More color is popping out in the backyard butterfly garden in the home of my dear wife Karen and I in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood.
In this small section, the border lilies, dianthus, daisies and lupine are all looking dapper.
The day lilies are the crowded bunch on deck in the background. The four butterfly bushes are springing into action, but are still a ways from blooming. You can spot the low, wide butterfly bush to the left, next to the pink dianthus.
Away from the plants, meanwhile, still sits the humane spring trap waiting to entice our backyard gopher.
We’ve had one visitor who got stuck inside, and Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle went wild to let me know.
As soon as I saw a furry occupant as a trotted toward the fence, I threw my fist in the air and said, “We got it, Ellie B.”
My enthusiasm escaped as I neared. Too small.
“Nah, girl. We got a nosy squirrel.”
I grabbed my garden gloves from the shed, let the unlucky little one out, replaced the sliced apples and bananas while I was at it, and reset door.
And still we wait.
Ellie B and I have spotted the gopher once since the trap has been set, watching us from the middle of the lawn, while dear Dogamous Pyle was trapped herself on the porch with the door closed. I swear that furry is taunting us.
What flower colors are out in your place as we enter this weekend? Any great animal antics around your house these days? What do you have planned for the next few days?
hey there! i’m loving your recent posts!
I also blogged about my recent trip to the Enchanting Penang Butterfly Farm! Do you think butterflies are lucky? that it symbolizes hope, love, fait and luck?
here’s what my recent post is all about…
http://talkaboutbeauty.wordpress.com/2014/06/29/highlights-penang-butterfly-farm/
would be so nice to hear from you! 🙂
cheers! xx
deanna ( http://www.talkaboutbeauty.wordpress.com )
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That’s why we love our butterfly garden. Thanks for dropping by. I will be visiting soon, Deanna.
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Of course it’s taunting you. The year my husband took on the chipmunks, one sat on the porch eating a strawberry looking in the house. Now that he’s complaining about the woodchucks, one suns himself in a large flowerpot near where the chipmunk was.
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I am losing my patience, Cat. The gopher is turning ornery. More to come. I hope your hubby won over the chipmunk, and will win against the woodhuck, too.
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After several years we have just begun to see the random chipmunk again. The woodchucks are more of a challenge. Good luck.
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Once again, your butterfly garden is gorgeous! Good luck enticing the gopher. 🙂
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Pretty garden, Mark, and I agree that those are salvia. I must confess, I shipped a family of squirrels from my n’hood to yours (see my latest rantings!) –good luck! 🙂
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I just might have to go to my neighbors and take some pictures of their gorgeous flowers and fauna and share with you. You would so appreciate their colors. 🙂
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I would love that, Colleen! 🙂
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🙂 Okay then!
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He’s going easy on you, B. If he really wanted to harass you he’d get a twitter handle. I thought about it, “took a selfie as I napped in the trap today” very tempting. But at the end of the day I’ll always side with familia. I’m with team B.
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Oh, yes, S, he could be tweaking me via the Tweet!
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How’d you get the smartest gopher in NY, Chum?
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Yeah, I gotta get Albert Gophstein, Aud.
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You do!! What a mess…
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I have animal antics. Aside from my two fur balls, I have five new baby birds that have hatched in the next in one of my lone plants that has survived my non-green thumbs! Beautiful, colorful plants you have!
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They hatched! Fantastic news, CBXB. Now how do you keep Ted and New Cat away from the nest, I wonder?
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I keep them off the mini manse porch. So now both cats think they’re in prison!
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Poor cats. Prisoners in your own home. It must be a racket with them wanting to get out there.
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I fully expect blinds to be shredded upon my return home tonight.
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Those little birdies better leave the nest soon, or the two cats will figure a way to have feathers sticking out of the corner of their mouths when you get home from work, never mind the blinds being shredded!
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I know! Hopefully they’ll be spreading their little wings and flying away very, very soon!
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I’m pullin’ for you guys to nab the little varmint before he nabs your color.
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The varmint is proving to be wily indeed, Teela. Thank you for your support!
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Hope you get that little critter.
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So far the critter is smarter than the human and the dog, Dora!
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I am in Zone 7 so just a few weeks ahead of you in bloom time. No advice for you, Mark, on gophers as we don’t have them here; just the dreaded vole which can be really destructive. I have big gardens with over 30 varieties of daylilies so it’s fun each morning to go out and see which new ones are in bloom. Do I see a little purple salvia in amongst your Asiatic lilies? Such a nice complement to the lilies.
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You do. I was calling it dianthus, but perhaps you are correct in your label of salvia, Barbara. That must be awe-inspiring, a big garden to offer so many different blooms and colors. I hope the vole avoids your spaces!
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Now why did this post bring to my mind the play “Waiting for Godot” ???
Lovely flowers Mark.
Good luck with Monsieur Le Gopher.
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Your garden looks beautiful. Although you haven’t caught him yet, I love that you are trying to do it humanely. Good luck catching him and keeping your sanity. 🙂
Diana xo
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Thank you on both fronts, Diana. You will know it when the insanity creeps in. 😮
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If there is food, squirrels will find it. Even if it is in humane traps intended for gophers…
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Yes, indeed, ESN. Happy trails, to food.
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Happy Friday, Mark. I see your Day Lilies have opened. Mine have yet to do so. Slowly getting back to norm on my end. (((HUGS))) Amy
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No, the day lilies have yet to make their appearance. Those are the border lilies that have already yawned to the world, I’m pretty sure, Amy! I’m glad you are getting back to normal, my friend.
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Little by little, Mark. When I put that much effort into an endeavor, it basically takes everything out of me. So, your Day Lilies are late this year too! I keep waiting for mine to open, and like, um, are ya ever gonna open this year? LOL Love, Amy
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“Caddyshack” images popped into my head, and I saw your comment. Great (warped) minds …
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Yup. We do, Jim.
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i love this ongoing saga, the battle of the humans and one enthusiastic dog, vs. the elusive gopher. i’m afraid your ‘trap’ may turn into a fresh fruit buffet for the woodland creatures inhabiting your space ) and speaking of your space, it just gets prettier every day. i love seeing gardens and appreciate you sharing yours. as for my neck of the woods, we’ve had a lot of rain here and things are really green and filling in nicely )
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Ah, yes, Beth, my fear exactly, of us having the best-fed urban wildlife on the block.
I had great hopes the day Ellie B and I saw the gopher dancing a waltz on the back lawn! I wanted to call in an Animal Planet film crew. I not dare grab my own iPhone/iPad because I know I would have scared furry away.
What a tease.
Rain = green. That is good for Ann Arbor gardens, Beth.
Enjoy the weekend, my friend.
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I’m with Beth on this one. Your buffets are going to be neighborhood renowned for the fresh fruit and other delictable tidbits Mark. And I thought squirrels would be a part of this action – they’re waiting for their air-conditioned tour. Ha!
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No rides for the squirrels. They are the small fish of this tale, Paul. Simply catch-and-release.
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I like cat9984’s story.My wife and I owned a semi-detached and our neighbor was squirrely about squirrels. They drove him nuts and he would even chase them around the yard with a broom. They had a great time and would sit in the trees and chatter at him.They didn’t bother me and I didn’t bother them. One day I was in a discount store and they had a whole bin full of plastic life-sized grey squirrels. They were very cheap (about $1.50 each) and very real looking and had screw holes underneath so they could be mounted in trees or on the house. Ha! I bought about 6 and took them home to install in the neighbors trees while he was on vacation. My wife found out and forbade me. Wanna buy some plastic squirrels cheap Mark? 😀
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Nah, that’s OK, Paul. Thanks for the offer. I would rather a gnome or a pink flamingo!
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Oh, man! So close. That gofer does seem like he’s trying to outsmart you guys. Everyone but the gofer feels trapped! 🙂
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It’s getting more and more like ‘Caddyshack,’ Mrs. B. I have to channel my inner Bill Murray to outwit this creature.
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