Play Time for Carolyn's Princesses

Tiffany says to Imari and Fawnessa:  Did you hear we have a new princess coming?

The new princess is behind us, her name is Flower Girl.  

Flower Girl says Hi to Imari, Don't you remember me?  We played together when we were babies.

I'll tell you a secret, when you are being princess here, I was going around to places called Rabbit Shows.  Now I am joining you.  

Hotot Angora? It's a "Charlie"

This looks like an Angora.  This looks like an Hotot.   What is it?  An Hotot Angora?

It's a "Charlie" English Angora bunny!   What is a "Charlie"?   In genetics, the solid pattern gene is recessive to the broken pattern gene.   When we breed our solid Angora to another solid Angora, we will always get solid.   If one wants broken pattern bunnies, one of the parents will have to be a broken.   In order to get a good broken pattern, the preferred method of breeding is one parent broken and one parent solid, the resulting litters will have some broken bunnies and some solid bunnies.  These broken bunnies all carry one broken gene and one solid gene and the solid bunnies each carries two solid genes.     If both parents are broken and both carry solid gene, the resulting litter has the chance of 1/4 of the bunnies carry two solid genes, 1/2 of the bunnies carry one solid gene and one broken gene and 1/4 of the bunnies carry two broken genes.     The bunny in the picture is one that carry two broken genes, in rabbit jargon, a "Charlie".    A "Charlie" has lots of white and very little color, not considered as an ideal pattern.  This particular one is not suitable for showing because it lacks any color on the nose.  However, a "Charlie" bred to a solid will guarantee an entire litter of broken bunnies.  If you are really into broken, a "Charlie" is invaluable.   If not, it is so cute that it'll make a very nice pet.

Happy 5-Year Old Birthday Uptown Girl

Today is Uptown Girl's 5th birthday, born June 18, 2015 in Pennsylvania, moved to California in September when she was less than 3 months old.

Uptown Girl stayed in the show circuit from 2015 to 2018, won 28 legs with 25 BOB,  3 all breed Best In Show and 1 all breed Reserve In Show.  

In between shows, Uptown Girl took maternity leave three times.  The most recent litter was born in January 2020 when she was 4 years 7 months old.  These three photos were taken at 4 years 11 months old.  

Daughter Monique wishes her mom Uptown Girl a happy birthday.

Another daughter Simone also wishes her mom Uptown Girl a happy birthday.   Monique and Simone are 5 months old and love their mother.

Yellow Calla Lily

This is a cluster of Calla Lily plants. 

Calla Lily is a perennial plant though the leaves turn brown and flowers disappear during winter.  

A view from the top of Calla Lily. 

In the winter when the plant looks wilted, it's better to cut off all the brown leaves close to the ground (sounds like cutting the wool off an Angora rabbit) and wait for the spring.

There will be little green sticks coming up from the soil in early spring, then the green sticks open up to beautiful leaves.   The flowers follow.   This particular plant started small several years ago now a cluster leaves and flowers that occupy quite an space in our yard.   

Billy is a Stand Up Guy

I am Billy. 

I like to stand up. 

And I am so handsome. 

Curtesy of Bunny Poops

Our spring crop is growing and growing, The bunny poops have been rototilled into the soil, natural and rich.

The zucchini plant is huge.

A pretty yellow flower on the zucchini plant indicates a nice zucchini will be ready for consumption within two days.

Waiting for the tomatoes to turn red.

Guess what this is, it's a cucumber plant.

Under all these leaves there is a cucumber waiting to be picked and more flowers that will result in more cucumbers.

What are these?   They are broccoli.   We don't usually see these huge leaves when we buy broccoli in the markets, rabbits absolutely love these leaves.

If the broccoli crowns are not harvested at the right time, they grow leggy and give out little yellow flowers.   If kept on the plants, they produce seeds.  However, rabbits also love these so the chance of making seeds is very low.