Irresistible

The gardens are under attack by waves of pelting rains that cannot make up their minds whether to wash everything down the street or take pity and ease up a bit.  Bird watching has come to a screeching halt...erererrrkerPLUNK!

I've been blessed with being sick but on the mends, and pleasantly reminded that birds do indeed find my yard blissfully irresistible. I find myself wistfully wishing I was retired, until I remember that spending money in my pocket is such a warm fuzzy feeling ;)

A flock of cedar waxwings mobbed the back gardens on Sunday gorging themselves on the blue-black berries smothering the two blackhaw viburnum trees.  Later a flock of evil starlings joined in, and I was compelled to open the sliding glass door and beat the living daylights out of an old square cake pan with the back of a serving spoon to chase them away.  Starlings fled, but the cedar waxwings were unfazed.

Late in the day just a small token clump of blue-black berries hung from the end of one lonely branch.  I thought Monday would be dismal, since I reasoned they would move on in their quest for winter foraging.  I was happily disappointed they hung around and began stripping the winterberry hollies of all their bright red fruit. If they hang around much longer, my resident mockingbird will be totally co-dependent on the feeder until spring.

A flock of robins joined the commotion early afternoon, and later a group of cardinals stopped by.  I rarely ever feel the satisfaction that should come from all those laborious hours that seem to never end with the gardens in good weather, but this week has brightened my spirits immensely.

Lacey's impatiently waiting for her broccoli to reach the al dente stage in the oven (yes - I do have a cat that pigs out on that green veggie stuff), so I bid you a fond goodbye for now.  I mustn't be late for my date with Dustin dog and Lacey to get our veggie fix. Just wish I could teach that feisty feline a manner or two, as she loves to bat her pieces of broccoli all over the dining room floor like they are green mice before she decides to devour them :'( 

First peek of spring...