George awakens from his long winter's nap ...

George, the groundhog, came out from his long winter's nap. I had been anxiously watching for him since March ... and, of course, worrying about him. When the landscapers did my spring clean-up, they covered the entrance to his tunnel and I feared that George might suffocate. I did dig out the entrance immediately. But, on May 1st, I noticed a new "exit" so George is safe, fine and out and about!

Tommy turkey wanders aimlessly about my garden looking for his mother and his sisters. They are all off nesting, I suppose. I feel so sorry for Tommy. Yesterday morning I found him sitting on the doormat in front of my front door. I guess he's lonesome and just wants company.

I promised myself that I would write in my blog every day. Of course, I made that promise on New Year's Day but ... better late than never

The Last Snow of the Year ...

Tommy Turkey spent all day eating!

Hummingbirds ...

I named her Rose partly because she is so beautiful and so delicate ... and partly because she reminded me of someone very special to me. She stayed all summer, thrilling me with her graceful flights and enjoying the nectar from all the special flowers I had planted in my garden for her. She visited several times a day, resting on dead tree limbs or my wrought iron pillars, and I couldn't help but wonder if her nest was hidden somewhere in my garden.

I hated the thought of her leaving ... migrating to Costa Rica ... flying non-stop, some five hundred miles, over the Gulf. When she finally did leave, I truly missed her daily visits.

And, then, today, I received another gift of nature ... another marvel ... or marvels ... four ruby-throated hummingbirds were in my garden enjoying my Agastache and my Spigelia marilandica, a beautiful native wildflower with wonderful tubular orange blossoms. They stayed for quite a while just enjoying ... but not as much as I!

A September Weekend ...

One of the "twins!"

This weekend was absolutely glorious ... in the low 70's, sunny and dry ... a weekend that I just don't want to end.

I guess my wild-friends felt that way too since they all made an appearance. The twin fawns and the turkey babies have really grown ... almost as big as their moms!

Millie, the bunny, is also getting big ... but, thankfully, not as quickly as the fawns and the turkeys.

My pond was covered today with a flock of bluejays ... a lot prettier and more colorful than the grackles ... and just as rambunctious!

I saw Rose, the hummingbird, earlier in the week. I wonder when she'll migrate. It is truly amazing that when ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate to Costa Rica they cross the Gulf ... some 500 miles ... non-stop!

My weekend was extra special because my son Michael came to visit. He cooked me an absolutely delicious dinner: pork chops in a brown sugar sauce, smashed red potatoes and green beans with a fresh-from-my-garden tomato and onion glaze. Yummy ....

John ... Millie's brother ...

... is much more cautious than his sister. He runs away the minute I open the door. I love seeing his white cotton-tail. He's enjoying the clover that I leave all over my garden as a special treat for my bunnies!

George ...

... the groundhog ... has rather unartistically begun the construction of his new home in my "artistic" herb garden. He gathers young peppers from my vegetable garden and seasons them with my aromatic herbs. He's very "at home" anywhere in my garden and tries to stare me down ... as if it's his garden!

Elise ...

... comes into my garden late in the afternoon ... around 5 p.m. She sometimes gets annoyed if I'm watering my plants ... I can hear her back in the woods stomping her foot and making that sort of deer "snort" to let me know she wants me out of "her" garden!

Elise is the mother of the twin fawns and it is truly amazing to watch her teach her kids.