Look Alive Girl
I see birds beautifully fluttering about, landing on the ground, trying to find dropped seeds or the occasional insect that dares to surface in the garden this January. They are some of the city’s only apparent signs of wildlife in January. Aside from my little frog friends, which I only hear but never see this time of year, Okay, and of course, our massive population of city deer.
A smile comes to my face at their peaceful presence. And then… screeching, flying feathers, and total bird brutality. As the birds fight for whatever morsel was only available for one and not two, I’m reminded that even the beautiful little birds in my garden are finding the winter a little rough.
But, the Green!
The holidays are over for my family, and now we wait for the sun in the Pacific Northwest. The next few months show us just what we are made of. Because when the sun comes out on a rare day or more and more in about four months, something feels different. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t love the rain, the trees, and the lush green because of it. But, in the middle of January, it is hard to remember how much I love it.
Go Outside
So, a little stroll through the hibernating garden is always good medicine. I put my boots on and look alive. Of course, Kitty finds me, and we enjoy each other’s company.
Turns Out…
The garden in January reminds me that there’s still so much life, even in winter.
And what to my wandering eyes should appear? Nature reminds me again that she is quite beautiful and very much alive all year.
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4 thoughts on “Garden In January”
I often wonder how those small creatures mange all winter. I’ll throw out stale bread but have since quit feeding them on a regular basis. Save for a birdbath in summer, I’ve been told that this can lead to dependency and if for any reason the food supply stops, they may suffer a worse fate than hunger if these regularly fed birds lose the skills of foraging. This happens in only a couple generations, or so I’ve been informed. But I’m no biologist, just an old fart who reads blogs from people I admire. It sort of reminds me of humans where so often those on a steady diet of welfare or those lucky ones who receive an inheritance – they lose purpose and can devolve into savages if the good times stop. But I’m no psychiatrist either. However, that doesn’t mean when I see them in need it doesn’t break my heart. It only makes me wonder, at times, just how many degrees of separation there are between us humans and those little birds.
You are so right about this one, Dave! It is hard not to throw food out for them all year. It is frightening to think about just how many degrees of separation there might not be. I shudder to think.
Although it is hard to watch, those little creatures are quite resourceful. It was just Friday that I was picking up a machine and as I moved it the open ground was exposed without snow and the little birds showed up picking the ground for bugs within seconds. We forget how powerful nature is even among the little ones.
Nature is so powerful, true. It is incredible what critters are watching for opportunities as we just carry on our days, barely noticing. But, their whole lives are focused on opportunities to survive.