I think this will be a tough Winter for the wildlife that frequents our gardens. The hummingbird feeder needs replenishment more frequently than is typical. Chickadees fight for space on the thistle feeder, which we have just put out for the migrating goldfinches and pine siskins. The goldfinches attack, pecking the Swiss chard, whose leaves look like Swiss cheese.
The drought has had its impact on all of our fruiting bushes and trees. Only the Japanese beautyberry has Autumn fruit; the crabapple, dogwood, quince, winterberry, holly, and viburnum are devoid of any food that the birds can sample. And all of the seed bearing flowers like Echinacea and black eye Susies are having their centers consumed the moment they form leaving seedless, dried petal stalks.
Sunflower heads, typically filled with ready to harvest seeds, have been picked over leaving only a few genetic progeny to plant for the coming year. My hopes for rose hip jelly are being dashed as with each day their fat red fruits disappear from sight.
I find few acorns in the wood and the maples have yet to set seed, which typically start to fill my gutters now upon their whirling escape from their parent.
The temperature has dropped and Fall is here but the sustenance by which nature’s creatures depend upon in the coming months is largely absent.
