It’s fun to watch the birds…

…eating the remains of the last few paltas (avocados) at such close range.

But there is that other thing.

Guess who else likes paltas?

I put the avocados I pick up off the ground on the patio table (otherwise unused this time of year, hence dirty). This one was quite damaged, but perfect for our well-fed little robin friend. In the past, it has feasted on fruit on the tree, so this is a welcome development.

The “droppers”

The front avocado tree has been dumping immature avocados like crazy. No idea why.

My gardening

The patio where I try to grow things in containers.

The side of the house, which an amazing squash plant has made impassible.

One of the avocado trees I planted 12 years ago. The other is on track to produce only a handful this year.

It is the other tree that has produced monsters in years past.

Robins like paltas

In previous years, we thought it was a comedreja (possum) eating our avocados. Nope – this year it’s birds. As you can see they’re doing a fine job. I must say, though, unlike some other birds, they are very thorough. Nothing goes to waste.

So I guess if the birds are happy, I am as well.

Behold the beady eyes

Hearing the dogs stir shortly after sunrise this morning, I got up to let them out. Almost immediately Mocha started barking at the closer avocado tree (for the record, not the one I put fence around). Aha!

comadreja - possum - in avocado tree — Hmmm …. trying to remember – can dogs climb trees?

The first year we had avocados, there were 32 of them. So when a possum got one, it was a big deal. This year, both trees have been producing since March. At 6:45 AM, standing naked in the back yard watching a four-legged looter getting ready to steal an avocado, my best course of action quickly became clear: go back to bed.

Later we saw that the critter had indeed had a heart-healthy breakfast. Mocha wonders if it is still in the tree.

Meanwhile, a few feet away, our little orange tree whose first harvest (three oranges?) happened this year, looks primed to do considerably better next. Which would be wonderful. But I have to wonder if it will be as “dumb” as our lemon tree, and grow so much fruit that a branch breaks. Time will tell.