Hold on here just one minute!
Who pays the bills around here anyway!?
Here at home, sometimes I feel like I plant plants and weed the weeds and build fences and toil and struggle just so all the critters can feel like THEY own the place. And yet, that’s not such a bad idea. 🙂 I don’t mind doing that.
Here are two series of photos/events that happened this past February and March. The first one occurred on one of the 2×4 horizontal fence boards next to my back patio. A Dark-eyed Junco managed to find a place to perch on that board and then simply settled in like it was home … preened, postured, took up residence, and then looked at me as if to say “what are you doing here?”
All of the photos here can be scrolled through quickly to get the effect, or slowly if you want to see more detail. As usual, click on the photos to enlarge them if you wish.
And here (below) is the second event and series of photos.
As you will see, this Grey Squirrel came back and repeated the behavior. In fact, he/she came back several times. Oh my poor ornamental Fescue. It needed pruning, but not utter demolition!
Zoom!
More, more I need more!
Zoom!
Well, that Fescue got pruned all right, albeit a bit roughly. Truth is that half of it didn’t grow later this spring, after I did prune it for real. But I don’t mind really. That squirrel needed a warm home. I can buy more Fescue.
Some folks might think my back yard is messy since I don’t cut down the dead stems of plants, or clean up the dead moss/grass, or clean up the dead parts of living plants. But I do this every winter. I leave all that “stuff” right there until spring has truly arrived.
The birds love sitting in those dead branches in the planter in these photos. And the dead (and living) greenery gives birds and squirrels and other critters things to eat or to use for nesting material, etc. I read reports online that we humans are becoming too clean for wild birds especially, but for mammals too. Our pristine yards don’t provide them with the food and shelter they need.
So please forgive the mess. 🙂 And thank the powers that be for all of the wild creatures on this planet.
I love watching the squirrels. They are characters. I bet the animals love your patio. Any more signs of the skunk?
Nope, no more skunk that I’ve seen. I do still peek out through the blinds once a week or so late in the evening. My computer and desk are in a spare bedroom that abuts the back patio … about a week ago I heard the birdbath sort of crash around and then I heard a large splash. I peered out, but saw nothing. There was water everywhere but when I went outside I didn’t find any foot prints. Could have been that skunk or a raccoon … something large enough to move the birdbath. I’ll keep you posted. 🙂
Looks to me to be rather effective repurposing and recycling! To a new and different life!
What an excellent thought! I love it. We could learn a thing or two, eh?
Thanks Sparkle. And welcome to the blog. 🙂
I would say that the squirrel needed some fresh mattress stuffing . Very nice of you to help the wildlife out .( thanks for the easy math problem this time. )
I like that thought. The squirrel seemed to like the idea too! I am here but to serve the wildlife. 🙂
I’ll bet your place is tidy compared to mine! Half acre of cactus, California native wild flowers, weeds and a dead tree that birds and lizards call home. Fortunately, no HOA rules to follow and the neighbors don’t complain, either. I have a feeling they all point to my yard and say, “At least we aren’t that bad!”
Ha! It sounds perfect … for you and for the birds and lizards too. Glad to hear you are paying attention to them, and to yourself. I guess it’s all a matter of which neighbors’ voices we listen to, eh?