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By Bev Wieler
Columnist 

Out my kitchen window

 

December 12, 2019



Looking out the kitchen window, the landscape has changed the past couple of weeks. Snow caps the trees and decor, making a wonderful winter photo.

Out our window, green swags with red berries and bows on the garden fence are also frosted with snow. Even at night, we have a view out the kitchen window with lights glowing on the swags.

Christmas shopping is near completed at our home. If you are still searching for a gift for a gardener, I have a few suggestions.

They include subscriptions to garden magazines, Preen weed preventer, clippers, garden gloves or boots. Most gardeners enjoy watching birds, so gifts can include suet, a bird bath heater, bag of sunflowers for the birds or a new feeder.

While I finish a grocery list at the kitchen table, I see movement out the window. Squirrels race up and then back down ash trees, jumping to a spruce tree and then back to the ash tree.

Sometimes you have to look intently as the squirrels are camouflaged as they race about the trees. If it wasn't for their twitching, fluffy tails they could go undetected in what I presume is squirrel play.

I can't always tell which squirrel is which, but first one races up a tree while yet another chases behind it. Suddenly one turns and chases the other bushy-tailed squirrel.

I'm not thrilled when the agile squirrels sit on the bird feeder and munch on seed meant for the birds, but otherwise they are entertaining.

My husband likes to watch the squirrels who occasionally dart halfway down a tree and jump onto my backyard flower shed roof. It then scampers over and jumps to an ear-corn feeder he has placed for the squirrels. Yes, he feeds the squirrels. That is another gift idea, a bag of ear corn makes a great gift, too.

Squirrels also like peanuts and peanuts in the shell are a fun diversion for them. A variety of squirrel feeders are available at garden and hardware stores. If you're lucky, you just might persuade the squirrels to stay away from the bird feeders.

Looking out my kitchen into the December backyard, I realize feeding the squirrels in their own area hasn't worked, as a fuzzy tail can be seen swirling around the top of a bird feeder.

I hate to admit it, but it is fun to watch all the wildlife out the window.

Happy holidays from out my kitchen window to your home and garden, with or without squirrels.

 

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