Today was the sort of day which looked like Spring, until you went outside...
A neighbour gave us this pot of hyacinths a week or so ago. They had barely grown as far as the string I tied round them yesterday. Now they are about two feet tall. I'm pleased they have very little scent as they can be a bit overpowering, like lilies.
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The squirrel found the hanging tray of birdseed I put out this morning. It curled up on the tray and lay there, swinging gently as it feasted on the food. 'Huh!' I thought. I've read that mixing chilli powder in with the seed puts them off; has anyone tried that?
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There were four robins in the little apple tree, flitting around, fluttering from branch to branch. I've never seen four in our garden at the same time before.
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Nunc Dimittis; one of a number composed by Herbert Howells...
I love hyacinth blooms, not so keen on the perfume
ReplyDeleteMe too..
DeleteHow could you do that to a poor little defenceless Squirrel??
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't do it to a red squirrel...
DeleteI have read that while birds can’t taste the chilli powder it has nasty effects on their digestive system. A bit of research may be required.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't seen that. I'll check. I'm out of chilli powder anyway.
DeleteHaving researched it, it appears that birds aren’t affected by chilli powder. However, a number of experts advise caution because the loose powder can be blown into the eyes of the birds while they are eating or into the eyes of the person adding it to the seed! They also said its effectiveness at deterring squirrels was variable and baffles were a much better solution. My father cut an 18” circle in a piece of metal sheet he had, drilled a hole in the centre (slightly smaller than the pole the feeder was on), then cut slits out from the hole. The pole was then pressed through the hole and the disc raised to about a foot lower than the feeder. It was to keep raccoons off the feeder as they couldn’t climb around it. Most squirrels were deterred but the occasional one would take the leap from the deck rail 8 feet away and successfully land on the feeder. It lasted many years until rust weakened it and the weight of a couple of raccoons pulled it to the ground. We pulled the baffle back up but the next day the feeder was on the ground, chewed apart by the raccoons (it was plastic).
DeleteRaccoons. Where there's a will, there's a way. Be more racoon....
DeleteLovely flowers though they make my eyes tear up. I've tried chilli powder. It didn't work! Husband made some squirrel baffles (metal or plastic things that wrap around the pole to prevent the squirrel climbing up it) and those tend to work. Although we did have one squirrel for a while who would try jumping off the garage roof to try to get to the feeder and just bouncing like tigger up from the ground lol
ReplyDeleteThat seems to have answered the squirrel question 🤔
Delete'All God's children got a place in the choir' . . .
ReplyDelete😊
DeleteFour robins! I've never heard of that! With the cheeky squirrel, you have a garden full.
ReplyDeleteI've only been following your blog for a short time, but I want to tell you how much I enjoy the music and scripture that you've shared. Thank you.
I hope that things are going well for you.
Thank you
DeleteSquirrels love to eat avocados. I cook a chopped up spicy chilli pepper in a little bit of water, then blend it to a thick paste. Then we spread it on the avocados and the squirrels leave them alone. Perhaps painting the feed pole would work.
ReplyDeleteYou are certainly going to a lot of trouble!
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