So many bunnies! So not afraid! They are nibbling some Daylily scapes off, which means maybe they should be afraid… they nibble grass just a few feet from me.

"Hmmm, I feel like a sitting duck here where all the birds can see me. I know!"


"There, now no one can see me"

If you eat flies you can stay.

@Lyshack
I love your post
Definitely worthy!

Thanks, Gheri.

Both seem spent

I'm not the only one in the gardens checking out the daylilies...

Other than earwigs, the only critters I regularly see are lovely little mantids.

Awesome collection of critter pictures everyone.

I'm sitting here thinking to myself, well it's almost hard to think since there is a symphony of tree frogs going at it. It's hard to believe how loud they are when they are really quite small. It's a nightly thing here in Florida. Anyway, what I was thinking is what do I love more about my garden ... the plants or the critters? Well of course I love my plants, but actually when I'm watching all the critters make their appearances in the garden I feel so happy. And, I do find myself getting certain plants because they will attract hummingbirds or butterflies, etc. And, feeders, birdhouses and birdbaths. Then I realized that when I was a little kid there were 3 jobs that had my attention. Artist, Vet or taking care of animals and working with plants. My career was far from any of those! And now, I find myself designing a secret garden, taking care of animals and working with plants. So, things have sort of come full circle as far as making my childhood dreams come true. I don't need to answer yes or no to my question. All I need is my garden and the joy it collectively gives me.
Thank you for giving me a place to share those thoughts.

Thanks for sharing Gheri.
I was thinking about how raucous the frogs have been here also. To bad we can't post sound files.

Here, too.

MySecretIslandGarden said: ... Anyway, what I was thinking is what do I love more about my garden ... the plants or the critters? Well of course I love my plants, but actually when I'm watching all the critters make their appearances in the garden I feel so happy. And, I do find myself getting certain plants because they will attract hummingbirds or butterflies, etc. And, feeders, birdhouses and birdbaths. Then I realized that when I was a little kid there were 3 jobs that had my attention. Artist, Vet or taking care of animals and working with plants. My career was far from any of those! And now, I find myself designing a secret garden, taking care of animals and working with plants. So, things have sort of come full circle as far as making my childhood dreams come true. I don't need to answer yes or no to my question. All I need is my garden and the joy it collectively gives me...

Gheri, I think what you've said reverberates among many of us who garden... like dropping a pebble on a pond and watching the ripples spread, your thoughts on gardening and enjoying the many little lives who share our gardens with us flow out to all of us, touching our lives and gardens too. It's why we all garden - that melding of many overlapping experiences in a garden where each of us finds peace in a busy world.

Sure, I clean up pretty good, and I can put on the fancy and go out for a shindig... but I am never happier than when my knees are grubby and my hands are in the dirt. We definitely all feel that pull ... the need to go back to our roots.

Not seeing many red squirrels this year, not sure if the cold weather got the babies in the spring or the hawks and owls have thinned them down...

Today I observed the first chipmunk I recall seeing here. I was so surprised and he/she so fast, I didn't get a picture

Just wait, Dave, you'll soon be inundated.

I don't know, we used to have them everywhere. But, the Hawk Population was attracted by the neighbors (one on the side and one in the back) raising chickens, and it seems the chimp monk population has greatly diminished. Strange thing is the gray squirrel population has exploded. I do still occasionally see a little chimp monk scurrying around, but very seldom.

I think this spider is trying to force the flower back into a bud. I'm not the only one trying to extend the season.

This bee has deformed wings. Poor girl. I have no idea why it was hanging out on the echeveria.