My old Newhall garden was on the strip between a planned community's private golf course and the chaparral. Bobcats; an infrequent mountain lion; ever-present quail, jack and cotton tail rabbits, gophers, rats and mice, ground and tree squirrels and coyotes inhabited the place daily. Over the eighteen years it existed, birds of all kinds were frequent visitors. Several kinds of owls, hawks, my favorite Bush Tits, were daily companions. There was a short period when a trio of Road Runners took up residence. Two males and a disinterested female ran up and down the golf course many afternoons. The two males strutted their stuff while she ran from one insect catch to the next, completely ignoring both of them. I'd found piles of smashed snail shells at the bottom of the concrete retaining wall holding back the facing hillside capped with homes. I figured they were the result of a snacking possum or something. It wasn't until I was out watering and had the delight of watching one of the males stalking snails in the garden it dawned on my what they were. He'd dive into a bush to snag something, glide across the fire road to perch on the wall cap then smash the shell and gobble its contents. Then, back across the road to resume his browsing. The males would click their beaks and fan their wings and tails to impress the female in attempts to outdo each other. She always ignored them, continuing to gorge herself on the abundant insect populations drawn to the oasis of lush, luxuriant turf surrounded by the hilly chaparral. One afternoon, I heard what sounded like an injured dog crying. I couldn't find it for the longest time until I discovered one of the males sitting in one of the Mexican Honeysuckles. It was the Road Runner making the sound. I'd never heard them make anything like it before. Another afternoon, I went out to water and the two males were chasing each other from the golf course into the garden along the main path. I stood completely still watching them, until they nearly ran into me. I know I startled the dickens out of them as they hit the breaks like the Road Runner cartoons, turned into a bisecting path until they hit the top of the slope where they each turned the opposite direction and ran off into the brush. They were beautiful, amazing and completely entertaining creatures! I'd resisted using chemical controls for anything in that garden because of the stream of inhabitants and visitors. These Road Runners confirmed my resolve not to bring in any chemical measures. I hated the snails, but the image of finding one of them injured or killed by something I did was too much to bear. Quail were interesting and rather annoying. There were many fifteen gallon cans of roses I wished to keep contained and the quail would nest in them for protection. I would begin watering and once I'd get about two feet from the can, several quail would explode in all directions from them like shrapnel, scaring the life out of me. I was always on heightened alert for snakes (NOT my favorite!) as there were Black Racers, Gophers, Kings and Rattlers out there. I met them frequently and did my best not to molest them as I knew they all did their part to keep the rodent population in check. Usually, a strong stream of icy cold water from the hose was sufficient to convince them I was staying and THEY weren't...except for the Black Racers! They were attracted to the water, probably because it meant their food supply would be nearby. One afternoon, I encountered one of them and began my water assault to encourage him to vacate the place while I was there, only to discover he FOLLOWED the stream of water instead of avoiding it. Once that finally sunk in, I was already impaled on a large rose bush and the hose went one direction while I struggled to head in the opposite! Fortunately, the snake took the watery path so I could regain my composure! That garden was the first place I got to watch a rattle snake catch and swallow a rabbit. It was fascinating, like a science experiment with shivers! The Jays raised a real ruckus in the bush tops while the other rabbit watched his fellow become lunch, until it was over. I tapped with my water wand on the rocks I bordered the path with to encourage him it was time to leave. He struck at the wand convincing me it was time to use a colder, wetter "encouragement"! As he made his way up the slope toward the brush, two Jays dive bombed him while in the open. It felt as if they figured since he'd eaten already, they were safe. Back to quail... I was flooding a bed desperately in need of some deep water. Toads had excavated several holes into tunnels which collected the water. I hadn't noticed the adult pair of quail with their brood in tow until I heard the noise erupting from one of the flooded holes. A baby quail was dog paddling in the water while the rest of the brood raised all manner of noise. I reached in to rescue it and then worried that perhaps the parents would abandon it because I'd touched it. After drying it off with paper towels, I placed the small bird in a large bucket to keep something from eating him. I figured I could keep him fed until he was large enough to set free, then went back to my watering. In very short order, the mother quail was on the potting bench where the baby was raising Cain to get out of the bucket. The father was on the fire road out from the bench, feigning an injured wing in an attempt to draw me away from the mother and baby to give her a chance to try to free their child. I'd never thought the parenting instinct was so intense in quail! I studied their tactics for a few minutes, how the father remained just out of my reach while the mother tried everything she could to free her child. The other children were well out of reach under the surrounding bushes making an incredible racket! I carefully made my way back to the potting bench and placed the bucket slowly on its side to allow the infant escape without injury. As soon as he was clear of the bucket and me, both parents raced to him, herding him and the rest of the brood quickly into the under brush. What a relief! I didn't WANT to raise one of those noisy little things, but I felt if I'd caused him injury, I owed him remedy. Two things impressed the heck out of me about those birds. The intense parental instincts for each and every offspring, and the ENORMOUS feet that tiny bird had! As if he was hatched with full, adult sized feet! The experience was fascinating and amazing. There was a large, paved area at the bottom of the fire road separating the garden from the landscaped area of the community. Cut worms were a spring event in that garden. We'd find them weeding or planting, collecting them in a bucket to put out on the hot asphalt to the delight of the bazillians of lizards who kept the place swept for bugs. The cut worms would become very active from the heat of the paving while many lizards would watch from the safety of the sidelines until one would break from the circle to grab his choice of bug. The worms were very plump and hard. Occasionally, one would burst from the lizard chewing him and the lizard often dropped it and ran, probably from the surprise of his dinner "exploding" in his mouth! It was a frequent enough event, it seemed the lizards had come to expect the feeding and entertainment. The pleasure of watching their antics was well worth the stiff back from weeding and discomfort of the high heat in that canyon. It was a FUN and educational place!

MannyE and GreenLarry, All puff balls are edible in their early growth. Nearly every time I see a little white fresh puff ball I just eat them right then. Sometimes I peel off the outer skin, sometimes I don't. GreenLarry, I went to the "ask Jeeves" web site and asked if the spores are harmful. Here is the answer, "The spores prove very irritating to the nose and eyes if blown into the face when dry and powdery." My personal interpretation is that the spores are harmless when you step on the puff balls. Lots of powdery substances would prove to be irritating if blown into the nose and eyes. Probably especially so if the person has allergies. I am including the website where I got my info. (The web site is on http://botanical.com/ On their home page, find their search window and type in puff ball.) Or go to this very, very, long URL, and 3/4 of the way through the article you will find info about puff balls. http://web.ask.com/redir?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftm.wc.ask.com%2Fr%3Ft%3Dan%26s%3Da%26sv%3Dza5cb0dc2%26uid%3D0A86A77322605C924%26sid%3D1E8DE77322605C924%26o%3D0%26qid%3D6B44B7C25AA44643B127B17B430838FA%26io%3D0%26ask%3DAre%2Bpuff%2Bball%2Bspores%2Bharmful%253f%26uip%3D45b2189b%26en%3Dte%26eo%3D-100%26pt%3Dbotanical.com%2520-%2520A%2520Modern%2520Herbal%2520%257C%2520Fungi%2520-%2520Herb%2520Profile%2520and%26ac%3D24%26qs%3D0%26pg%3D1%26ep%3D1%26te_par%3D235%26te_id%3D%26u%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fwww.botanical.com%252fbotanical%252fmgmh%252ff%252ffungi-37.html&bpg=http%3A%2F%2Fweb.ask.com%2Fweb%3Fq%3DAre%2Bpuff%2Bball%2Bspores%2Bharmful%253f%26o%3D0%26page%3D1&q=Are%20puff%20ball%20spores%20harmful?&s=a&bu=http%3a%2f%2fwww.botanical.com%2fbotanical%2fmgmh%2ff%2ffungi-37.html&qte=0amp;o=0amp;abs=...free%20plants%20are%20not%20harmful.%20...%20when%20ripe%20discharge%20their%20dust-like%20spores%20from%20openings%20in%20the%20top%20of%20the%20peridium.%20In%20the%20GIANT%20PUFF-BALL%20(L...&tit=botanical.com%20-%20A%20Modern%20Herbal%20%7C%20Fungi%20-%20Herb%20Profile%20and&bin=&cat=wb&purl=http%3A%2F%2Ftm.wc.ask.com%2Fi%2Fb.html%3Ft%3Dan%26s%3Da%26uid%3D0A86A77322605C924%26sid%3D1E8DE77322605C924%26qid%3D6B44B7C25AA44643B127B17B430838FA%26io%3D%26sv%3Dza5cb0dc2%26o%3D0%26ask%3DAre%2Bpuff%2Bball%2Bspores%2Bharmful%253f%26uip%3D45b2189b%26en%3Dbm%26eo%3D-100%26pt%3D%26ac%3D24%26qs%3D0%26pg%3D1%26u%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fmyjeeves.ask.com%2Faction%2Fsnip&Complete=1

Day 3 of my Captivity. I had some difficulties last night. I had a bit of a cough and felt cold. This morning the human that captured me did not look happy to see me. Again my throat was swabbed and cleaned with the clear liquid. I was fed the warm cereal as well. The tube passed with ease down into my crop. As I was being fed, the smaller human had water coming from the eyes. Now I understand. Of course their ground cover would be parched with such an inefficient irrigation system! No amount of water from the eyes would be enough to sustain the expanse of growth they attempt within the dwelling. I am taken into a smaller holding cell with clear solid walls. A tube attached to a canister is attached. Some sort of heat source is placed beneath this holding cell. I am surprised. Soon I am able to breathe well enough through my nose I no longer need to gasp and I feel warm again. I feel these human captors are concerned about me until I hear them say: Hope Who makes it. I see. Their concern is for my ability to work. They will transfer me to some sort of sweat shop and put me into forced labor. I will have to make "it." I do not know what this "it" is. I have gathered more information on these humans. The large one on supports is the mate of the smaller human. Laugh if you will but I still believe he is housebroken. The other inmates have given me information. Name: Oooooooo Mmmmmmiiiiiiikeeeeee Rank: unknown at this time Cereal: Apple Jacks The information on the sprinkler human is yet undetermined. I was given something called scone today. I ignored it when it was given to me. Must not look to anxious about the rations. When I was not being monitored I tried this scone food. Very sweet. Very soft. Very good. I finished it quickly. These are humans. They will not remember they have given me scone. Again this Ooooooo Mmmmmmiiiiiikeeeee gives rations and cookies to the prison population. I am fed on a regular basis with the warm cereal. This afternoon the larger human took me from the small cell and held me for an extended time following a feeding. How does he know how to manipulate the new feathers on my head to reduce the itchiness? Comrades, I would be lying if I said this was an unpleasant experience. I fell asleep shortly after this treatment was begun. No. I must resist! This is part of the brain washing. I am pleased that my messages are able to get out. Contact Central Command and the Ministry of Misinformation and Maple Syrup Production. They know the coordinates near this institution. I have learned it is Camp Nappy #13. I spoke briefly to a Canadian Goosi that was part of the mission that bombarded the human dwelling near by. A nice chap, from Labrador I believe. Our conversation was short as he was on a mission. I am now glad I may have made a contact prior to my capture. There may be too much collateral damage if bombings begin. I must establish communications with the other prisoners and warn them of the escape plan. I am warm and was given my last feeding for the night. Oh. More seeds. They are much easier to swallow now. Breathing is better too. I have paced and paced for a long time this evening. I wanted more cookies food. Mmmmmm. Scone! Must not let the captors know I like this food. Must resist the brain washing. Thank you all for your concern and ideas. Very good. I will be sure to save this diary. Following my escape I will one day read my adventures to my great grand egg. I will write again when I can. Who _________________

Naw, I think they jus' like to eat stuff in my yard. They're here every morning now. I don't think they see me as a threat, even getting close enough to pet, but I don't want to have them pass the word that I'm a threat, so I don't reach out to pet them. We kinda jus' walk the same way, like when I'm huntin' dragonflies, real slow and methodical, so maybe they think I'm jus' one of them.