I was thinking the same thing!

In our yard, the birds seem to vastly outnumber the land-dwelling creatures, though we have an abundance of squirrels. We have had deer wandering around the back yard as well, I threw a bunch of apples out for one a while back, it stuck around for quite a bit. There was a groundhog floating about as well but I haven't seen it for a few years. Thankfully, I see few raccoons, hateful little shits that they are.

The birds are here in earnest though. Robins by the million, plus a few unidentified songbirds, along with the blue jays and cardinals, ducks and geese.

The cardinals really are easy on the eye but by far the best sighting so far this year, albeit from a distance, was of one of the bald eagles that have begun to nest around the lake. It was flying around over our street but by the time I ran in to grab my camera it was gone. I will be grabbing a shot of one of them this summer if it kills me

Maybe someone exorcised it...

Monarchs like swan plants. That is all I know TBH but it does work. Mind you the caterpillars eat the plants so blimmin' quick.


Photos people. Photos.

Ours are still "naked," so perhaps they don't show up in the garden centers until they have developed an enticing leaf or two to attract the customers! I bought both of mine in August when they were leftovers and looking a bit sad, for $5 apiece -- years later they are big and beautiful, and very hardy. It's important to prune them back really hard early every spring.

I'm sorry, blowing a gale today

Rats!

Hmm, I've noticed the ones around here are naked too. Maybe you're right and I need to wait a bit. One tall local buddleia I drive by every day looks almost dead right now. I'm hoping this past severe winter didn't kill it.

BEVS, I'm not familiar with a swan plant? Wikipedia says it's a variety of milkweed, which I know butterflies love...

I love the scenery and all that Banffshire has to offer so im going to miss it when I move. We have the best of both worlds being so close to the sea, yet surrounded by farmland. I can see dolphins as I walk to Tesco, beautiful deer when im out walking the dog. Lovely birds of prey, pheasants, and all the usual farmland animals along most routes by transport or walking. I came home on the bus last night and a field that has been empty for a while has some gorgeous highland cows in it just now, and being spring there are babies..........so cute

We get some of them too...we're near water, so got to expect it really. Rarely see them, unless dog brings one home....

Every spring I chop mine back to a mere stub, and by the fall it's a big tree again -- I'm sure the one in your neighbourhood will be fine, they are very hardy.

I have those sprouting up everywhere with the wind borne seeds....

Poisonous old bats.

OK BEVS....

Here are the "helicopter" dragonflys who arrive every summer. They seem to delight in flying around and hovering over the black bottom swimming pool.

My summertime pals.

We have had snow, I am getting bored with snow.

The pooch has already his first gopher of the year, the snow showed them burrowing out, could be a big season.

Beautiful colour and wings. Good companions.