In the Garden: August 2004 Archives

It's a gray rainy day, today. I've had the pleasure of working at my sewing machine. I've answered e-mail and lazed through the day.

I was standing at the kitchen sink, and I could see the pile of cedar mulch waiting for me. I noticed it looked a little worse for wear.

As I watched two chipmunks and a grey squirrel made their way over the pile, and burrowed in, apparently leaving stashes for the winter.

Won't THEY be surprised when they come back.

Hmmmmmm....maybe I will be too, once that mulch is spread! *G*

We feed the birds all year long. My mother enjoys watching the birds and animals that come to our feeders, and it's a simple enough thing for us to do. Filling the feeders is part of my early morning list of chores, and I enjoy the quick visit out of doors before I start my day.

I've been watching the fruits of my efforts. We have a clutch of tiny goldfinches who like the chipped sunflower hearts that I put into a dark green silo feeder. The brilliant goldy/yellow of the bird's feathers shows up elegantly against the green feeder. The little birds jostle for position as they wait their turn at the feeder, and when they have finished, they fly over and cling to the brick on the side of the house.

This morning, I watched a male downy woodpecker put himself into position to eat from the feeder. That's no mean feat, because the perches are meant for small birds, but a woodpecker can go just about anywhere he wishes!

Black capped chickadees have made their appearance. Can fall be far away?