Wildlife

One nice thing about our rather haphazard garden is that we have a lot of wildlife. This is helped by our birdfeeder; we've counted over a dozen species at it and there's nearly always a few birds eating. But we've also provided a habitat that allows them all to make homes. Lots of high trees, lower, dense bushes, and good ground cover. We've also seen several small mammals: squirrels, chipmunks, moles, and a couple rabbits. We had one problem with a groundhog mowing on our parsley and peas, and we once had a green-tomato-eating racoon, but they've otherwise stayed away from the garden. I think (and hope) it's because we've provided them with preferable alternatives for food and shelter.

Anyway, we planted some sunflowers this year. I didn't get any pics of them blooming, but we left them on after the blossoms had died. I was originally thinking we'd roast our own sunflower seeds?

But someone else wanted them as well. He's so pretty, I decided that he gets them instead.

Later, he brought his girlfriend as well. I like how she's hanging upside down in this pic.

The goldfinches are rather messy eaters, leaving plenty around for our chipmunks.

There's definitely something nice about a garden with wildlife. It's always sad to me when I visit California. Everyone has big expansive lawns, but there's few trees or bushes. A few annuals here and there, but nothing is allowed to go to seed and feed the wildlife. Heck, there's even HOAs that will forbid it. I just find it very sterile. What's the point of having land if it's not going to be used? Just to show that you have enough money to support that amount of land and maintain it? (I wish there was a better word than maintain. I consider my garden maintained, but many would consider it rather wild. It is in fact maintained daily though. Manicured?)

My neighbor put it rather well the other day. We were ripping out some lawn between our houses for the roses and strawberries, and we asked him if it was ok since it's partially on his property. He said "Grass is the stuff between vegetables and flowers".