Yard, Gardens, Birds and Critters

Winter-the Yard, Birds and Critters and Me by Mary J Williams It's sort of winter but the weather is mild You can be outside Which makes me smile Weeds were pulled and I planted a seed one was a tree If it grows, it will surprise me I have had fun watching the birds an argument between bluebirds and the Robins I've heard Chickadees flying in and the Titmouse too I grab the camera Then off they flew I have a flowerbox sits on the rail It's on the two by six so falling will fail It also can sit on a two by four but mine just has the space The birds walk through the tunnel and disappear without a trace One time, while filling the feeders One of the tunnels had a bird A sparrow was in there  He ran so fast, he was blurred I love watching them  they think the tunnels fun Maybe they get cool If there's a lot of sun. I have to wash the deck  to try and keep it clean with bird seed and poop Dog pee I mean When it's cold outside Or very early morn The dogs do their business...

My Critters By Mary J Williams © Watching out my window In the early morning hours My eye catches movement The trees my eyes scour There they are, up in the tree Squirrels are playing Running from branch to branch Sometimes they are swaying The sun isn’t even up It’s just barely light They always are playing But not during the night I planted some seed In flower pots on the deck I have seen the squirrels in them Digging holes by heck Planters in the front They did the same thing Don’t know if I will get produce They destroy a lot in spring They aren’t the only ones The deer have also stopped by Day lilies were on the menu All I do is wonder why They ate my neighbors too Maybe they just ate the leaves And the buds will still come up And flowers bloom to please The critters are up to no good As far as I am concerned They live on this Earth too Patience, I have learned!

The Wasps and I are Done By Mary J Williams © Okay, that’s it I am finally done Feeding the wasps Is no longer fun I was being sweet And cut up some grapes I threw them in the flower box Didn’t think about it till too late I upset a couple of wasps Flew at me as I was standing there One landed on my shirt I thought one was in my hair I shooed away the one That was on my shirt He flew onto my arm If it stings, it’s going to hurt I moved towards the door Thought the wasp flew away I went inside my house The wasp came in to stay Oh no you don’t You aren’t welcome inside I got my dishcloth Whipped it out, I tried Realized he didn’t leave My swipe at him did no good He was there between The glass and the screen Got him down at the bottom Opened the door wide Did another flip with the cloth “Be Gone”, I cried! Now my skin is crawling I feel like they are all over me That’s the end of the feeding Live or die, what will be, will be!

  This Old Lady Feeds Wasps By Mary J Williams Walked on the deck last night It was after 8 p. m. The wasps were still there What’s the matter with them? I did some exploring on Google To learn as much as I could About the Yellow Jackets The wasps that are up to no good Most aggressive wasp in the U.S. They have venom in their sting Fall is their worst time Freezing weather, death will bring Most live in the ground Buildings are for some Hope you don’t get close to a nest They will chase you if you come I put out some pear pieces Thought the birds would enjoy But as stated before The wasps took over, oh boy! Last night when I was out I noticed the pears almost gone This morning what did I do At the crack of dawn? I rummaged in the fridge, found some grapes that I had Punched a hole in two Didn’t want the wasps to get mad I threw those grapes into the flower box then Wasps were flying around Hopefully staying away from me again How many old ladies Do you know, besides me That’s just...

 I have to tell you, before you read the poem, this has totally amazed me! The Yellow Jackets have been here before, eating the grape jelly I put out for the birds. Before long, no birds were eating the jelly just the Yellow Jackets. By the way, I did look them up and they are  Eastern yellowjacket - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org  › wiki › Eastern_yellowjacket The eastern yellow jacket or eastern yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons) is a wasp found in eastern North America. Habitat Forests, meadows and forest edges, including urban and suburban environments. Like in all Vespula, colonies are normally subterranean, or sometimes at ground level in stumps and fallen logs. In deciduous forest, nest entrances frequently situated under tree roots or adjacent to logs on the ground. Of 40 colonies confirmed as this species in western Pennsylvania, 34 were subterranean, 3 were in exterior walls of buildings, 1 was beneath a tree stump, 1 was in the roots of a fallen tree, and 1...

 This is the story and it really did happen!  My husband and I go out to eat on Friday nights. On this night we went to one of my favorite places, Longhorn Steakhouse for dinner. Hubby had chopped steak and baked potato. He didn't finish either item and we brought home a "to go" box.  Because the steak had mushrooms and onions, he didn't eat them, so I added all that to the box.  A few days later I had the leftover chopped steak with the mushrooms and onions and I took the potato that was left and took it outside and set it in one of the planters and completely forgot about it, until this morning. I was doing my regular morning tasks, bringing out all the suet and seed I store in my house at night. I have to, or the raccoons will eat everything in sight.  I also clean the birdbath and put in fresh water. I looked at the birdbath and "what the heck is that?"  I went over and looked closely and couldn't believe my eyes. There were pieces of potato in the b...

The Alternative Plan for Feeding Birds By Mary J Williams © Just finished the other poem But my brain didn’t stop Thinking about missing birds An alternative plan I will plot The birdbath on the deck Will draw all the birds up there But no seed or suet will be found I know it doesn’t sound fair I have a shepherd’s hook Down in the lower yard Also, platform feeders Feed to be found won’t be too hard I will have sunflower seed And a mixed wild bird seed too There is also a couple of suet feeders The Pileated can’t use them, boohoo. There is another 2 x 4 I can put a large suet on As long as the woodpecker can rest his tail He will pound away till It’s gone The squirrels will be there But out of my sight Then I won’t get upset I hope that statements right! So, water will be on the deck Suet and seed down below I can still grab the camera That I already know. I can see from the dining room window But not as easy as from the kitchen The birdbath is always used So, not changing my position W...

It’s Really Over This Time! By Mary J Williams © That’s it, I’m done! Waking up to this Is no fun! Empty flower box On the deck floor Pieces of something Broken and more Looked around What did I see? Broken solar light They have also broken me Not putting out more seed Except what I brought in the house I can’t take any more Now, you can think me a louse Have gone through Six jars of jelly Not the orioles Sparrows think it’s their deli I have the occasional Cardinal A couple of Blue Jays too But mostly Grackles and Starlings The Sparrows, way over a few! I can’t have the flowers That I’ve had for years The new generation of birds Are the greediest, I fear Used to not having To look for anything Having it laid out So, they just waited like kings Well, now they have to work for the seed I have bugs, insects, beetles and more They can take pride in the yard Maybe, again, I will adore That goes for the squirrels And those raccoons too Go somewhere else Or you could end up as stew! Grackles...

 One of those kinds of mornings. Have to repot plants, pick up soil, make a plan, add soil to tomato and flower pot, wash the flower box, put the basket in it and hopefully the darn raccoon doesn't bother it again!  Starting The Morning With a Groan By Mary J Williams © How is your morning? I hope better than mine Opened up the door And what did I find My planter knocked off again It’s on the floor of the deck The soil is all over the place The plants are a wreck In my pj’s yet After all it’s not even six I think for a minute And hope I have the fix I replant the plants In the big flower pot below They are doing okay Growing is a little slow! I took the soil From the fallen planter Put in the pot And in with the tomater. The plants all repotted Tomato has more soil Put some water in Hopefully, any tries again I spoil Now I have to wash the deck To clean up all the mess Hope I fixed the situation But that is anybody’s guess! After all repotted and deck washed off Close up With ...