Bee Balm is Good Food!

Bee Balm is Good Food
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

We have a multitude of hummingbird moths this year. In the past we might have one visiting the garden. This year it is common to see three on the same bee balm. They are also quite friendly and unafraid this year and buzz right on by me to get to the good eats.

ah, the life of the wildlife managers...

From Joseph...

I had a bit of an adventure when i went outside-- rescued a chipmunk from one of our water buckets! ... at first i thought a large FROG had somehow gotten in there and was swimming around, but... it was a chippy... reached in there with a long pole; he grabbed on and i pulled him out... i mean, if the CATS get 'em, that's ONE thing... he lay shivering on the driveway in the sunshine; i went up and got the mail... when i got back i wasn't sure he was still with us! but then he started moving... i went up to the kitchen and got him a couple peanuts, shelled one for him. at first he seemed vaguely interested; then it was: "AAAAHHH! HUMAN!!!" and he ran under the pot near the stepping paver... i put the peanuts over there to perhaps aid in his recovery later...

Observations...

So, i was sitting out on the patio last Sunday morning enjoying a cup of coffee. I discovered:

• One must be prepared to duck if sitting in a nut hatch fly zone. They do not veer off of their course to the suet feeder.
• Young bunnies love to run in trenches (like the one surrounding the birch trees). And the will run in endless circles. Nascar bunnies...
• All birdbaths are for the use and pleasure of the Robins... and they can turn the water to a murky, muddy mess very quickly.
  

I'm not in your garden to eat it...

I'm not in your garden to eat it...
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

I'm nesting!

I watched her pruning the creeping phlox for building materials. She isn't very afraid of me... i think she read the "wildlife habitat" sign.

a different kind of alarm...This morning i awoke to the

distinctive "gobble, gobble, gobble"... i know that a turkey had ventured up near the house. Of course i didn't see nary a tail feather of my alarm clock.

Observations and Mr. White too!...

This morning I was entranced by the neighbors' locust trees. They had been in full bloom and now the petals were dropping. It looked like a snow shower with all petals softly falling to the ground.

I put out my usual hand full of peanuts for the blue jays this morning. And went back inside the house to watch the jays and all the funny things that they do. I watched for a time the comings and goings of the jays. But then there was a group of three jays on the table and each one was bobbing up and down making that funny "whoop" sounds that jays make. It seemed like some sort of jay ritual of gratitude.

When Joseph got back from his route today he mentioned hearing a Bob White in the neighborhood. Later when i went out to water plants i heard a whistle... thought it was the neighbors whisting for his dog. But sure enough it was the Bob White. I ran inside to grab my camera and when i returned the bob white was gone, sigh... but a short time later i heard the bob white call and patiently waited. Then Mr. White came waddling through the yard. First tot he birch tree where i have placed a shallow pan of water. After getting a drink, Mr. White wandered up and around the house. What a blessing.

Blues for Happiness...

Today when i got home from work i was talking with joseph in the driveway. I caught a glimpse of some blue flying into the paperbark maple. Much to our surprise it was a bluebird. It took off from the tree and headed right over our heads. No mistake it was indeed a bluebird.

We saw the bluebird a short time later... it proceeded to take a bath in the saucer like water basin that i placed under the birch tree. Later on we saw two bluebirds, possibly three.

Today, wWe are feeling very blessed.