Newly planted vegetation at traffic circle
Many of you have asked for updates on previous blogs, so this blog is for you. Brace yourself, though, because in today’s world of angry, negative media stories and ranting blogs, I only have good news to report.
In late October I wrote Hermit Revival, a post about a Hermit Thrush who struck a window and then literally revived in my hand. I thought this thrush might have moved on, but last weekend, he made a brief appearance shortly after I put our vegetable garden raised bed “to bed.” I was admiring the results of my work when a small brownish bird flew out of a nearby shrub and landed in the geographic center of the raised bed. The spotted chest and distinct but slightly askew reddish-brown tail helped me recognize him as the same Hermit Thrush I had rescued several weeks ago. He found several things to eat in the freshly-turned soil, then fluttered to the Evergreen Huckleberry. There he ate a few berries, watching me the whole time. I wondered if he remembered me, the one who helped him recover from his window crash. Maybe, but I’ll never know for sure.
Last Spring, I wrote A Circle of Life post about restoring the vegetation and park-like features of our neighborhood traffic circle. A year ago, we started this project by pulling out the English Ivy and other invasive plants, then letting the circle sit idle under a heavy layer of wood chips until planting season (now). Over the past two weekends, volunteers have planted more than 300 native plants and trees in the circle. Small and inconspicuous at this point, these plants and trees will fill in to make the circle a greener, more wildlife and people-friendly place.
Meanwhile, by working together and socializing, the neighbors are becoming better friends. It is all good and I’m glad to be a part of it.
