Nature's Puzzles

I’ve been sorting through photos from last year, and I came across a collection of odd ones, single shots, amid a group of pictures. Taken at different times of the year, singly they seem to have no purpose, but together they become  a story of their own.  They are glimpses of Nature’s puzzles.

Spring: The Missing Apples

In years passed, I’ve written about the misfortunes and struggles of a little apple tree. What I’ve never shared is that the apple tree made the journey from Pennsylvania to Georgia tucked in the back of a U-Haul trailer,

and was finally planted in a secure, fenced in, back yard where it should be safe from marauding deer waiting to expand their diet by eating my apples.

All seemed well, and last spring the blossoms bloomed and the leaves grew. A few tiny apples were on their way, and then one day in late June, the apples were gone. AGAIN! The last time we lost apples, we also lost every leaf as the deer cleaned the tree off, leaving only bark and twig. This time the leaves were there; just the apples were missing. 

I looked at the tree, searched for the apples, checked the ground, gazed at the locked gates and the surrounding fence and wondered where did they go this time? My best guess: Raccoons. We are like the tree that continues to grow, bloom and produce fruit (only to lose it.) We are hopeful.

This year we will try again.

Summer: Bluebirds

When we first bought this house, I was thrilled to see bluebirds living in the little bluebird house in the back yard. It was a special treat to watch the babies as they fledged the nest. Bluebird parents are faithful and will return each year to a nesting place. The next summer we were gone so much I missed all the activity. I cleaned out the nest at the end of summer so it would once again be ready for use. Last spring, before we left on our RV trip, I saw the adult pair checking out the box. When we got back I watched for days to see if there was any activity. It was close to the time when the babies would fly. Finally, several weeks after they should have gone, I checked the nest. Dismayed, I found the nest with 3 unhatched eggs. What could have happened to the birds? Were the parents killed? Did something frighten them off? Why were the eggs never hatched? I will wait and watch this spring to see if they return. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Fall: The Disappearing Moss

We live in the woods. We have no grass in the front part of our property, but we have plenty of leaves, and we are getting a lovely mossy carpet in places. The bases of trees, especially, have nice moss skirts. I was puzzled one day when I noticed the moss disappearing from the base of one of our trees.

As I was filling the birdfeeder, I noticed a piece of moss about 3 feet away, and another piece a little further along.

Who is taking it? My guess: A squirrel or mouse is using it to line his winter nest.

Winter: A Treat for the Animals

I have always imagined the animals would like a change of diet from corn or old seeds in the winter, so periodically I’ll put something extra out for them. When we were done with the pumpkins in the fall I threw them back in the woods. Apparently, deer, raccoons, and opossums are not interested in pumpkins. They are where I threw them, rotting away. Next, I tried a more traditional approach. On a snowy day, I strung some popcorn and cranberries and hung it outside. First I hung the strand on a pine tree. It was untouched. Then I hung it from the bird feeder. 2 cranberries fell off. That was weeks ago. They are still lying on the ground under the feeder.

Finally, I hung it on the fence for the deer. Weeks later the popcorn and cranberries hang untouched. I guess my wildlife is like that Meat and Potatoes husband who refuses to try anything new. I'll stick to birdseed and corn kernels from now on.

It has been a warm winter this year. My  bulbs are pretty sure we are in the middle of March instead of early February.  2017 is beginning to look like another interesting year to observe nature. I will be watching.