I value my garden more for being full of blackbirds than of cherries,
and very frankly give them fruit for their songs.
~ Joseph Addison (English – Writer / May 1, 1672 – June 17, 1719)
May Day
Doctor’s Day; Ontario; Canada Cares
The European Starlings have discovered the suet at the end of the bird feeder outside my dining room window. Chipping sparrows, Blue Jays and Cardinals also visit regularly. Chipmunks and squirrels have figured out how to get around the barriers and join in the feast.
I have a ground hog who lives behind my fence, on the Railroad property. She has been there now for more than 3 years. The first year I planted pumpkins behind the fence to help keep the weeds down and she thoroughly enjoyed eating them. Last year I didn’t plant the pumpkins so she decided it was an invitation to help herself to my garden. She ate the swisschard as quickly as it grew and she also enjoyed all of my zuchini. She would venture in the garden at dawn and again at dusk, when my son was sitting in the yard having his first and last smoke for the day.
This year, my son is living in his own home, but she still comes to visit at dawn and at dusk. She has also discovered that the birds tend to throw a lot of food on the ground, so she has been venturing to the bird feeders outside my dining room window. It is there that I have had a close-up view of the large scar behind her head where she has lost a huge patch of fur and a scar on her side where it looks like someone shot her with a pellet gun. She is a survivor. I will plant pumpkins for her and her children to enjoy again behind the fence and will try to keep her on her own side. But, I would never hurt her or let my dog out to chase her without first making enough noise so she can slip quickly under the whole in the the fence.
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