Here are the bunnies! Two years ago, I went out to my raised beds, in which I had planted a winter cover crop of vetch. Me being me, I never turned it under when I should have, and so it was well over 18 inches tall when I finally got around to tending to it. There was a big indentation in one part of the vetch, and lots of fur. These beds are cinder block, two levels high, so I was kind of confused as to what caused the big indentation - did a deer fall over into the bed? LOL, it was odd, to say the least. So I just happened to show my husband to see if he could figure it out. So he picked up a stick and poked at the fur, not wanting to touch it with his fingers. Well, we got the shock of our lives when the fur poked back, lol! We must have both jumped back a few feet in surprise! Then it dawned on us that this was a nest! But a nest of what? These teeny tiny little heads poked out and they were so small we couldn't figure out what they were. I thought perhaps chipmunks, my DH thought squirrels, mostly because of the grey fur. It wasn't till a few days later that the little critters morphed enough to tell that they were rabbits! While I was over the moon with how friggin cute they were, I also groaned because I had visions of my destroyed garden (even though it wasn't even planted yet!) What luck - a nest of goodness knows how many rabbits smack in the middle of my veggie garden. DH says, "You want me to take care of them?" I laughed and asked who he was, Tony Soprano? But I couldn't harm these little things. How could I? And luckily for me, they grew up and moved away. Never had a bit of damage... thank goodness! A few days after we found the nest: Another few days later: And still another few days: As cute as these little guys were, I'm content to look at the pictures and hope that I don't find anymore in my vegetable garden! Dee

Jo, I promise to get the tripod out and take better pictures of the scapes from all angles. I have difficulty bending the ole back and holding still more than two seconds. That is a boat, it is a pirogue made of fiberglas. A derelict washed up during a hurricane at my brother's place just east of New Orleans in Slidell LA. I had 3 obelisks like 3 masts in the boat, gave one to DH for his squash to climb. Of the remaining two, one is the Eiffel Tower. Not for serious vines. Maybe the mandevilla or allemande, more delicate and controlled a vine. I'm about to spray paint it pink....the boat that is.....hot pink.....a color I used before on a john boat....nobody ever stole it....easy to identify....what young male wants to be the caught riding around in a PINK john boat! Indeed, one day, that will be a planted "boat bed"... I needed some height at that end of the garden. Thus the obelisks, and the umbrellas. Shade. Must have shade.

Wow, we have this swap wrapped up already! Way to go, GIRLS!! :o) Ya'll are awesome, as usual! Theresa~ Great box, I know you'll enjoy every bit of it! Sounds like it was good timing, too. Dottie~ "And bamboo is so ungrateful! Every time I helped one up, it slapped me in the face." ROFL!! Oh, goodness...I can't help it....I'm still wiping tears from my eyes. That is some "liberated" bamboo! *giggle* It reminds me of when my brother held a door open for a "liberated" woman! She slapped his face & told him she wasn't helpless. Good grief! I told him to not let it bother him, she probably just wasn't used to southern hospitality. That's how we raise 'em down here- you ALWAYS open doors for ladies (and even a few gents now & then, if you're first in line). Now he asks before he opens doors.."Uh, are you liberated or southern?" LOL! So I hope that DH replenished your wine supply for you. Sounds like you had quite the day & you certainly need some relaxation! Laura~ The bird watching sounds like a great activity for the family. We have TONS of birds here- chickadees, titmice, cardinals (hundreds of these!!), wrens, bluebirds (funny time of year for them!)...so we will definitely have much to report! :o) The weekend is almost here! YAY!!! ******** MARGARET sends to CAROL~ received CAROL sends to HEIDI~ received HEIDI sends to THERESA~ received THERESA sends to LAURA~ received LAURA sends to MELISSA~ received MELISSA sends to MARGARET~ received ********

I'll take anything except HOSP. :) I live in a neighborhood setting..postage stamp sized lots that was built in the 40s-50s, so no bluebirds here...if I was close by to an open field I'd prolly get some though, but no dice. The HOSP are nasty friggin' non-native creatures. I do have a HOSP trap that I used last summer..the neighbor would breed them and I would trap them..it was a lovely cycle. I suppose you are right about letting the Downey have it..which is fine by me..I love those little woodpeckers..the problem I have is that I don't know if once the Downey makes the nest and lays the eggs, will the mylar scare them away as it will be in place to scare the HOSP. Bluebirds, wrens and Chickadees aren't bothered by the mylar strips so that was never an issue. IDK about the Downey and if they are afraid of the mylar strips then we run the risk of them abandoning their nest and or nestlings. BUT if I don't use the mylar the HOSP will enter the nestbox and peck the eggs out and kill nestlings if they are in there..they will also attack the roosting woodpecker too. Catch 22, no?