Yard, Gardens, Birds and Critters

Just in case you don't know, the European Starling is an invasive species in the United States. They were brought and released in New York City's Central Park in 1890. They adapt easily and soon spread across the United States. The Starlings are also very aggressive as you will see from the tale I am about to tell you. Leftovers tonight! I was standing at the kitchen window, washing out a bowl that was emptied, when lot's of motion caught my eye. Standing on tiptoe, I looked down to the back yard and saw numerous starlings and one lone male Red-bellied Woodpecker.  The woodpecker was on the small suet cage, attempting to eat some. The starlings, being the greedy birds that they are, were attempting to get the woodpecker off of the suet. I know some of you will say, "they have to eat too!" The problem is they ate all day long and finished off three of the small squares of suet I stuffed into one of the large block suet cages.  When I looked around noon, there was s...

 I looked out the kitchen window as I was doing up a couple of dishes. The squirrel was back but in a totally different position. I am thinking he sucked everything that was close from the side hole and now is attempting to get seed out of the bottom drainage holes.  This squirrel is quite the acrobat. I don't think there are many positions that he can't get into.  I watched and took a few pictures. I watched the male House Finch fly in and realized the squirrel was there and took off again!  Later on, I was at the kitchen window again. There was that squirrel and I swear my first impression was he was laying down sleeping on the top of the bird feeder!  I then realized he was likely hanging over the edge like he has done on the side facing me and attempting to get the seed out of the side hole. I think he saw me, or sensed that I was there, taking pictures, again!  He sat up and started whipping that tail around! I don't think he was happy with me at all! ...

 I went out on the deck to hang up a flower basket I saved all winter long. I pulled the hose out and watered. I didn't see nor did I hear the squirrel sneak up on the other side of the deck, lay down over the top of the one feeder and start sucking out the seed. It was a small squirrel so, not very old. I say suck out the seed as there are very small holes about 1/8 inch, drain holes and holes where the bar attaches. I can't think of any other way for them to eat the seed then suck it into their mouths.   I went back into the house and just happened to look out the window and saw that goofy squirrel laying there. "How the heck did I miss seeing him or hearing him?"  I did then what I always do! I whispered the word "squirrel", both dogs came running. Now, I opened the door, the squirrel was so involved in eating didn't see me, or didn't care, and didn't see the dogs.  I tried to point out the squirrel to the dogs and they were, "huh?" ...

 I am a Master Gardener. What exactly does that mean.  It means I went to classes to learn about different aspects of gardening and also volunteered 30 hours of my time to maintain different areas that Master Gardeners take care of. There is quite a list of places including the Cole County Extension Center.  The grounds are what we take care of and sometimes it's a huge challenge. Like the time I was trimming the bushes on the side and ran into a hornets nest! Scared me right out of doing that again!  Just imagine an older, heavy set, gray haired lady with an electric trimmer in her hands running away from a bush! What a sight that would be.  I also attempt to do my own yard which also has challenges seeing as I keep changing my mind and adding or subtracting plants and hardscape. We, hubby and I, put in a little pond and had fish a few years ago. We were both pretty much able to clean the filters and all the other maintenance, like weeding around the pond. Year...