runktrun posted this a few years ago: Why Did My Plant Die? Geoffrey B. Charlesworth You walked too close. You trod on it. You dropped a piece of sod on it. You hoed it down. You weeded it. You planted it the wrong way up. You grew it in a yogurt cup But you forgot to make a hole; The soggy compost took its toll. September storm. November drought. It heaved in March, the roots popped out. You watered it with herbicide. You scattered bonemeal far and wide. Attracting local omnivores, Who ate your plant and stayed for more. You left it baking in the sun While you departed at a run To find a spade, perhaps a trowel, Meanwhile the plant threw in the towel. You planted it with crown too high; The soil washed off, that explains why. Too high pH. It hated lime. Alas it needs a gentler clime. You left the root ball wrapped in plastic. You broke the roots. TheyÂre not elastic. You walked too close. You trod on it. You dropped a piece of sod on it. You splashed the plant with mower oil. You should do something to your soil. Too rich. Too poor. Such wretched tilth. Your soil is clay. Your soil is filth. Your plant was eaten by a slug. The growing point contained a bug. These aphids are controlled by ants, Who milk the juice, it kills the plants. In early spring your gardenÂs mud. You walked around! ThatÂs not much good. With heat and light you hurried it. You worried it. You buried it. The poor plant missed the mountain air: No heat, no summer muggs up there. You overfed it 10-10-10. Forgot to water it again. You hit it sharply with the hose. You used a can without a rose. Perhaps you sprinkled from above. You should have talked to it with love. The nursery mailed it without roots. You killed it with those gardening boots. You walked too close. You trod on it. You dropped a piece of sod on it

Hi kendra2, sorry I just saw you post. I have had an Oriole nest in the past, in my very tall sycamore tree in my backyard. It was great to be able to see the nest. I happened to be sitting under the tree reading (Harry Potter as I recall) when the baby fledged. The nest didn't fall for a year or so, even in our amazing Oklahoma wind. When it did, I discovered it was made entirely out of horse tail and fishing line.

I have almost the same thing on one of my trails now,To give you some backround,Box"A" was up ,dees moved in and layed eggs,Then I saw a Tree swallow checking the box,so I put up Box "B" 10-15 feet away for the Tree Swallow knowing that they will nest in a paired box.Well the Tree Swallow does not show up again.The dees eggs hatch,5 nestlings.We get some wind a rain for a few days after.I monitor the dees box,only 3 nestlings,not sure what happened(bad weather or Wren) I let things be.2-3 days later only 2 chicks.About 1 week later I see a House Wren on Box "B" singing,adding sticks,I remove sticks every day for 4-5 days.The whole time the dees are defending Box "A" very good.Well today was fledge day for the dees.I go monitor the boxes from a distance,I see dees and House Wren hanging around,As I look closer I see a Tree Swallow peeking out of Box "B" and he is not budging.The Wrens are going nuts.A few hours later ,I again monitor from a distance,I do not see the dees ,today is day 16 (Fledged) for them.Now the the Wren have moved over to Box "A".The Tree Swallows remained in the entrance of Box"B" for the rest of the day,only leaving for very short times.So,Should I continue to deter the wrens,or should I expect these two to get along OK since the boxes are so close. Matt

Congrats! Fledging and 1st flights are the best part of bluebirding! I also recently had 4 fledge. Love hearing all the success this month! Hopefully this other pair I have with the batch of 3 eggs will actually hatch! Her other clutch went bad as confirmed by candling and me dissecting the eggs and finding embryos. -Tim-