Yard, Gardens, Birds and Critters

Bluebird vs. The Squirrel By Mary J Williams © I was outside Just checking on things Listening for birds And hearing them sing I heard the Bluebird Couldn’t see him yet I will keep looking Usually I do, you bet! I saw a squirrel running As fast as he could Up a tree and down Is he up to no good? I couldn’t believe my eyes When I saw the flash of blue There was a Bluebird Chasing the squirrel, who knew? Never have seen Something like that before Bluebird hot on the squirrel’s tail Hoping to make a score Bet the Bluebird had a chick The squirrel got too near Bluebird was giving The squirrel something to fear In the tree and out Down on the ground he went Across the street lickity split Out of the area the squirrel was sent Into the bushes Way across the street They went out of sight I think the squirrel was beat The Bluebird was back Up on the line in a little while And I swear to you I think I saw him smile   5-3-2025    

Critters Around my House By Mary J Williams © Out of the corner of my eye I see movement there What could it be It’s something with hair I looked over There is the ground hog He is dark and not moving Looks like a log I’m putting water In my birdbath you see Now the ground hog’s standing up Just looking at me He or she has seen me before There was a small one too Now it’s just the one They look alike so I have no clue What else do I see Chipmunks are around One I see daily By a bag of soil on the ground I got up one morning Day Lilies I planted Were chewed to the ground "It’s the deer!", I chanted Now there are rabbits too And squirrels out there You kind of learn what they eat And not plant them, if you care Sometimes the message is “Deer won’t eat this” They will eat what they want Some plants they dismiss So, yes, I have critters And sometimes I fuss How they aggravate me And sometimes I cuss But those that know me I am a softy at heart Probably won’t do anything Which, I ...

At My Kitchen Sink By Mary J Williams © Standing at my kitchen sink Trying to fix supper I look out and see a squirrel And then I start to sputter I can’t believe it It can’t be true The squirrel eating My Christmas cactus I grew He is holding a piece I can see him eating I run to get my camera Proof is what I will be needing There I have a picture I just can’t believe it Eating Christmas Cactus I wish the heck he’d quit Now I’m watching Bluebirds In the birdbath, bathing It is a Juvenile It really is amazing Then the one starts to preen On his chest, tail feathers and wings All of that then flies down again Into the water he flings Wait, the squirrel is back Rose Moss flowers to eat No wonder I don’t have flowers The rose moss is his next treat I can’t believe all that is going on I see an orange bird across from me No picture, as he flew Just as soon as I could see Juvenile Bluebirds Three of them I see I am out on the deck now The neighbor’s feeder across from me One more bird to ad...

It’s Been Awhile By Mary J Williams © No poems lately What can I say Not even a story Has come your way It’s that time of year Gardening takes up time Plus, there are good movies I watch on Prime I have had critters galore I put out oranges and jelly For the Orioles that stop by Squirrels ate it all filling up their bellies Put safflower seed out too Squirrels aren’t supposed to like it Guess they didn’t read that info As they ate it all, not just a little bit Moles were tunneling everywhere Cicadas were making their noise Chipmunks running all over And Deer eating my rose Made a new spot In the front yard, you see So, I could plant daylilies For everyone and me I even have crocheted Baby blankets given away I love doing that I don’t make them pay I have cooked different things To try and tempt Jim However, he doesn’t eat it Sometimes no pleasing him My flowers are looking great Have pollinators about Butterflies and bees I’m doing good, I have no doubt       6-...

The Flying Squirrel By Mary J Williams © Standing at the sink Doing the dishes Looked outside Squirrel cleaning up dishes Grape jelly I put out For the orioles They haven’t been here But the squirrel sure knows I went out the door Yelled at him to leave This isn’t the first time I am really peeved That squirrel faded left Then he faded right Next thing I knew He had taken flight Off the banister deck To the ground below Watching him fly How far did he go? One day I’ll get the tape out And try to measure it This is not the first time I doubt he will quit It’s not really flying But a very long jump I am utterly amazed He lands without a thump   5-1-2024

It Is Spring By Mary J Williams © Sitting at my computer Window open, the breeze blowing in The smell of Golden Currant I just have to grin Spring has arrived My Redbud is almost in bloom Supposed to get cold tonight Hope it’s not too soon The flowering crab in the back A few blooms I see Hope the cold the next few nights Doesn’t bother the tree Some of my daffodils Are already done But I have more blooming And that’s so much fun There are tulips now too Not very many I think the Chipmunk Had eaten plenty Used to have a row full Now it’s just one or two Beneath my bay window The bulbs they do chew Just like the seeds I planted in the pots The squirrels jumped in And they dug up lots I may have some survive Hopefully some lettuce for me If the squirrel quits digging We will just have to see! I still love the Spring It’s renewal, it’s birth That is the time We get to play in the dirt Golden Currant Redbud Tree flowers  Daffodils  Flowering Crab blooms

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!

 While I was watering the other day, around the 10th of August, everywhere I looked it seemed something was going on. A hole in the ground, where I think a chipmunk resides. Then mounds of dirt in my front yard again. The mole was pretty busy. I glanced around and saw all the places Wild Ginger was growing. I don't plant them there, the ants do that. I just wish they wouldn't plant them in sunny areas. Oh, and the hostas now chewed down to nubbins. The deer come up the driveway, or go down it and stop for a treat! Every time I saw a new spot, a poem would form in my mind. When I got in the house and at my computer, the computer wasn't working. I grabbed a pen and paper and started writing. Kind of a condensed poem. One that included most everything. I never did finish it until this morning. Poems In My Head By Mary J Williams © The other day While working outside Started many poems Thoughts I didn’t try One about the piles Of dirt upon the ground Meant the mighty mole Reall...

 I know I have moaned and complained about the squirrels eating my birdseed. About purchasing feeders that were supposed to stop the squirrels.  Most of you probably have watched the YouTube videos of how blasted smart the squirrels are and how they figure out all these "squirrel buster" designs. Yep, I thought I had one too.  I even took the suggestion of putting the safflower seed in as that is the very least favorite of the squirrels, or so "they" say! My feeder is the kind that if a heavier bird even, sits on the bar, the weight brings the bar down and the seed is covered up.  This worked pretty well for a little while. Until that beady little squirrel brain figured out what to do. While the squirrel was working on his problem, the raccoon had no problem, he just lifted up the roof, where you fill it and helped himself. To eliminated this, I moved the feeder over in front of a 2 x 4 and then he couldn't lift the back of it. Awe, too bad. He didn't like t...

 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?" ...

 This is the second part of the story of April 7, 2022. I involves another at the little feeder dishes, that, for some reason, I forgot all about! The Forgotten One By Mary J Williams © I just put out some food In the little dishes For the Eastern Bluebirds That was what my wish is In the kitchen now The poem is done “The Morning Song” A story that was spun I was worried about the Starlings And the Sparrow too Knowing how greedy they are Eat everything till it’s through I forgot about one thing A critter that comes around Four legs and a long tail And is quite the clown I looked out my kitchen window And there standing on two feet Hauling in the meal worms He didn’t miss a beat I whispered the word “Squirrel” And Lacy sped to the door The squirrel took off Down the deck he tore Lacy went running after it But lost him on the way I tried pointing another out But she didn’t see it this day The squirrel is gone for a little while I hope the Bluebirds come in I would really hope they ge...

  The Squirrel and the Chipmunk By Mary J Williams © Standing outside With the water hose on I glance at a movement See a squirrel and now it’s gone Must have jumped to the tree As now he is on the ground Running to the raised bed Is where he is bound Uh Oh, there is a chipmunk The squirrel scared away He was in that bed But he didn’t stay He ran to the tree Started up the side Getting away from the squirrel Trying to hide It was just a few minutes And the squirrel took chase Over to the tree No time did he waste I saw the chipmunk Out on a limb I think the squirrel gave up He was chasing on a whim He came back down Over to another tree he went I never saw the chipmunk again The squirrel lost his scent. This is a perfect picture found on the Internet!