Woman in tree.

Not that I'm catering to the woodpeckers at all eh? It was about -22 degrees and windy. The neighbours had so kindly bought me two more suets, one a special woodpecker blend so I had to go get another cage and hang it in Doug, the Pumpkin Ash tree!

It is a success and well worth the trouble. Wendy woodpecker has been there every day. I have yet to see "Wobert," (gotta love his name,) the male up close but I have, as of this morning, from a distance. He was pecking at the big tree behind my house.

ps... the same kind neighbours who bought me the suet reported the sighting of an "old crow" in my back yard and were kind enough to email the pic! whatever! :þ

pps... yes I'm on a ladder, no I didn't fall off!

Ornithology, our new hobby (and one of Michie's classes)

Michelle's feeder is a success as you can see. What you can't, completely see is the Finch sock hanging on the other hook of the thingy on which the bird feeder is hanging. We've had sparrows, jays, grackles, mourning doves, house finches, goldfinches and purple finches. I think Doug, the Emerald Ash Borer threatened Pumpkin Ash Tree is enjoying the company. And yes... those are shiny Easter Eggs hanging in his branches! Oh and a pink flamingo, (courtesy of Susan and Bob, {next door, not husband,} standing guard under Doug.

Doug... the pumpkin ash that we thought beat the odds

Doug is a pumpkin ash tree growing in my back yard. He started life as a teeny seedling in Michelle's grade 4 class. Her teacher, Doug Gorell, who sadly died waiting for a kidney transplant, started the seedlings in his science class. Michelle brought hers home.

We grew Doug in the back kitchen for a year and then transplanted him to the back of the front garden where he would be protected, watered and nurtured. He grew there for years until he got taller than the porch railings.

Bob, (next door, not husband,) kindly dug him up, gathering a huge root ball, and took him to the back yard. Doug is now taller than the garage. (The pic is not of our Doug, but one of his relatives off Google!)

Essex county is infested with the Emerald Ash Borer, killing trees, causing mass cuttings and clearings of ash trees.

Doug had one small dead branch. Bob, (husband, not next door,) cut the branch off tonight. I broke it open in several places. Close to the trunk, it was fine, white and moist. Closer to the tip... brown, dead, full of larvae. :( I burned that branch and now just hope for the best.

Doug the tree who's been with us for over 11 years is under attack. Stupid Ash Borer! (I do not mean to minimize the catastrophic impact of the Ash Borer, I do realize that Ash trees everywhere are in peril, but I don't know those ones!)