Let's Talk about the Birds and the Bees

Kathleen and Josh have an amazing greenhouse this summer.

No matter the weather outdoors

(and much of it has been cold and rainy),

the atmosphere inside the greenhouse is warm, humid

and so earthy smelling.  Ahhhhhh!

I just want to get a chair and camp out in there!

One thing NOT in said greenhouse is a bumble bee.

Those useful creatures that buzz from flower to flower,

collecting pollen and, in turn, pollinating the plants.

I had never thought of it before, though I have been a gardener for...

 well, let's say many, many years!

But my gardens had always been outdoors 

with the wind, rain, birds and bees.

Inside, though, things were progressing differently.

We watched the plants grow tall

and green

and full of blossoms.

But, no little tomatoes were growing.

We were stumped!

We started asking successful Alaskan greenhouse gardeners and learned

that tomatoes are self pollinators.  But, to initiate this amazing skill,

the plants need to be shaken up, or blown, or rattled.

Josh put a fan inside and Kathleen and I began to give a vigorous shake

to each stem as we walked up and down the row.

And, what do your know?

It worked!!!

The cucumbers were another thing, however.

They are NOT self pollinators but need a dating service

to get results.

You see, it turns out there are "boy" flowers:

and cute little "girl" flowers with a tiny cucumber attached.

Sadly, that wee cuke will just die off with the flower unless

she is introduced to a nice looking boy blossom.

That's where I put come in!

I put on a yellow suit, strap on a pair or wings and begin buzzing around,

q-tip in hand.

"Buzzzzz-have I found a nice girl for you!"

"Buzzzzzzz-this boy is the neatest shade of yellow, my dear!"
"You'll be a perfect match! Buzz-buzz."

And, ta-da!

The pair got along famously, wouldn't you agree?

What was that?  This isn't exactly what you'd been expecting

to read on today's blog?

What on earth could you have been thinking?