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.

A New View

Research is not my strong suit. My daughter and my husband are very good researchers. Not me. I only research when I am really involved in an immediate, or need to know soon, situation. For instance, our dishwasher just died and now I need to get a new one. I will research that, because it is an immediate need. Larry is different. As soon as he gets an idea of something he may want to buy or a place he may want to go, he will hit the Google switch and start researching. Several years ago, he started focusing on retirement (which would happen this year). At least 3 years ago, he started house hunting. I went along grudgingly. I mean, really! Why are we looking at homes when we have no plans to buy one for another 3 years or so? It is time to admit, that although, I never would have done it his way, and as exasperated as I got, that 3 year research project probably worked for the best.

When we first started looking for a house in this area we were focused on View, Style, Room....but not too much room, and land. One of the first houses we found that we fell in love with was a chalet style home overlooking a vineyard at the edge of a national forest with a fantastic view of the mountains.

I envisioned breakfast on the deck in the morning and drinks on the deck in the afternoon, watching the deer and wild turkey roam below. I imagined the colors the sky would carry as the sun set over the mountains. However, Eden is a hard place to find and can be pretty remote. When I accepted reality, this is what I had to face up to. 1) It was a 30 minute drive from ANYTHING on a very winding road!!! I do mean anything. Gas, food, town. In order to start going anywhere you had a half hour drive before you got to town so you could start your journey. And coming home...once you made it to town it was a half hour winding tour back home to this peaceful abode. 2)...no cell phone signal, period, and no chance of getting one. It was at the edge of a national forest! For most people, it wouldn't have taken long to rule it out, but for me, it was tough. I loved that house, and that view. In the end the drive and the cell phone and internet service did us in.

Even so, I carried that house in my heart for months and measured it against every other home we looked at for years.

As we looked at other properties, I slowly readjusted my priorities.  Larry refined his. 2-3 acres of flat land turned into 2-3 car detached garage and a house with usable land. That's important because so many places are what I like to call, Cliff Hangers, houses that are built on the side of a steep mountainside, with a single car garage tucked underneath it. Master bedroom on the main floor, became a bedroom and bath on the main floor. And my desire for a room with a view, changed too. In the beginning we had a vision. In the end I think we got exactly what we were looking for.

When I look out my cabin window, what do I see? Mountains?  Not in the summer, but as soon as I leave the neighborhood and head down the highway, I can see them all around me. It makes every drive to town a treat. For those of you who like water, we have that too. The drive to Wal-Mart follows the lakeshore.

Trees? Ah, that's what I see! We are in the woods.
When I wake up in the morning I feel like I'm in a tree house.

View as I lay in bed

There is no vineyard to look out over, but we have a large yard behind the house that pushes the woods back and gives us a clearing.

Today we saw a fawn and her mother run along the fence line at the edge of the woods.

As I sit on the back porch hummingbirds buzz by me on their way to the feeders. If you can see the blurr just in front of the flower petal, that's my miracle shot. They take off as soon as they sense the camera. But my presence doesn't scare them. They fly so close by me, I can feel them.

Two bluebirds are raising their second family in the bird house out back.

They come and go all day long bringing food for the babies inside. When they leave a chorus of loud chirps follows them and then dies down as they wait for mom and pop to come back.

The biggest treat for me was watching them on the day they left the nest. It amazes me to think that a bird that has never flown can fly from their house to mine, and then up to the tree tops!

Birds can keep me occupied for hours. The other day a Carolina Wren sat on the rail ten feet from me and squawked loudly at its mate five feet away. And I love trying to identify a new species to the feeders. But sometimes they have a hard time getting to it.

This species I recognize. It can turn mild mannered me into a crazy woman as I charge down the porch steps flailing my arms and yelling. But sometimes I just watch and take pictures.


It is the view I always wanted. The distant, majestic one was exciting at first. But as time went on, I realized I wanted the closer, more intimate one. A place where I could watch life in action right outside my door.

I wanted this view.

I Know Why the Bluebird is Mad

Have you seen the picture of 'The Angry Bluebird"? Several years ago an artist's rendering of a puffed out bluebird, rust covered chest, furrowed brow, beady black eyes appeared in all sorts of places from sweatshirts to stained glass wall art. My favorite was the stained glass hanging which sits on my desk.

Bluebirds are such striking birds. From the back the male is a vivid blue color. The first winter we were here I was delighted to see 2 bluebirds perched on our deck railing. The next spring a friend sent me a bluebird box. Within a week of mounting it, we were rewarded as we watched a pair of bluebirds flying back and forth with grasses in their beaks. A house was becoming a home. We enjoyed watching the goings on and for 2 years our house raised bluebird families. They only lived in the home during the summer. Once the fledglings had flown the nest the parents left as well.

Then everything changed. During the winter a house sparrow family moved in. They enjoyed the protection of the box during the winter, and rasied their family in the summer. The bluebirds came back a couple of times but the house was occupied. Last fall in a desperate attempt to return the home to it's rightfull owners I cleaned out the box and left it open for several weeks. The house stayed vacant.

In January I was delighted to see 6 bluebirds flying around the house, and checking it out. I was very hopeful.

Then last week there was a showdown. 2 Bluebirds came to investigate. The house was empty, but a sparrow perched outside. The bluebirds flew at it, but she wouldn't budge. They tried several times and finally left. By the weekend, I could see the sparrows flying back and forth with grasses. Once again they had asserted Squatter's Rights.

If I was a bank I might just evict them, but I realize that as much as I want the bluebirds to move in, I can't legislate who lives in my house. As it is, I'm glad my house isn't sitting vacant and unused. The sparrows aren't as pretty, but their babies are safe in a well-built house in a nice neighborhood.

The next time I see a mad bluebird perched on my deck rail I'll just remind him he has no one to blame but himself! Sooner or later you have to stand up for yourself.

And the winner is....

It seems official. I've been watching my feeder for the last few days and I haven't seen my Bluebirds. Today is my official "Feederwatch" day, and I hoped to get up early enough to catch them, but I haven't seen one all morning. The sparrows are definitely in control of the bird house and peace seems to be reigning in the yard.

The species of birds visiting the feeder have changed a lot as well. I have seen several Cowbirds, Goldfinches, Grackles, and Red-Winged Blackbirds. The Mourning Doves still visit, but in reduced numbers. With Spring comes fresh food for most of the birds and the number of visitors shows it. The Juncos, Chickadees and Woodpeckers are seen much less frequently. I haven't seen the first Cardinal this morning.

It is fun to see the nests pop up. Today, I had an "AHA!" moment as I looked at the pieces of grass on the stoop in front of the front door. I had noticed them before. It looked as though someone had recently mowed, but that wasn't the case. Then, I checked behind the wreath on the door, and there was the cause! The House Finches have built a nest in my wreath, just like they did last year!

It always surprises me that a door that is opened at least a few times each day seems like a suitable place to raise their young! As I faced the nest I couldn't see the birds at all so it makes a very nice hiding place for them.

When I open the door they fly off and watch me from the nearby Pear tree. Once the eggs hatch, we'll be careful not to use that door if possible.

Feederwatch officially ends next week, but I'll be watching all summer long. I learned so much from watching them. I can now identify some by flight, some by shape, and I'm beginning to pick out their songs. And sing they do! Their songs start early. With the windows open at night I may find my mornings start earlier too!