With Friends Like These

I just want to give a shout-out to the many considerate creatures who eat at Woodbury's all-night all-you-can-eat buffet, otherwise known as our garden. Such charitable folks that they are, this morning these folks withheld enough so we could have this bountiful harvest. So Mr. Chipmunk, Mrs. Bird and Mrs. Rabbit, and Mr. Buck or Mrs. Deer (forgive me for generalizing, but I can't tell from the hoof prints you leave in the garden which one of you visits) - my gardening hat's off to you, for saving some of your breakfast, your lunch, your dinner, and your midnight snack for me and my family. It means so much to us and I truly hope you didn't go home hungry. Oh, and I know what they say - that woodland creatures don't understand sarcasm. But you guys in our backyard are so wiley, so smart, so sleuthy, so bold (and at the same time so sneaky) that I know you know more than you let on and I give you all the credit you deserve. (Not only do I know you understand sarcasm, but I also know you read my blog.) And I also know that you know I don't play favorites, but below are a few photos to put a few of you extra special friends in the spotlight.

Mr. Buck or Mrs. Deer, I hope you got enough to eat. And next year I promise I will plant shorter sunflowers so you can eat all the leaves, not just the ones you can reach. (Oh, and thank you ever so much for leaving Allie something to roll around on. You know how she loves that. Gosh you're thoughtful.) And I've been meaning to ask, did you enjoy the tomatoes, the beans, the hostas, and those flowers that I can't even identify since you ate them before they bloomed?

Strawberries must be the perfect woodland crop so I'm glad we have so many for all of you. You deer do such a fine job of mowing down the leaves, while all you birds, chipmunks, rabbits, and whoever else comes to the party are expert at taking a nibble, making a little peck, or better yet picking a piece of fruit and going to sit on our stone benches where you can have a few bites. (Thanks guys for always leaving a little bit on the stones for us. That red juice, partially eaten fruit, and those seeds on the stone all look so pretty there, glistening in the sun.)

My most sincere apologies to the Japanese Beetles. Whatever did we do to insult you this year? I have seen a few of you around, but clearly you didn't get enough basil to eat. What can we do to make it up to you? (Please don't answer that.)

Mr. Frog, I honestly don't know what you like to eat but I think it's neither vegetable nor mineral but rather animal. Until I learn otherwise you, sir, are welcome in our garden anytime. Prove me wrong and I will break out the sarcasm. Because that is clearly the only weapon I have with friends like these.