Help it's a Snake in the pond.

Well, the baby owls have all left. Life has gone back to normal. I thought. Until I saw this
guy sunning himself on my pond lilies. And see the big spider on top of him. Yikes. Is he
poisonous, I wonder. That's it. I am not sticking my hand in that pond again. I will clean the
filters in the top pond but I am not pulling that pump out to clean while that snake is in there.
No wonder I don't have any frogs this year.

Second owl and my hollyhocks

Well, the third owl is gone. I am going to make myself believe it fledged. The house is empty so
we took it down. No sign of trauma or eaten baby owl. I believe there was just one left. The saga of the owl family closes for this year. But I have a new owl house and next March I will be putting it in the same spot, but with a squirrel guard!! I have actual hollyhocks blooming. You would not
know this is amazing. But I live in central Florida, not the hollyhock kind of climate. A neighbor
who moved here from Georgia kindly gave me advice on growing them. I am over the moon.
So, here you go. Hollyhocks and baby owl. This is the second sibling that was in the tree. She is smaller than the one ear up owl.

Baby Owls

I believe this is a male baby owl. The other fledgling looks smaller, more petite. I bet he
was the first one out of the house. There is still a third baby owl in the house. I hope he fledges
tonight. The whole family, Mom, Dad and two siblings are waiting in the next wooded area
for him or her. It must be lonely being the last one out. I hope they come back to visit
once in a while. I am going to miss all this excitment.

Smorgasborg

Just flowers and cherries.

Two Out, One left................

Yesterday two baby owls flew the coop. I just photographed one in the tree in the next lot. There is another in the tree but he is hiding. I saw both parents and two babys in this tree. There is
still a baby looking out of the house. So, she had three babies in that little tiny house. Unless
there are two left in the house. The last one was hanging out of the house just now and looking
like he was going to jump. I kept saying to myself, no..........no........... Nobody is over here
right now. My husband said these owls are taking over my life. And then of course the darn
squirrel decided since no owls were guarding the house, he wanted to look inside. I had to shoo
him away.

Last night I was watching as a baby owl swooped out of the house. I guess there were two but by then it was getting too dark to see. And at 11pm when I checked she was moving them around
and getting them over in the next lot and they were making a heck of a lot of noise. Good thing
no cats were around. So, two down, one to go. The last one looks so lost and lonely. I know,
I know, I gotta get a life. Well, this is my life. I am a bird geek. And this is my first up close
experience with owls. Ok, maybe I will get better photographs later today. Here is one
baby, out in the world. Cute little bugger.

Does anyone know when this owl will fledge?

I swear its been at least four weeks since he hatched. At least!!!!!!!!! His mother sits
in a tree next to his house (it's gotten a bit crowded in his house as it is really a red bellied
woodpecker house that she chose) And I think she is tired of raising him. (we can all relate
to that) My son has taken so many photographs of the little guy that if you even approach
the house with camera in hand, pops back in the hole. He now has ear tufts. He is approaching
adorable. Before that he was old man scarey. I really should be painting. I really should be
reading. I really should be cleaning. This internet just kills my creativity. It's like an instant
fix. It's not reality folks. I know you guys are out there. But I have so many other things
I should be doing. Now, off to do something constructive. And, again, does anyone know
how long a baby screech owl can stay in the house before his mama deserts him?

Its called String of Pearls Ginger or Shell Ginger.

I have had this ginger by my pond for years. Never did a thing. Just two tone green with
spots. Suddenly I think I'm seeing things. A flower. I have flowers this year that I have coveted
my whole life. It looks like I am going to have real hollyhock flowers in my garden. I have
coveted those for years. I have this thing for wanting to grow things that do not belong here.
Like my surinam cherries. They are native in south Florida, Miami to be exact. Mine had frozen many times. I started covering them during freezes. I have cherries this year. First time ever.

A Room With a View

Houston..... We have lift-off

Saw the baby bird for the first time today. It was about 7am and she was in a clump of trees
outside the fence calling to him. He looks like a little ole grey man. When her calling from the next
yard did not work. She came closer to a tree near the house. When that did not work, she kept
flying back and forth to the house and the limb. Showing him what she wanted him to do. He
was thinking about it for a few minutes. Then three huge harrassing crows flew right over him
and he ducked back inside the house and so far has not looked out again. But, I think fledging
is tonight or tomorrow. Usually they take them out right before dusk, at least that is what
I have been told. I will miss having baby birds and owls. They won't be around after that until
maybe next year. Oh, I might see them hunting during the Fall or Winter. So, it's adios.
I'll miss you guys. You can bet if I get any more shots. I will post them. But I do not want
to disrupt the fledging process so all these will be from a distance and fuzzy. sorry. We do
want a successful fledging.

Cool Owl Photographs for WheatieBoy

Hey, you find those cool birds, I tell you they're over there. Somewhere. Go out into the
jungle. I'm posting cool owl photographs for you. It's the least you could do for a bird lover.
And here, have a cool bald eagle web cam. http://www.wvec.com/cams/eagle.html

My screech owls have not fledged yet. Greedy little things making Mom keep hunting for
them. Envy you in Africa. I still remember all those gorgeous zebra photographs that
Helen took. Is this a working vacation? Obviously, a yes.

Ok, here are the latest screech owl photographs. I took the one on a tree. My son with
his huge camera lens took the close up.

Ok, I'll cut him a break.

I took a photo of one of the little pesty squirrels who have inhabited my barred owl house. They should not look so cute peeking out of there. I saw my mama owl tonight after dinner. I read now
where they do not fledge for four weeks. That means I have one and half week to wait. So far,
the house has not seen any more attacks.
I am still waiting for my hollyhocks buds to open. If the flowers look as awesome as all these
lush buds I will be over the moon.
There are fires all over Central and Northeast Florida. Some area's of have been evacuated not
far from where I live. We could use a hurricane. I never thought I would hear myself say that.
Wheat stopped in London on his way to Africa. I am so jealous. I went to England and never
even saw London. Ok, I am tired. this will be it. Enjoy the squirrel. He is cute, how can you
not love him.

Give an Owl a Break

Poor Mama owl she just can't cut a break. This morning it was a damn squirrel eating another
hole in her roof. My husband put duct tape over it and then my dear son climbed on the ladder
and put metal flanges on both sides. It is getting to the point you can't even see the original
house. My son looked in the entrance after he was done to see if the owls were still in there.
He saw mama owl sleeping on top of the baby owls. Suddenly she stretched and opened
one wicked eye at him. He almost fell off the ladder. I have figured they are two weeks old.
I hope the house can hold together one more week. And I am searching for recipes for squirrel
stew. So... if you know of any, let me know.