I'm growing tomatoes upside down this year. Given the weirdness of our weather (which means gargantuan rain storms and tornadoes this year,) the wretchedness of our soil and the unpredictability of the temperatures here (today just about 80, tomorrow will be 90 and Monday will be 95), I decided that growing tomatoes upside down might give me more control over uncertainties.

A while back, I woke up one morning to the sound of birds chirping away. The sound seemed awfully close, so I went out to see what was going on. Much to my amusement and horror, I discovered that wrens were building nests in the top of my upside down tomato planters. My husband suggested that I stuff old rags in the planters, thinking that that would eventually send these pesky wrens a message. They are cute little birds. But they are very prolific reproducers. They built a nest in a dryer vent just north of my office bedroom windows. Then they were intent on taking over my tomato planters and I wouldn't let it happen.

I guess I really made a mistake by thinking that I could remove those rags once the wrens got the message that I wouldn't let them build their nests there. Well, it did work for a while.....until today. All of a sudden, I saw wrens flying awfully close to my tomato planters. I looked out the window and much to my horror, they were at it again. They were working feverishly fast, bringing twigs, grass, whatever it is that they collect and coming back and forth. I went outside and tried to shake the planters. I pounded on them thinking the wrens would come out.....but they stubbornly refused.

Now I realized that I was going to have to wage war against a pair of wrens. I had no intention of hurting them or using chemicals or anything like that. But I still wasn't going to let them turn my upside down tomato planters into their nests. I went into the house, found some old rags and came out with them. I needed the step stool to reach the top of the planters. I stuffed a rag in the top of each of the planters and took the ladder and returned to the house. I was anxious to see what was going to happen.

It wasn't just a question of protecting my tomato planters. The wrens were disruptive and bothered my precious hummingbird friends. When it comes to taking care of the hummingbirds, I will do anything to keep them happy. I've used Vics Vapo-Rub on the feeders to keep ants and wasps away.

I watched as the wrens returned. One of them flew to the place where she (I presume females are the nest builders,) was lovingly bringing things to create her nest. But she couldn't get into the planter. I wasn't sure if she'd fuss around and try to pull the rag out of the planter. She didn't; she just left. She did come back several times, but I think she finally realized that she couldn't build her nest there after all.

I guess I'm going to have to keep rags in the top of the planters at all times. I removed them so that I could water, and so that the plants could get watered by the rain. I have one tomato on the vine....it's getting quite large. I think I've also got a few small ones, and I've seen more flowers. Big Beef looks like it's going to produce fruits sooner. Golden Jubilee is growing well, but not as quickly as the Big Beef.

I've got several things blooming: some sort of Daisy, (I think,) coreopsis, Morning Glories, some Datura has already bloomed -- from seeds that fell on the ground last year. I moved the seedlings and planted them elsewhere. I also have Foxglove, Dianthus, Rose of Sharon and marigolds blooming.

It's funny how lots of things that I planted last year, thinking they were annuals came back. I guess they reseeded themselves. I'm glad about that. The hummingbirds really like the morning glories. I hope they like Alamo vine -- provided that blooms.

I've noticed lots of birds hanging out around here lately. I never used to get wrens, mockingbirds, finches, sparrows, chickadees, cardinals, tanagers and more -- just perching themselves wherever they can.....they like the pole where two of my hummingbird feeders hang.

I have resigned myself to the fact that my battle with the wrens for supremacy over the Topsy Turvey tomato planters isn't over!