Our Wildlife Feeding Program

We always plant more corn than we really need because something usually gets a lot of it -- worms, crows, cows . . .

This year John put an electric fence around the two tiers of corn it to discourage deer and to keep the dogs from romping through it.

It did not, however, deter the raccoons who, in the past few nights, ate about half of it. 

Still, I was able to harvest  several bushels -- enough to keep me busy shucking. . . and taking pictures.

Corn's (or maize, for you others) has a fascinating history as it evolved, aided by selective breeding  from a wild grass called teosinte by early Americans in what is now Mexico about ten thousand years ago. There's an excellent article on the subject HERE.

I'm happy with what we got -- considering that we still have quite a bit in the freezer from last year, we'll be enjoying corn pudding and corn cakes and lots of other good things in the coming year, in spite of the coons inroads.

I can't resist adding that when we were in England a few years ago, I was amazed (see what I did there, Martin?) that the Brits put sweet corn kernels into sandwiches. I remember a prawn and sweet corn sandwich that was really good but I haven't tried to recreate it. I love raw sweet corn in salads -- a sandwich shouldn't be much of a leap.

Virginia Creeper

The Virginia Creeper across the window screen of our bedroom is a lovely barometer of Fall's progress. I've watched the leaves slowly replace green with these tender pinks and corals. Eventually, the leaves should turn a deep red.

I love seeing the sun light them up . . . which is why I haven't been able to bring myself to tear them down yet. Vines growing on the screens -- I can hear my mother fussing right now.

Someone did tear down part of them and my money is on this young fella. He's been hitting the front porch in search of spilled dog food and the bird feeders for sunflower seed. He's darling, of course, but he has his little ways -- digs in my potted plants and poops in the bird feeder.

All part of Fall and part of country living. The potted plants will come in soon. I'll just keep cleaning out the bird feeder. And soon we'll take down the screens and say goodbye to Virginia for a while -- till she comes creeping back in the Spring.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner!

We were having dinner with friends Friday night and part of the entertainment was furry and four-legged. Renee has been feeding the raccoons at her back door for several years now and this little female is extraordinarily tame.

She was waiting patiently on the back steps when the door was opened and poked her head in to make sure Renee was getting the food.

And she'd brought her babies with her -- who were shy and mostly stayed under the car.

Here's a slideshow with the entire sequence of raccoon pictures. In them you'll see another adult raccoon that Mama chases off, growling and hissing.

And here's a shot Renee took of the whole family after we left, getting the car out of the way.