivating at the thought of salsa when I look at my green tomatoes.