Morning walk

[laramie]

I took a short walk this morning before breakfast. (I'm finally getting smart: when the weather was cooler I got in the habit of taking my walk around lunch time when the sun had had time to warm things up. Since the recent heat wave this has become an unappealing prospect, and I'm learning to get outside while it's still pleasantly cool.)

I walked around the neighboring block that has a couple beautiful gardens to admire, and hadn't gone far before I saw first one, then a second bunny rabbit! Two in one block. Amazing only because this is just one block off the busy University Avenue. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, given that I've seen the bunnies right in downtown Minneapolis, in the grassy area outside the Government Center.

There are several semi-wild Rose bushes growing in the gardens right now: blanketed with lots of bright magenta/red blooms. And one garden has a cluster of remarkable pink Poppies.

Comments

[thorintatge.livejournal.com]

I've seen so many more rabbits this year than in previous years. Well, they've been getting gradually more common. But there's just been an explosion this year. I can go for a walk around the block and I'm very likely to see one or two at least. I've started encountering them in my own yard in brotd daylight, even. Add that to the raccoons I saw at the lakes (maybe possums in one case) and a deer I think I heard, and, well, the basic clean-up wildlife species seem to be bursting.

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

Yes; there do seem to be more this year than I've seen otherwise. (Earlier this spring Skipper brought a baby bunny into the house - I released it after making sure it was not injured.) I like having more wildlife around that isn't rats or pigeons. :)

[thorintatge.livejournal.com]

The squirrels in the back yard have been extremely active, too. Skittering back and forth and chirruping constantly at each other--I think they're fighting over territory. One very curious one climbed right up to me as I was sitting on the playhouse deck and touched the leg of my pants.

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

It's not actually that hard to tame a squirrel. I've done it a couple times. If you hang out there regularly, just bring some nuts or bread with you, and toss them bits of food, increasingly close to you. If you don't make a lot of noise/sudden movements they'll eventually come and take food from your hand.

[thorintatge.livejournal.com]

I have twice gotten a whole crowd of squirrels wild for me by offering them peanut butter cookies. One even jumped right on my chest!

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

Yeah. They like sugar a little too much. I think it works on them like speed.