Animals/Insects

Project Hummer Is Not Going Well

/ Ally Bean / 46 Comments

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I’m sad to report that my grand plan for turning one corner of our deck into a small hummingbird garden/feeding station is not going well.  It’s not for lack of cuteness, I tell you.

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Here’s what I’ve done.

√  3 pots of annuals: 1 dark red geranium, 1 hot pink calibrachoa, 1 fuchsia portulaca

√  1 sturdy wrought iron shepherd’s hook attached to side of deck

√  1 hand-painted hummingbird feeder with red plastic pretend flowers that allow the hummers to drink, but thwart the bees

√  1 32 oz. hummingbird nectar concentrate, chilled in our fridge, then mixed with fresh water using an old Pyrex glass measuring cup to insure proper proportions

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No, it’s not me that’s causing trouble with the hummers.  It is, I’m sad to report, Fuzzy the Squirrel and his partner in crime, Khaki, who are causing Project Hummer to fail.

Apparently the sweet nectar in the pretty feeder is too much for them to pass up, so they’ve found a way to tilt the feeder on its side allowing the sweet nectar to dribble onto the ground below where they can enjoy it at their squirrel-y leisure.

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This means that until I figure out a way to keep Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid of squirrels away from the hummingbird feeder, my grand plan is on hold.  And all those amazing little hummers who live behind our house in the woods will have to feed themselves on the 22 pink or red or peach rose bushes that surround our house.

The little birds will survive, but I won’t get the fun of seeing them drink up each day… all because two sneaky, uncooperative squirrels have found the best nectar bar in town.  Humph.

As Summer Begins, A Snake In The Mulch

/ Ally Bean / 14 Comments

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Neither one of us asked why it was there.  Or how it got there.  No, we went straight to the WHAT IS IT DOING? question.

I was standing outside on the front sidewalk talking with the UPS delivery woman.  She had dropped off a package, knocked on the front door and was walking back to her truck when she saw it.

When I opened the front door to retrieve the package she turned to me and pointed to [what I believe is, but could be wrong about] a milk snake in the planting bed nearest the house.  I walked out to where she was standing and saw Milky.

He was doing his snake-y thing.  Slithering.  Sticking his head into various heretofore unnoticed holes in the ground around the roses.

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After watching Milky together, the UPS delivery woman told me that this was her first snake on the job.  She’d been warned that things like this could happen, especially out in wooded suburban developments.

For her, Milky was a milestone.  And she left our property with a smile on her face, pleased with her find.

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But as for me, Milky’s existence has brought a new level anxiety to my life.  I realize that if he can get into the planting beds this close to the house, he can slither his way up onto our front door stoop and greet me when I step out of the house using the front door.

So, I’ve done the only thing that I know to do.  I’ve put a note on the inside of the front door where I will see it before I open the door.  The note is short and to the point.  It says: REMEMBER THE SNAKE.

And with that thought in mind, my summer begins.

Mister Ed Isn’t Available To Answer My Question, So I’ll Ask You

/ Ally Bean / 19 Comments

Yesterday afternoon I was driving home at about 25 mph through our subdivision when coming at me on the other side of the street were three people on three horses. Gorgeous horses. Big horses. Very calm.

Just walking along.  *clip-clop, clip-clop* 

Not knowing what to do when driving past horses on my suburban street, I slowed down to about 10 mph.  The people on the horses nodded, waved, but did not smile, as we passed each other.

Ever self-aware, I realized that I may have done something wrong.

So here is my question: when driving through city streets am I supposed to treat horses as cars and just drive on by;  OR am I supposed to slow down [stop?] when I see them?

Anyone got an answer?  I sure don’t.  This is all new to me.

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