Room with a View

It's been hot and humid lately, and I just haven't gotten too far from the house. I hate sweating if I can avoid it. Today the temperature is only in the 70's and the humidity is low, so I went to Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve to help with the open house. The Nature Center's observation room behind a one-way window is just what I've needed for these summer doldrums. The garden is in full bloom, and we had a great day with flowers and the creatures that need them. Our first visitor was a determined little chipmunk. "Is it safe?" he asked, looking around. Up the sunflower stalk he climbed and helped himself to a breakfast of fresh sunflower seeds. The chipmunks in my yard would be so jealous. No baffles to frustrate this guy! Sunflower heads provide not only the seeds to eat, but the table to stand on to reach more seeds! The female Goldfinch perched on some iris stems, watching the male with a smile on her face at his antics. Well, it looks like a smile to me... Red bee balm attracted a hummingbird, just as the book promises. The long red flowers were more temptation than she could resist. It's hard to tell if this little bee collected all the pollen on her legs from cone flowers only, or if she brings a potpourri of pollen back to the hive. What will this honey taste like, I wonder? Green frogs hide in the lily pads, waiting for just the right insect to approach. Or maybe they just enjoy the pleasant afternoon. Flower shapes never fail to amaze me. Each one is tailored for just the right pollinator. I couldn't guess how many Mockingbird nests there were at the preserve this year, but they all fledged at the same time, apparently, since the sky and branches were filled with loud juvenile Mockingbirds. They have the flight thing down pretty well, now they just have to learn about finding the best source of food. After that, they can start listening to cell phone rings to learn what songs to sing! If you plant the garden, they will come....