I missed my garden while I was in Arizona and knew that it would be totally different when I got home. My dear husband took care of my plants and made sure my containers got watered. Other than that he really doesn't know much about gardening and what to look for. So first thing before entering the house when I got home was to take a garden walk. I was amazed at how much it did change and grow. My milkweed is at least waist high if not more but it was dusk and the light faded fast. The next morning I went out to check the plants over and found holes in my milk weed plants. Could this be! Really! Now for some of you who are knew to reading my blog I get excited over monarch caterpillars and butterflies. So when I turned over a leaf and found this beauty I was jumping for joy. Yes that is my big surprise. Crazy, I'm just crazy. Last year I released nearly 100 monarchs. I check my plants nearly everyday looking for eggs or caterpillars and had I been home I would have been able to rescue more caterpillars. There may still be more hiding in among the thick leaves. The milkweed is just now getting ready to bloom and as the weather warms up I'll see more monarchs flying around. I did see some on Sunday. There will be plenty more posts on my monarchs.
It has been non-stop since I arrived home. I love the fact that I can work from my home studio but I do need some nature time also. After weeks of not going to Presque Isle I was getting edgy so Don and I wandered down on Monday around 4:30. I took in the smell of the last remaining honeysuckle and the now blossoming wild roses. Camera in hand as always, I was trying to photograph birds. Walking down one of the dirt roads near the bay side I spotted some Orioles, Warblers, and Sparrows and as I turned the bend in the road I notice a female in the tree above me.
Next she flew to the ground right in front of me carrying something from the nest. I could not believe I was witnessing this event. She nudged at the baby and cried out.
Then the male appeared and they both called out. It was if she was crying over her child. I stood transfixed and so stunned I nearly forgot I had my camera with me. Quickly taking photos I was off centered and not focused quite right but managed a few.
After the parents left the baby I wandered near by for a bit trying to grasp all I had seen. It was if they didn't know I was there. Slowly I made my way back to the sidewalk trail where I met up with Don and told him of the event.
I find this world amazing and watching nature such a stress relief. Imagine what it would be like if we all just took 15 minutes a day to watch listen and learn.
Peace
Namaste
Strawberries!
2 hours ago
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9 Spattering of comments:
What a poignant piece. So sad for the parents to grieve over their lost chick.
You're right...if everyone, (especially the youth of the world) spent just a few minutes each day observing nature it would be a far better place.
What an event to witness! I never would have thought they would do something like that. It must have been sad but so interesting at the same time. That's why we need to always bring our cameras along! And about the Monarchs. There are a lot of us that are just as crazy!
Gosh! absolutely amazing experience. Nature is so wonderful. Thanks for sharing this Toni.
Thrills and spills, no not the Olympics, nature. I had a similar experience yesterday with a baby robin that had fallen from its nest and was hanging from its foot in a bush. My husband "rescued" it, at my request, as mom and dad angrily swooped in to protect the little one. It could not fly so I said to my husband, "You know that little robin will likely wind up being cat food." He said, "We've already interfered too much." He was right:(
Carolyn, thanks I just wish it had not taken so long for me to notice.
Hi Linda! hope you got some milkwed this year.
Teri for sure if I make it out to Arizona when you are there we will hook up.
Michele I know don't you just want to run right out and mother them all and take of them. Alas we cannot.
The oriole story makes me wonder if animals mourn... I suppose it's possible...
Re: monarchs, I really want to come over to Erie and see your garden one day soon. May I? I think my sister from Florida would enjoy it too and she'll be here Monday...
(Ain't it rude how bloggers just invite themselves into your life?)
How sad to see the Oriole situation! Good to hear about your monarchs!
What an amazing, though sad, event to witness. Thank you for sharing.
What a wonderful post, Toni. I don't think I'm grown up enough to look too closely at all aspects of nature - I fall apart. We are the sort of people who get excited about watching a wildlife documentary and then have to switch off at the first 'real' moment.
That is such a touching story about the Oriole parents. As though I needed another reason to visit your blog. :)
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