My garden, it appears, is turning into something of a "development". There are signs of building everywhere, as the image below evidences.
There are creatures at work - building, renovating and refining. There are altercations about occupancy and tenancy. There is, in short, a population explosion across the realm of my garden.
The reason is probably a simple one. It's a fine neighbourhood with many benefits and features.
For a start there is very fine dining to be had in the form of an indoor restaurant, which, although usually offering service, seems to have become something of a take-away. A sort of, "Oh look, guys, there's this huge basket full of nuts... It's just waiting for us!"
There are also several outdoor cafes which have proven to be a huge hit and tables are generally fought for.
There also happens to be a rather fine spa facility.
And there's a recently added bar which has been a big hit.
In short, my garden is a squirrel paradise. And don't they let me know it!
Ah well, at least they're generally willing to pose for the camera.
22 comments:
That was a fun way to look at stuff :)
I love to watch squirrels. Our cat keeps them out of our garden but my friend has one that comes and hangs upside down by one foot to steal the nuts.
Oh my poor squirrels, it is cold outside, and I don't feed them.
Thinking of your blessed lot in their paradise, I must make mine some sort of offering.
I enjoyed this post (a lot, but not perhaps quite as much as those squirrels love your garden).
Well if those aren't some cutie pies! Nice work, very happy post. I am looking at our first snow so it is hard to imagine someone having such pretty gardens this time of year.
ok, seriously now, i have one question for you. you have so many pictures of live animals that look like they are specifically POSING for your camera. how do you get them to stay still?! what are you, snow white?!
Glad you enjoyed it, Rambler :-)
Cats and squirrels do not make good friends, Minx - I'm planning on giving a swimming class to the next cat I find in the garden.
Peanuts, Taffiny, or almonds will make up for a thousand sins against squirrels :-)
Well, at the moment my garden is blown to pieces by a very unseasonable wind, Deana
Me? Snow White? Nah, Moonrat, but you can call me Dr Doolittle ;-)
You have very nice garden. It is very tidy and well organised.
al fresco dining is just so fashionable.
question: squirrels are quite cosmopolitan little rodents, I never thought of them as living in south africa! native or introduced? expect introduced, but one never knows! if so, why would one introduce squirrels, I know they are cute, but....
Thanks for the compliment, Ropi, that's very kind of you.
Yep, Kimy, they're imports all right - introduced just over 100 years ago, along with a variety of other "aliens" by Cecil John Rhodes who was missing creatures like squirrels, fallow deer etc - all to remind him of home - that is, England.
There are no squirrels indigenous to the Western Cape, though there are indigenous squirrel species in other parts of SA.
Great pics!
My one neighbor also has a yard full of Squirrel cafes and al fresco restaurants.
I on the other hand can make one heck of a squirrel pie or stew. Don't hate me for it but squirrel is one of my favorite winter meals.
So cute the li'l rodents are!
And what a lovely description of their hangouts :)
Great shots, Vanilla! I love squirrels. They are so congenial. :)
I wish I had a garden like that.
Awww I want squirrels! All our beasties seem to be nocturnal and extremely camera shy except for rabbits and they're just plain boring. I tried possum boxes but they prefer the tree tops.
You're garden looks absolutely magical! :-)
Brian - you're a beast - but I know you like being a beast so shall I just send you a recipe for gazpacho and we'll see if we can wean you off the squirrels?
They are very cute, Sameera - and very destructive!
I love 'em too, JD but they can be downright pesky too! ;-)
I'm very blessed, Silver :-)
Shall I package some up and send 'em over, Baino - you can send me a koala in return - they'll be quite at home in all my gum trees ;-)
Thanks, Shameless :-)
Great shots! We have tons of squirrels but mostly American Black. My cats love chasing them!
It seems that the neighbours' cats like chasing the hordes of squirrels in my garden too, MOI - which means I spend a lot of time chasing the cats! ;-)
plenty of squirrels come thru my studio, sometimes i feel watched.
I don't just feel watched, Alaleh - I know I'm watched! ;-) I'm just surprised some of these squirrels haven't started carrying placards on the days I've forgotten to buy nuts!
Hi.. your garden is so beautiful, no wonder its home to the sqirrels:) and am sure in return, they love posing for the camera;)
They are sooo cute! And your garden is beautiful.
Now I feel guilty - it's very cold here in Montreal and I should feed the squirrels some nuts; I haven't done it this winter because that usually encourages them to ransack the garden in spring.
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