The Hunter and the Hunted

There were three different types of birds in the dogwood tree near our patio this morning, all at the same time, devouring the berries: bluebirds, cardinals, and titmice. When they were done, there were no berries left.We have many types of birds in our garden including, clockwise from top left: bluebirds, cardinals, titmice, and Red-shouldered hawks.

I am especially happy to see bluebirds setting up housekeeping in the bluebird house by the arbor garden again. (Click on the link for tips on attracting bluebirds.) This is a  newly refurbished house, and it should provide them with a secure, safe home, as safe as it can be out in the wild. The Cooper's hawks have returned to our garden, and, unfortunately, songbirds are on their menu. Today I watched one swoop down for a kill. I think he got a vole, which is fine by me. Just leave the bluebirds alone. 

Voles are on my hit list, because they consume plant roots. I have lost so many hostas to them that I hesitate to plant these beautiful shade-lovers, except in pots. The hawks will have competition for this particular tasty meal. Autumn, our cat, is extremely affectionate and outgoing toward humans, but she is a fierce tiger at heart. She loves to hunt. She will catch chipmunks and play with them, carrying them around in her mouth like a kitten, them setting them free in heavy foliage for seek and chase. She will repeatedly catch and release the same chipmunk until she grows tired of the game. The poor chipmunk, if he doesn't die of fright, has a good chance of escaping in the end.

Not so a vole. This creature is dead meat within moments after she catches it, and she will consume it in just a few bites. We feed her well, but understand, this is a delicacy she will never forgo. Autumn was in hunter mode when I took this photo.

This vole would be a tasty meal to either our cat, Autumn, or to the Cooper's hawks who live in our garden.Our weather continues to see-saw between pleasant sixty to seventy degree temps one day, down to upper twenties the next, but the increased activity of birds and other wild creatures, both the hunter and the hunted, is one of the signs of approaching spring. Every day more bulbs emerge. Flowering quince and hellebores are blooming. Surely spring will be here in just a few weeks!

Color or Black-and-White?

While some subjects are stunning in monochromes, I have never liked black-and-white photos of gardens. Oh, I've heard the arguments. Such images reveal structure, stark beauty, all that. But! Seeing a black-and-white shot of a garden is like smelling a wonderful meal and not being allowed to taste it.

What do you think about black-and-white garden images? I am trying to be open-minded. Black-and-white tones can be especially evocative of winter's muted spirit. To challenge myself, I looked at the following January scenes around my garden in both color and black-and-white. I confess, there are a few I prefer in black-and-white. 

decorative cabbage:

emerging bulbs:

fatshedera leaf:

autumn fern fronds:

Florida anise:

hellebore:

cross on red leaf:

rippled sky:

sunset in trees:

tree shadows:

blue sky and trees:

swirling cloud:

trees at woodland edge:

viburnum leaves:

winter daphne:

bare winter woodlands:

little rabbit:

What do you think? Were there some you liked better in black-and-white? Or others you preferred in color? I hope you had as much fun with this as I did! 

Have a great week!