Rain every day this past week has brought out the flowers in the garden and on the veranda. Almost every early morning, the valley and mountain ridge was heavy with clouds. The morning air was cool and almost fall-like, but more humid. Rain brings out the lush green, and everything is growing.
My garden has made progress, strong tomato plants and lots of basil mean freshness yet to come for the table. Squash came up that I didn’t expect, and the parsley is showing promise as well. I have a good number of flowers, and even some tiny green tomatoes beginning to show.
The robins have been here for days, a huge flock that congregates in the meadow scratching for worms.
They aren’t the only visitors this week. It has been an interesting time to say the least, starting early in the week with another black bear visit. This mom and a half-grown cub were passing through. Luckily they did not stop at the newly mounted bird feeder, perhaps remembering that their last attempt was not successful.
This little guy was taking advantage of the seeds spilled from the feeder by the birds.
Later the same day, a bear came by itself. I’m pretty sure it is a different bear, taller and leaner than the one with the cub. I took this photo from inside the house.
It moved off fairly quickly with just a bit of noise. The zoom lens on my camera can get a nice photo, keeping me at a safe distance.
Jasper only came by one time for a meal. He does enjoy his peanut butter sandwiches.
I saw a bobcat here this week too, a big cat with tufted ears edged in black fur, a tawny coat and the stubby tail. It was about 40-50 pounds, but too quick for me to get a photo of it. In all the years we’ve been here, I’ve only managed to get one photo of it. This one was taken in 2018.
Then a surprise visitor. I looked out the glass door on Thursday to see a pigeon on the welcome mat. She was pretty, white with black markings. As I watched her for a moment, I noticed a blue band on her leg.
I took a couple of photos of it, and went to work on the internet to see if I could find out where she belonged. It didn’t take long to track down the code on the band – AU WNC – to a national pigeon racing organization. On their website was a ‘found bird’ reporting form, so I filled it out. In only minutes, someone contacted me with a name and email of the person at a local chapter here. About a half hour later, I was in contact with him and he asked if I could trap her, then he would pick her up.
Well, that was fun, LOL!! When I tried to get her, she flew off of course. So I put a box on its side on the veranda with some seed inside, placing it so I could see it from inside the house. It didn’t take long for her to come back and walk right in to eat. I quickly but quietly opened the door, placed a cover over the opening, and scooped her in, setting the box upright. It was supposed to storm heavily that night, so I moved her to the Carolina Room, and let the guy know I had her. He came to pick her up the next day. He told me it was a hen, and that she was thin and underfed. She may have been on her own for a few days, not accustomed to having to fend for herself in the wild. I was happy she was back with someone who knew how to care for her, and had a proper hutch for her.
While we are inside, I want to show you the orchid, still blooming after month! Yes, it has been in bloom for just over 4 weeks. The other buds have not progressed at all, but this beautiful white phalaenopsis flower is still here, lovely as ever. Now I wonder how long the bloom will stay.
On the veranda, the flowers continue to bloom nicely. These calabrachoa are just so prolific!
The hanging baskets of petunias are slowly filling in, and blooming sporadically. Which brings me to my next bird adventure – the bloody wren was back determined as ever to build a nest in one of them. The foil was no longer keeping him out, so I added not one, but TWO pinwheels to the basket he was fixated on. The problem with these is we have so very little wind, they don’t move much.
Did it make a difference? No, the little devil just kept building, ignoring the pinwheels and the foil. Blasted little bugger. So, I took the basket down, and he immediately moved over to the next one. After pulling out that partial nest, I took all the hanging baskets down. All this happened in the space of a couple of hours one afternoon. My toad lilies were the focus of his attention a couple of months ago, so I’ll have to keep a close eye on them. They are doing really well in total shade this year.
In the front flower bed, the ruffled day lilies continue to put on a show.
Both plants have lots of buds for more days of flowering yet to come.
All the pots of white begonias are also doing very well.
Lastly, this week my first dahlia bloomed, rich red in color. Several buds promise more to come.
All in all, a very interesting week in the garden these past several days! Anything interesting happening at your place?
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From My Carolina Home 
Loved the pictures! Hope you are doing well!
You are so brave retaining a bird feeder with black bears around!!
Love all the flowers you are getting. And so many cool wild life visitors. Unfortunately we have had a few chipmunks move into our yard and they have been wreaking havoc on both my pots and garden. I planted some new asiatic lilies and they keep digging down to the roots, unearthing the plant. 😡Then yesterday while doing some weeding I looked up and noticed a large bull snake about 2 feet from me. Gave me a bit of a startle! I am hoping that it was looking for a chipmunk meal and will move on after being successful. They are harmless to humans but I don’t enjoy the thought of it being around since I still have smaller kiddos at home.
Sadly, my peonies did not bloom this year. I’m hoping it was weather related and does not mean the demise of the plants. Leaves look just fine.
Sigh
you sure do have the wildlife around. I think it would be interesting to see a black bear like that in your yard but with as much as I like sitting outside on my porch I don’t think I would like to be out there if one happened to stop by
You have had an interesting week! Only a bird lover would take the time to notice the band on the pigeon’s leg. We have an acquaintance that raises pigeons. Now I will have to ask if he has his banded ! Good job with the rescue! I’m wondering if you set the hanging baskets back out in another week if the wren has moved along to another nesting spot? Such hard work building a nest. I noticed on my daughter’s front porch that the swallows have returned and have rebuilt their nest in the corner of her porch. They do make a dirty mess, but there is joy in watching the birds.
Thanks for this week’s posting, Carole. I really enjoy seeing your lovely gardens and reading about the wildlife shenanigans.
It’s like wild kingdom there! So many fun adventures to enjoy with a wide variety of creatures!
What an interesting week you’ve had – Bears, Bobcats, Squirrels, pigeon and a pesky Wren. I wonder how long before he gets the message?!?
Lovely flowers and all the green thanks to a bit of rain. :))
just a idea about keeping the birds from building a nest in your flowers. years ago, we had neighbors that had cats that liked to use my flower beds for their bathroom. they really liked digging in my hens and chicks and completely ruined them. someone suggested putting clear plastic forks…poky side up…in the flower beds. problem solved. clear forks aren’t easy to see from far away but they made interesting conversation when people were close enough to admire my flowers. maybe a bird would avoid those pots? or just build around the forks?
Busy, busy time at your place.
Carole, black bears have been spotted all over our county and even on our gulf beaches. So far we haven’t seen one, but just a matter of time. Husband has had several photos of bobcats on his trail camera. I love the dahlia!
Oh my goodness, now you’re catching racing pigeons! Good to hear she’s back home & plumping up. It sounds like her navigation skills need a little building. That bear had a lean, hungry look. Also looked a bit disappointed he wasn’t on the peanut butter sandwich lunch invitee list. We’ve had some baby raccoons raiding the bird feeder.
You have had quite the wildlife week! It’s so great that you actually trapped that pigeon and found out who could come and take her home. I had to laugh when I saw your spinners in the plants – we got the exact same ones to try and keep the squirrels away from the sunflower sprouts! That is one persistent bluebird you have there! Have you tried putting up any bluebird houses?
When we liven in Missouri there was a wren that took over my flower pot and I just ignored him/her, continued to water as all the rest. She didn’t seem to mind and the flowers were just fine. The next year I just put less flowers inn that pot. Then I hung a gourd house at the other end of the porch and she went into that. So maybe put out a wren house for her.
I am told that watering a plant with little hatchlings makes them susceptible to disease, so you aren’t supposed to do that. My husband also doesn’t want bird poop on the veranda. I did put a wren house up, they ignored it for two years. They just need to find another spot.
I’ve had success wrapping a rubber snake around the hangers on the hanging basket to keep the wrens from nesting. One year I asked a neighbor to water the hanging baskets for a few days. She took one look at the snake and wouldn’t come up on the porch. She asked a friend to water them. I haven’t solved the chipmunks and squirrels digging up the pots, though.
I’d say your had a pretty exciting week between the bears, pigeon, chipmunks and squirrel. Congratulations on successfully capturing the poor hungry pigeon so she can be fattened up and cared for properly for awhile. Your flowers are lovely as always.
You sure have some lovely wild life around your home. I enjoyed your homing pigeon story. How you have time for flowers and veggie gardens is a mystery to me while keeping up with all kinds of quilty projects. But, the internet is the only way I can enjoy flowers and veggie gardens any more. Thank you for sharing.
Lovely catchup of your day(s). Beautiful country, flowers, animals, etc. Thank you for sharing.
You certainly have had a lot of interesting visitors lately. Dont know how I would feelmabout bears coming though.
Years ago, I was outside gardening when a bird kept getting extremely close to me. I could hear the wings flapping next to my ear. I tried to shoo it away. He was persistent with his pestering and I was busy shooing him. I went inside and called my mom for advice. She said it was the Holy Spirit anointing me. A litter later, a man stopped by our house and said he was looking for his racing pigeon. He explained that the pigeon was trying to perch on my shoulder.
It’s great that you spotted the band and tracked down the bird caretaker.
Your photos are exceptional. Love the bear.
I gifted my Quadrille in Orbit today. The lady said, “but I’m not sick. ”
I know I said
The quilt is called ‘Just because I Love You.! I put peach velour on the back. Quilted in circles and the border was planet fabric. Therefore call it Quadrille In Orbit. Your name is on the label. Thank you.
This is like Wild Kingdom Carolina Style! Love, the bears!!!! Here our problem is bunnies. They are cute but also tear up the yard. Made a next in the grass smack dab in the middle of the yard – now have to mow around it! But we haven’t had rain in forever so nothing’s growing anyway. Thanks for all the fabulous nature photos and descriptions.
Oh Carole, I’m so glad you could rescue the pigeon and found her person. That’s wonderful. And your array of wildlife is both magnificent and a little scary! You are battling the wrens; I hope mine never leave. (They will…. but they’re still here!)
What a wonderful week of wildlife. So glad you were able to get the pigeon back where it belonged. Happy ending, for sure!
Hi Carole, your flowers are looking lovely! I was wondering, are you ever scared to step off the veranda & have a bear sneak up on you or come face to face w/one as you walk around the corner of your house? Back to the garden, I have planted an heirloom pepper plant that is meant for just roasting & grilling. This makes 4 pepper plants now that I have. Also, I planted a zucchini & some white finger radishes. Have gobs of green tomatoes on my sweet 1 million & sweet 100 plants! Have harvested some cucumbers already & have been busy continually tying up tomato & spaghetti squash & cucumber plants. The sweet william is already 6’ tall & still growing up my 7’ stake! Last two days here in KS have been very pleasant,almost dreamy like as I sit in my rocking chair amongst my jungle of flowers on the patio listening to three different wind chimes blowing softly in the wind along w/ the songs of the Goldfinches. Is going to get very hot & humid next three days so will be working on making a birthday present for the neighbor. After that a store owner of a craft shop has challenged me to make a craft project, so will be working on that as well. Have a good day Carole!