My Back Yard

Pumpkin delight

Administrator — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:39:56 +0000

I dumped a bucket of water over my Halloween pumpkin to wash off the rodent repellent. Now that Halloween has passed, I’m turning this vegetable over to the squirrels.

My liitle tree rats haven’t breached the skin yet. They’ve only scraped off the orange outer layer in a few spots.

I’m enjoying their progress. I guess I’m a woman of simple tastes.

Squirrels disrupted my bike ride

Administrator — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:21:56 +0000

I used to interrupt my bike rides only to feed and water myself. That has changed since I became a friend of squirrels.

Yesterday I had to dismount when I saw the bounteous acorns in the gutter and on the side of road. I filled my windbreaker pockets before continuing my ride.

Some fluffy tails will be happy with me.

Acorn alert!

Administrator — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:15:05 +0000

Come and get’em, little squirrel friends!

I’ve gathered a bulging pocketful of acorns, which I’ll distribute in my backyard.

If you prefer to collect them on your own, check out the driveway entrances to the elementary school and the police station as well as across the street from the historic house one block behind the police station.

Cute squirrel pics from U.K.

Administrator — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:40:47 +0000

Red squirrels are the focus of this squirrel gallery. But some of my gray cuties sneaked in.

Sparrows are tough

Administrator — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:47:19 +0000

Most of our backyard animals disappear when it rains. Not the sparrows. They’re visiting en masse, pecking at food on the ground or in the feeders.

What makes sparrows so much tougher than the squirrels? Are they hungrier? I’d like to learn the answer.

Palace roof collapse

Administrator — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:11:30 +0000

There’s an inch of water in the Squirrel Palace feeding tray. Good thing the squirrels and birds had emptied it of seeds before the corner collapsed off the frame.

Iggy, get out there and fix the frame! Your squirrellies need you!

Let Marjorie eat in peace!

Administrator — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:21:39 +0000

Poor Marjorie, the mourning dove. She’s standing with her wings raised. Every time she relaxes enough to peck at the bird seed, another grackle moves in.

Let Marjorie eat in peace, Mr. Grackle!

Falling squirrel, rising anxiety

Administrator — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:24:39 +0000

A squirrel fell out of my maple tree.

She lay on the ground for a long moment, then climbed up the tree where she’d been in a circling chase with another squirrel. I’ll keep an extra close eye on my backyard for the next day, in case she shows up looking sickly.

This is the second time I’ve seen a squirrel in a chase fall out of the tree next to my garage.

First daylilies

Administrator — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:43:15 +0000

My daylilies have bloomed for this first time this year. Yippee!

Garden update

Administrator — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:24:49 +0000

Just planted a packet of sunflower seeds on my front berm. Last year I did the same. Only three of them grew to maturity. Can I do better this year?

My peonies are shedding their petals, while my columbines are still going strong. Two of three shrub rose varieties have started blooming.