A few months ago I opened the window blind to see an injured deer looking in my window. He rejected the apple I offered and left. I think he told other critters that this was a friendly yard and they should visit.

Since then I’ve had a squirrel sitting on the window sill enjoying one of my tulip bulbs. He was calmly eating it as I watched. I’m sure he saw me as I was seated close to the window. I sipped my coffee as he ate. When he was finished he jumped down and left. I like to think he appreciated the breakfast I had provided.

Another visitor is a female cardinal. I’ve enjoyed watching her collect nest making material over the last couple weeks. This week she decided to look through the flowers growing in my window flower box. I watched her carefully trying a few things before discarding them. I related to her shopping technique. Look and discard, look and discard and finally find something worthy of trying on. At some point she must have realized she had an audience because she sat and looked at me. Turning her head as she looked in the window and stayed a minute or two. I know she had more important things to do than look at me.

My last visitor was a skunk. It was early morning when my husband saw him looking in the long, narrow window by the front door. He looked for a couple minutes and then left. I think he realized he wouldn’t find any grubs inside the house. I later discovered he’d dug in my flower beds. The life of a gardener!

I love my garden and am glad the critters visit, but I don’t want them to think they are welcome inside. Particularly not Mr. Skunk! If you have had any critter visits I’d love to hear about them. It is the season.