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Answers to your gardening questions |
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Five-part article series on flower-drying starts here Eight-part article series on vegetable gardening starts here Asian
Lily Beetles Japanese
Beetles An
effective Deer Fence! |
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Random
Views in the Snow |
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Welcome through Fred's Garden Gate! Glistening white snow has blanketed our corner of the world once again! Vast expanses of the beautiful stuff have transformed late winter browns and grays to a monochrome of seeming purity and clean. I awoke this morning to the demanding chatter of our resident clan of red squirrels frantically burrowing beneath the bird feeder while regiments of purple finches vie for position above their furry - but snow covered - noses. Angry chickadees scold with a steady barrage of 'dee-dee-dee-dee' as flocks of boisterous jays seem to denounce the quantity and quality of the food made available to them. "Where's our breakfast?" What happened to the grass seed heads that were here yesterday?" "My little, green patch of chickweed isn't here any more!" "You! Up there in your PJ's gawking down at us...you better DO something! We're hungry out here!" Suet bags wobble and tremble under the weight of seemingly countless nuthatches and downies. What a riot! Standing alone in stark contrast: the ever-present juncos quietly accepting crumbs falling from perches above. Beyond the din and cackle, spanning a cleared area which, before many weeks pass, will return to its glory and purpose as our vegetable garden, are soft tracks that herald the quiet passing of at least two snowshoe rabbits. Then, off in a distant corner of this cacophony of near-chaos, stealthily creeping through tangled brambles appears Mrs. Partridge intent on retrieving her morning helping of cracked corn tossed to the ground by clumsy blue jays. Nothing wastes when it comes to wild creature's breakfast or dinner table! Yet, in the midst of all this beauty and life, is the trampled, blue-feather-strewn patch of snow bearing imprints of two very large predatory wings. Some eat seeds...some bugs. Others, sadly, nourish themselves on the tattered little carcasses of the seed- and bug-eaters. Life moves along. All must eat. The mind wanders to yesterday - and the day before - when a walk along then-bare garden paths revealed tiny Johnny-jump-up blossoms left over from last Fall. Cheerful little faces slowly turning to face 'ol Sol's heavenly path. Daffodil and crocus spears poking their little heads through a natural, golden-brown mulch of pine needles. "Isn't it wonderful!" I recall thinking. "Spring is almost literally moments away!" Well, not quite. Fattening buds on maples and birches will have to wait a few more weeks. Charming and cheerful viola faces are once again blanketed by knee-high snow. Spring Bulbs, too, must reset their little clocks to a later date. Clever birds and squirrels who just a couple of days ago found forage among fallen leaves and needles, now flock back to stores provided by generous human benefactors. Feeders nearly abandoned last week are, this morning, alive with Nature's soothing, invigorating and energizing music. Whatever would we do without our little wild creatures? How empty our lives would be if all of our untamed and hungry furred and feathered friends suddenly disappeared! How totally desolate our homes would be if we were to arise one morning to total and deafening silence. Appearing almost as a crescendo to this near-idyllic scene, a tiny newcomer silently marches across the warm, indoor windowsill - a beautiful, perfect, jewel-like, brilliant red and black ladybug. Life is good! |
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© 10/2007 Hill Gardens of Maine; 107 Route 3, Palermo, Maine 04354. All Rights Reserved. Updated: 08/07/11 |
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