They're ba-ack (I sincerely hope)

Every morning is the same routine. Wake up, open curtains, stumble outside to greet the squirrels who immediately mug me for walnuts, and otherwise tend to the Critter Café. This is important business as my critters depend on me to attend to their every need: food and fresh water. This morning, as I looked out the kitchen window while making my coffee, expecting to see the crows and ravens swoop in to feed on the peanuts, I got a wholly unexpected and wonderful surprise. An enormous raccoon was happily chowing down on the peanuts. A raccoon. Now, no doubt you're saying, what's so great about seeing a raccoon? Allow me to explain. 

When we moved into our house with its now-too-huge yard, we loved that we were surrounded by squirrels, raccoons, opossums, skunks (well, skunks were welcome but the stench wasn't), and beautiful birds. Yes, we saw the occasional coyote too, but that wasn't too much of a problem. We even had a raccoon couple bring their kids into the backyard to stare at us while we enjoyed the outdoors seated on the lounge chairs, which the second we vacated, the raccoons would hop up on and make themselves at home. Opossum mums would show off their babies. It was a lovely time. Then something happened and the raccoons and opossums disappeared. Even the skunk population took a nosedive. Our yard was just as hospitable, our dogs as friendly, but the road bordering us became more congested with reckless drivers. That was over 15 years ago. So to see a furry bandit friend is exciting in the extreme. 

The pictures were taken through the kitchen window, so they aren't the best, but you get the idea. Enjoy Raccoony. (Yup, corny as it is, it's his name). He's near the wheel.

Recycle, reuse, repurpose - sort of?

Confession time. When I cut back my Agave, I don't do a terrific job. It gets whacked back just enough to not attack passersby and that's good enough. OK - not great but better than nothing. Someone else in the neighborhood not only cuts back their Agave properly, but then decided to add a decorative element that is quite ingenious. From a distance, what caught my eye was the sparkle. Curiosity led me to look closer and was astounded to see that bottle caps from various drinks were pushed into the cut area. It's fun, intriguing, and a creative idea. It may even get me to cut the Agave properly and find sparkly things to decorate them. Mmmmm.

 

Architectural battle - who wins?

One of the reasons I loved traveling to different countries so much was the architectural diversity. Standing in the Taj Mahal or a Buddhist temple, visiting the Acropolis versus Notre Dame, was exhilarating for both the history and the beauty. The U.S.A. has some highlights, but we have to make do with buildings in our area that are at best 150 years old. And most houses in our neighborhood are in the 50 to 100 year old category. So it's interesting to see two very different styles standing next to each other. 

The first is a cottage style that looks cozy and so inviting for a visit on the front porch.

Then, in my mind, oddly, stands a massive building that almost looks like a convention center. Mind you, wonderful arches (and we all know how I love arches), but it's the only one of its kind on a block of cozier homes. Mmmm. 

Finally, apropos of absolutely nothing about architecture, these roses are amazing for the diversity of color on a single bush.

Arid environments are not lifeless

One thing that struck me when I was in Australia (back in the dark ages), was that the desert areas were far more vibrant than expected. The Outback isn't a desolate wasteland that one might expect. One of the plants that stood out was Kangaroo Paw, something I have tried to grow here with no success. Alas, my gardening skills are minimal at best, so no surprise there. Fortunately, others have had far better luck, or skill, as the case may be. This combination of reds is so striking and beautiful. While I don't know what the bushy red plant is called, it doesn't matter since it is just a joy to walk by every day and take in the vibrant beauty.

  

Bears and donkeys in our neighborhood

Okay, so the title was a tease, but this wonderful bear is permanently ensconced near the street. Someone decided to put on a baseball cap (backwards of course) to add to the charm. It is true that bears do live in our area, though we are not as privileged to see them wandering about as other towns in the area. I have a true fondness for them, even naming my wonderful rescue dog Kuma because he looked just a bit like one. The good news is, this bear allows you to pet him.

As for the donkeys, they are also motionless but are doing the good service of providing a stand for potted plants. They are also very colorful additions to the yard.

Okay - it's true. Purple is my favorite color

Couldn't pass this up. Nature is a wonder and the perfection of blossoms never fails to amaze. Being purple is the icing on the cake. 

Pollinators and passersby rejoice

There has been concerted effort in our area to create yards for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. More yards have native plants. Some yards are little art tests too. This yard meets both requirements. Sort of. If you don't pay attention to the weeds. The round sign atop the butterfly tile says Pollinator Work Zone. The hedgehogs, frog, and snail add to the charm. Click on the picture for a bigger view.

Repurposing the wheel barrow is another good way to keep things out of the landfill and serve a practical need for large plantings.