Garden Visitors

Another cold day in the mountains. The clouds are breathtaking, visions constantly reforming themselves, at times deep gray to purple, golden and pink-tinged, white and fluffy like huge popcorn kernels, but not rain or snow.

They cast shadows across the mountains and the light peeks through and shines on other areas. Early this morning the cottontail rabbit came visiting again. My garden has become its daily spot, nibbling on the new clumps of grass or on the tulip leaves.

This morning I caught it eating the rose leaves and shooed it away from that spot. Later in the afternoon, a new squirrel came calling that I have not seen in my yard before, a lone large brown squirrel with a long tail that looks more like a cat's tail than his species as it is very short haired.

It was right near the front deck and stayed and investigated its surroundings for quite awhile as I watched in amusement from above.

The fruit trees are in bud. The little one still seems to be struggling and I doubt it will do much again this year. The other two are well established and glory in the new spring rebirths following an unusually heavy snowfall this winter.

Nests have begun to appear in the trees. Soon it will be time for babies to appear in training to fly, to search out food, and to learn independence. Children of the wild do not stay long with their parents, but must learn to feign for themselves.

Rows of birds sit on the rail of the front deck, only moving briefly as a squirrel runs across it to steal as much of the seed as he can get for himself, a pan full and peanuts is never enough for this bottomless pit of a squirrel.

The pitter-pat of little squirrel feet is a sound I am used to, but always aware of now. Today I saw a northern oriole with his bright orange underbelly, black head, and wings with their white wing bar, very distinctive. He is a new visitor of spring time, and I expect there will be many more. I'll be ready for him too, with seeds and a smile.

04052001