The Seed and Song Bird Buffet

Thanks to my friend Marion for her inspiration to grab my camera and head outside.




My container gardens grow wild and free with the additon of a few new inhabitants each Spring. I like container gardens because I can move, rearrange or add to them with ease.

The container garden off my patio is my favorite and forms the pathway to The Seed and Song Bird Buffet. The centerpiece of the Buffet is The Feeding Tree, my wonderful Oak (to be honest, one of my few remaining trees *sigh*). The photo above is of the entrance to the favorite gathering place of my many feathered and furried friends and passing visitors.

Wee people watch over my gardens. Their cottages and castles nestle among the folliage.

Here we have a tiny caretaker's cottage at the entrance to the garden.

Bunnies and butterflies dance around a pot of Mexican Heather. Real butterflies are frequent visitors to my welcoming blooms.

The garden fairies slumber through the heat of the day shaded by a blanket of Heather.

Sun-dappled mushrooms and cranes reside at the edge of the Seed and Song Buffet.

A corner birdbath offers refreshment to the many visitors.

A giant mushroom provides a perch as well as a possible exchange with the resident garden gnome.

The Feeding Tree is at the center of the Seed and Song Bird Buffet. Evening viewing is a feast of delightful entertainment. Squirrels are the frequent uninvited guests, while Jays are rowdy, unruly and in need of the blackbird bouncers.

Sparrows and Wrens are the noisy busy bodies. Their fractious frenzies remind me of troublesome teenagers.

My favorite guests are the Doves. Watching them, day after day, for years is like observing human communal activity. The social....and antisocial interaction is not that different from us.

Last but not least are my last-to-come-last-to-leave visitors: the Cardinals.

I enjoy my songbirds, cooers and my squawkers. I don't mind the occasional crow and delight in the passing ducks, Egrets or wild Parakeet.

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The Seed and Song Bird Buffet is always open.

Of Frogs And Fairy Houses

What's this got to do with anything? Nothing really. Love my frogs and I love the various fairy houses that nestle in my container gardens scattered around the patio and yard. The wee creatures are welcome to come, visit, or move right in. What can I say? My favorite childhood book and flights of my imagination surrounded Peter Pan.

Yesterday was a long, hot, ultimately crispy, but fun day. Trish was off, so we took the boys to Hawaiian Falls, a local water park. We went early, best time to beat the crowds and find a shady spot to park ourselves. As a rule, we leave around 2 when the crowds swell and the sun is unbearable. Yesterday, was an exception.

All Spring Connor, who has anxiety issues and fear of amusement park rides, slides, scary movies, etc., has been saying he's ready to ride the big rides at Six Flags and the giant slides at the water parks. On the way to Hawaiian Falls yesterday Connor was talking about going down the big slides. Trish tried to discourage him from going because he wouldn't be able to turn back mid-slide. I told her I thought we should just let him try if he wanted to.

We hit the park and he was off to the slides! I followed to see how he fared. He not only did it, he LOVED it!! There are 3 or 4 different slides to ride with and without tubes ( single or double). He rode them all! A small victory to some; a HUGE victory for Connor! I was thrilled and proud of his mastery over what had been a huge fear/anxiety for him.

Both boys are part fish. They love the water. I think it's genetic. They swam, rode the slides and ran around the park for hours. We slathered them liberally with sunscreen/block before and during the day. Connor is olive-skinned, but Sam is lily white. Both looked like crispy critters by the time we got home. This DESPITE the many latherings with 50 + sunblock!

Lesson learned. Next time they keep shirts on except when sliding (prohibited). My sunblock was 85; I didn't get burned at all. Trish wanted sun and she got it.

Liberal lathering off and an all evening with chilled Aloe Gel and some ibuprofen eased the discomfort. Watching The Spiderwick Chronicles on DVD capped off the day.

Maybe my fairy houses are occupied after all....
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"Fairies are invisible and inaudible like angels. But their magic sparkles in nature." ~Lynn Holland