Oaks

In a Tree in the Fog and Rain with a Squirrel and a Chipmunk

| Flower Roberts

This tree is important to me. It is an unusual oak. It may be a cross of Scarlet and Red. Its acorns are plentiful and beautiful.

Its mast is food for our deer, turkey and chipmunks. Maybe crows? I do not know. One must be fast to gather acorns or there will only be caps on the ground.

Too late.

This tree reaches over our two porches. When I am on them I feel like I am in this tree. My younger self climbed trees, so I love this sensation.

I am socked in by a thick fog this morning. This tree is the only thing I can see. I spent time on each porch listening to the rain and sounds from unseen sources.

Dead limb in the fog.

I was surprised to see a squirrel looking at me and my camera. It is the first one I have noticed here. It moved too fast for a photograph. The squirrel seemed to be deliberately headed onto my roof. We have meant to have those reaching limbs trimmed. They touch the roof during storms. Now, we have another reason to cut them back.

A chipmunk also scurried up the trunk while I was watching. It is one of many around here.  The little ones must climb for their acorns.

This big oak is the guardian of the yard.   A huge poplar was killed by lightning, so this tree is even more important. We too have lost our caretaker parents. We will be the guardians here, now.  Any home should be a haven.

It is early October. This place is recovering from the shock of Hurricane Helene. I do not expect a normal fall season. There is healing going on around me. I plan to watch and learn from nature.

Fall 2025 many leaves are browning and falling

My time in the old oak in the rain and the fog with a squirrel and a chipmunk will be a treasured memory. I am part of this. I belong here. It is my haven. I do not take these things for granted.

FLOW

My Tiny Friends

| Flower Roberts

There are two chipmunks that stay close to the house. Stubby has a short tail and Flash is fast as lightning. They both were on the deck this morning gathering acorns which constantly fall from the giant oak above. This is what I have referred to as the Magic Tree in past posts.

FLASH


This gorgeous tree has its roots in the septic lines so it has grown three times as fast as its neighbors. It seems to be leaning over the house now. I will stop there.

The Magic Tree full of acorns


Anyway, the acorns are plentiful and noisy. You cannot sit outside without threat of a ping to the head. Many times they bounce and hit the glass doors.  This bounty is a boon for my tiny friends who stuff their jaws full and run to stash their booty.

This is what goes on here as the planes and helicopters fly overhead to help victims of Helene.


Friends around me and helpers overhead.
Life is good.

FLOW

Blame It On The Oaks

| Flower Roberts

Danger has come to the bunny yard.

I blame it on the oaks.

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They dropped too many acorns this year.   Millions of acorns.

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The vermin feasted and propagated.   No foraging necessary.

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Now,  there are too many little squirrels and baby chipmunks and mice.

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The snakes come for lunch. The hawks come for dinner. The owls come for a midnight snatch.

Whoooo else came in the night?

Something big and strong.  Something that bends wire and tears fences from their posts.

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I am mending my fences and locking my low windows.

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Afraid of this danger that has smelled my bunnies’ scent and wants to join the feast.

I blame it on the oaks.

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Follow the FLOWER to the root cause.

UPDATE: Tracks photo from inside the bunny yard today.

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Coyote?