tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22361479.post2330520536205823733..comments2024-03-16T06:23:29.917-07:00Comments on The Reverberate Hills; or The Apotheosis of the Narwhal: Tomato Tuesday 2015/9Patrick J. Vazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279528648512493917noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22361479.post-79420805242188374872015-07-08T07:21:03.926-07:002015-07-08T07:21:03.926-07:00Lisa, Yeah, I'd rather avoid dependency. I jus...Lisa, Yeah, I'd rather avoid dependency. I just want them not to feel the need to bolt when I show up.<br /><br />Thank you for that link to the Times article! It is quite fascinating. I've made some adjustments, but I have to pat myself on the back for being fairly thoughtful about water even before this spring. And it is true that a lot of this is about making us feel we're doing something, because as you pointed out in an earlier comment industry & agriculture use most of the water anyway.Patrick J. Vazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09279528648512493917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22361479.post-56420609936785568232015-07-08T07:07:33.343-07:002015-07-08T07:07:33.343-07:00Michael, You've made my plants cry. Are you ha...Michael, You've made my plants cry. Are you happy now? (At least tears are water, of a sort.)<br /><br />Actually, I've been providing the roaming cats with water and occasionally milk for a couple of years now, and they are still reluctant to stay in the yard when I'm there. At this point I just figure it's my St Francis duty to give them access to the occasional drink.<br /><br />Speaking of wildlife and water, though: several times last year I had a hummingbird come up and stick its beak into the stream of water from the hose while I was watering tomatoes. That was pretty terrific.Patrick J. Vazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09279528648512493917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22361479.post-66187730250802812002015-07-08T07:05:01.704-07:002015-07-08T07:05:01.704-07:00Offering them food might make them your pals. Or p...Offering them food might make them your pals. Or pets, which you might not want.<br /><br />But speaking of water, I thought of you when I read <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/08/dining/california-drought-restrictions-kitchen-chef-restaurants.html" rel="nofollow">this Times article yesterday</a>.Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22361479.post-3598179912273820962015-07-07T21:59:48.503-07:002015-07-07T21:59:48.503-07:00To hell with your plants, I kept thinking, after t...To hell with your plants, I kept thinking, after that striking interlude with the birdbath water being lapped up by the feral cats who look at you with complete distrust. Keep providing them water, maybe a little food, and the next thing you know, one of those strange Martian creatures might bond with you rather than fleeing. Those are great pics of them staring at you with apprehension.Civic Centerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12362422142667230626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22361479.post-2709402945243267582015-07-07T14:02:27.685-07:002015-07-07T14:02:27.685-07:00I do the bucket brigade thing as well, which is pr...I do the bucket brigade thing as well, which is probably the only reason half my plants are still alive. I did have a plumber fix some leaks a few months ago, so that reduced some waste as well.<br /><br />The cats can stay in their "Born Free!" state; I just wish they wouldn't flee in terror when I step into the yard. Companionable indifference would work.Patrick J. Vazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09279528648512493917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22361479.post-84391672917741991012015-07-07T11:25:57.672-07:002015-07-07T11:25:57.672-07:00You're right about treating water with more re...You're right about treating water with more respect. I know lots of people saving water in buckets (when they start running water for a shower, for example) and hauling the water out to their gardens. You might be able to water the tomatoes more, too.<br /><br />The cats are really beautiful and certainly related. Probably too old to be tamed, unfortunately, if they are feral.Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22361479.post-73138903913034914252015-07-07T10:56:34.131-07:002015-07-07T10:56:34.131-07:00Yes, though I can't help feeling that it's...Yes, though I can't help feeling that it's still a good idea for us to treat water with more respect. But maybe I can start watering the tomatoes a little more often.Patrick J. Vazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09279528648512493917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22361479.post-4519592736954702302015-07-07T07:24:31.219-07:002015-07-07T07:24:31.219-07:00Our personal conservation is, imo largely symbolic...Our personal conservation is, imo largely symbolic, with agriculture using 80% and industry using 13% of California's water. I mean, if Californians were to cut all residential use by 50%, the overall water-use reduction would be 3.5%.Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.com