"She saw me!" Chance Chipmunk was out of breath and soaking wet as his chipmunk friends and family gathered around to find out what happened. "She saw me! And then she turned the hose on me and chased me as I ran and hid under the big hosta. She soaked me good." "Oh dear," said Sweet Charlene Chipmunk. "Are you sure? Well, you are soaking wet. Maybe you fell in that birdbath again trying to get a drink of water after partying all night." "No, I'm sure," said Chance. "She saw me, she chased … [Read more...] about She Saw Me, A Chipmunk’s Tale
pests
Raccoons in Search of a New Home
Papa Raccoon ambled along the side of the house and headed toward the gate to the back garden. He lowered his head to slip under the gate, as he had done so many times before, and ran smack dab into a rock. He fell backwards and lay stunned in the grass. Rubbing his head as he got up, he looked around to see what he had run into. "Where did that rock come from?" Papa Raccoon asked Mama Raccoon who was following behind him with their gaze of kits. "Where did what come from?" replied Mama … [Read more...] about Raccoons in Search of a New Home
Enga: Enemy of the Garden
The other day, I had a close up encounter with Enga, short for ENemy of the GArden. Enga a fat squirrel who hangs out around the bird feeders, trying to steal the peanuts I've been putting out for the blue jays. The blue jays love the peanuts. At times I've counted six or more blue jays hanging around the crabapple tree, waiting for their chance to get a peanut from the peanut wreath. Then I saw Enga climb down to the wreath and grab a peanut for herself. One day, she actually knocked the … [Read more...] about Enga: Enemy of the Garden
They’re Here
They’re here. The squirrels. They’re here. I saw them a few weeks ago scampering across the edge of the roof and decided to ignore them. I choose not to recall my brother’s stories of squirrels getting into his attic and chewing on electrical wires. Zap! Serves them right. My brother lives in a wooded area and I live and garden on a former farm field. He should have squirrels, I should not. But I do. There’s no denying them on the bird feeder or posing on top of the post from which the … [Read more...] about They’re Here
Penny the Vole
Notice of Eviction To: Microtus pennsylvanicus aka Meadow Vole aka “Penny the Vole” From: The Gardener/Landlord at May Dreams Gardens Re: Notice of Eviction Effective immediately, “Penny the Vole” and all related and unrelated members of her family who have taken up residence in the perennial border at May Dreams Gardens are ordered to vacate the premise. Failure to move by midnight on September 10, 2009 to the meadow where the street dead ends will result in a forced removal and other dire … [Read more...] about Penny the Vole
Why I Didn’t Harvest More Compost Today
My compost bins sit half-emptied, exactly as I left them yesterday. The bin on the right is the one I emptied first, and then I put the top layers of uncomposted material into that bin. Then I moved on to the center bin and started to shovel out and sift the compost in that bin.As I was doing that, out of nowhere comes... a yellow jacket. Since I was stung earlier this fall by yellow jackets, I was a little concerned. But not enough concerned to stop what I was doing, because I was so happy … [Read more...] about Why I Didn’t Harvest More Compost Today
