Monday Musings

I emerge from my convalescence, much as the Earth unfolds from its winter cloak, stretching towards the Sun. I submit some random observances of Spring. Last week a whippoorwill announced his return in evening gloam. The whir of a hummingbird reminds me to retrieve and fill the nectar feeders.  BirdCast Migration tools  will give you an overview of birds on the move over the US continent. You can also hone in on your local area to see what activity to expect. My neglected gardens called out to me today: lavender buried knee-deep in leaves held a hidden surprise. As I approached, the plant shuddered, and autumn leaves crackled. A poke in the pile unearthed an unhappy snake, slithering off, to curl under the dwarf cherry tree, its dark eyes squinting, tongue flickering warning. Nearby, a nuthatch hangs upside down, a cardinal tells me I’m “pretty”, and yellow finches flutter among chickadees, all vying for tasty morsels of suet, seeds, and fruit. A  dove splashes in the bir...

We enjoy the music and plumage of birds on our front porch. The “pretty, pretty, pretty” of the scarlet cardinal, the song of the vibrant yellow finches, and the brilliant indigo buntings. Sparrows, chickadees, nuthatches, and doves join in harmonious tones and a hummingbird whirrs around our heads.  Then there is nature’s darker side: the ominous black cone tells of the ongoing battle with our nemesis, the squirrel. Below, the citronella plant gracing the table helps fend off blood-sucking mosquitos. Across the driveway, deer graze on the periphery of my elevated raised vegetable garden beds. Outside the dog yard, rocks outline a new garden bed. Hours of labor, a bird bath gifted by a neighbor, and sixteen new plants added to the existing infrastructure and greenery.  I wanted to share the photos before the deer and rabbits devour the flowers. The nursery claims my choices will not interest the nibblers; I’ve heard that story before. My wife set up her trail cam aimed at the ...