little things count

Bees are said to be disappearing from the U.S and other countries at an alarming rate. Lots of reseachers are studying the problem but can't find the answer as to what is happening. Many people don't realize how important such a small creature is, bees pollinate most of our fruit crops and many veggies and without them these things will become scarce or non-existant. They are also responsible for many of our flowers, wild and tame, setting seeds so they can continue to beautify our world. I have seen one bumble bee this year and no honey beees in my garden, yellow jackets, however, seem to be as numerous as usual. Yellow Jackets do some pollinating, but are mostly scavengers, they'll eat anything and they are very aggressive.

Country dwellers know what a propane "pig" is, the big propane tank that sits in many country yards. My propane tank has a metal cover over the valves and fill hole to keep rain out and it has a vent opening on one side. Every year the yellow jackets build a home under this cover and another little resident also returns- a tree frog. He sits right on the gauge that shows how full the tank is. I don't know if he eats the yellow jackets that share his home or if they live peacefully together. He is fat and happy and will let me pick him up without trying to hop away.

Another little thing that pleases me is the birds around our property. For some reason we seem to have an abundance of Goldfinches, they are at the feeder all the time and their cheerful singing goes on through much of the day. I have seen one Hummingbird so far this year, he buzzed by me as I filled the grape jelly for the Oriole. His feeder is ready for him but I haven't noticed him eating there. I did see him on the small yellow flowers of a "clove" viburnum that have startd to bloom. The Oriole is inspecting the tall electric pole on the east of out property. It has a double cross piece at the top and my wisteria and trumpet vine managed to make it up there last year. Those ties to the top have been cut, but there are many pieces of dead vine still there and I wonder if he is thinking of building his nest there. That would be a strange place.

After I feed the sheep at night I sit on a bench for a while and watch them if the weather is nice.
There is a little sparrow with 3 white stripes on his head that is very tame and will come right down by my feet looking for any grain crumbs. Actually there is a pair of them. I looked them up in bird book one time but can't remember their name. They are allowed to do this as long as my pet hen "Henny" hasn't come to sit by me on the bench. She will chase them away. Our big black rooster spends part of every day watching the bird feeder. He doesn't mind little birds but he tries to chase off any bigger birds like doves or Red Winged Black birds.

Another little thing that is important to me is all of the people who have went to my webpage on Garden and Hearth, www.gardenandhearth.com/Plant-Guides as every little bit I get paid for these visits help us keep the house here. I found out that my husbands Social Security Disability review may take up to another year or longer to even be scheduled. We have never been rich but I am sure learning about how every little bit counts now. Thank you to all who have visited.