Misawa77 said:That is a surprising low number for you Tom. Is it the conditions in your neck of the woods or is it a Union thing with the chickens (the "help") and "stock"* from Australia?
* I know "they" don't like that word; gives them the willes!
Lots of activity on this tread!
Greg the explanation to this is very complicated. You see Chickens are very sensitive individuals, and although they love digging and weeding my gardens, as per their pre-natal training, they are a bit old fashioned, and they seem to think that the Southern born irises are inferior. So, it's been a long process trying to undue the centuries old, still existing feud between Northern Chickens and Southern Irises. I have been working with pre-natal training, and post hypnotic suggestion to create an environment of acceptance but as of yet have not been able to succeed at changing this old hate filled logic. Seems the new chicks are quickly brought into line with the old thinking by the older ones. Cultural changes are very difficult when a thread of hate is still fostered in the adult chickens. So, when I introduce "Southern Irises" into the fold, they are not treated equal to the other irises. They get a peck here, a scratch there, or a bite here, and soon they are wanting out, often committing suicide. I have been successful at integrating only a few by placing fictitious "Northern" name tags near them. So far that has worked, but I have to be careful not to over do it until I am sure that they will be accepted while living in the closet. Maybe with a few more generations of pre-natal training, and post hypnotic suggestion, we can create a peaceful environment where Southern Irises can be included in the garden without having to hide their identity from the Chickens.
Either that or I have to eat a lot of chicken soup and do my own weeding.
(Looks to me like spring better get here pretty soon!)