Kind of have to jump in again and open my big mouth and most likely put my foot in it, getting ready to duck under the computer desk, lol. It is no big secret on this forum that I am a nature lover and do my best to live WITH nature, I would much rather have their company than a perfect garden. But I am also practical when it comes to nature, I am a naturlist, a conservationlist, and sure no where near what meets PETA's standards. The reason I'm writing this is just last week my God daughter brings me a baby cottontail that her boyfriends cat got and with weepy eyes, asked me to raise it as a pet. I had to be cold hearted, I told her it was fully furred, eyes open and hopping quite well so go turn it loose in the back pasture. Here are the plain cold facts about rabbits. That tiny little rabbit hopping on your lawn is on its own, Mamma abondoned him in order to raise a new litter, she breeds right after giving birth, so when one litter is 4 weeks old, she has a new one. She breeds like a rabbit because most of the young she produces will be killed, that is natures way. If they were not killed, we would be up to our eyeballs in rabbits like they are in Australia where they are an introduced species with no natural preditors. Another fact, the nest you find is not abondoned by Mamma, she only feeds her young once or twice a day, her presents brings on preditors, so she stays away from the nest. Not seeing Mamma feeding does not mean the nest is abandoned, leave it alone. So while I do not do anything to discourage rabbits on my property, I also do nothing to protect them. Let my hawks, snakes, cats, raccoons, whatever, keep the numbers down. If I see a little baby, I leave it. And if I find a nest, I just leave it be. I still have rabbits, always have, always will, but never enough to cause me much damage, just enough for me to enjoy. I take this attitude with all of nature. I educate myself about the animals that share my home and take proper measures from there. I know it's so easy to fall in love with the cute and cuddly and hate the ones that offend your senses. But it's education that leads to a more proper balance. Hey, if I hadn't researched those totally gross, ugly things eating my rue, I wouldn't have my beautiful giant swallowtails today. And how many of you actually think a preying mantis is cute other than me? Sigh, going to get off my soap box hoping I made you understand that nature has a place in all gardens, but it's up to you to educate yourself on the facts of the particular animals that share your world. In doing so, you might be surprised.

Just saw this on Facebook: There were three country churches in a small Texas town: the Presbyterian church, the Methodist church and the Catholic church. Each church was overrun with pesky squirrels. One day, the Presbyterian church called a meeting to decide what to do about the squirrels. After much prayer and consideration they determined that the squirrels were predestined to be there and they shouldn't interfere with God's divine will. The Methodist group got together and decided that they were not in a position to harm any of God's creations. So, they humanely trapped the squirrels and set them free a few miles outside of town. Three days later, the squirrels were back. It was only the Catholics who were able to come up with the best and most effective solution. They baptized the squirrels and registered them as members of the church. Now they only see them on Christmas and Easter.

Thanks, Josephene. And many happy returns to you!! Hope you have something fun planned. He was a pretty great cat. Easily the best of any I've had the privilege to know and live with. He thought he was more dog than cat....came when called, liked to accompany my dog and I on walks, played 'fetch' and was a superior hunter. Affectionate, attentive and adaptable - easily tolerated the 5 moves in the last 10 years. He and the dog were best friends. They groomed each other, played together and often shared a bed. The dog is pining a bit too, wandering the house looking for him. I will evetually get him a new cat companion. Thought I might plant some catmint in spring to mark his grave. He didn't really care about it (or catnip) but it seems appropriate somehow :-) And it is a space that could accommodate a robust, long flowering perennial like that.

It was nearly 80 when I got up this AM! Now rain has come in, but it is still 78. Not the strong storm that we were warned about, but perhaps that is still tracking toward us. Both the early (star) and later (large pink blossoms) magnolias are in full bloom, as are the apricots. The Manchurian Apricot bloomed in March, then got hit with frost, as did the Nanking cherry - but the Nanking is reblooming. I've never gotten fruit from any of these trees, since they usually bloom, and are always hit by our last hard freeze, in April. The native plum blossoms are just about to pop open too, but they are usually fine in a cold snap. I hope that the apples and cherries will be sensible and not bloom for a few more weeks!