DeBardeleben Photography

Tag: nature

  • Pumpkin Season at the House of Zen: A Feast for the Fauna

    Pumpkin Season at the House of Zen: A Feast for the Fauna

    Pumpkin season has come and gone once again, leaving behind fond memories and a host of wildlife delights.
    Here at the House of Zen, we ensure that every pumpkin is put to good use in a way that celebrates the natural world around us.

    Our tradition involves hollowing out at least one pumpkin and filling it with wild bird feed.     
    This simple act transforms our autumnal decoration into a veritable buffet for local wildlife.

     

    It’s a joy to watch woodpeckers, chipmunks, warblers, and even bears converge, competing for the tasty goodies nestled within the bright orange shell.

    As the season progresses and the pumpkins begin to soften and fall to the ground, the cycle of nature continues.
    What might seem like a mess to some becomes an end-of-season feast for the fauna.

     

    These decomposing pumpkins provide nutrients and sustenance, supporting the local ecosystem and ensuring that no part of the pumpkin goes to waste.

     

     

    At the House of Zen, we embrace this annual ritual, knowing that our pumpkins bring joy and sustenance to the diverse creatures that share our home.
    It’s a beautiful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life and the simple ways we can give back to nature.

  • The Great Squirrel Feeder Caper: Fuzzy Acrobats Take Center Stage

    The Great Squirrel Feeder Caper: Fuzzy Acrobats Take Center Stage

    Those of you who follow our Garden Studio adventures know we’ve been happily hosting a variety of feathered visitors at the studio.
    We’ve had finches flitting about, the occasional chickadee, cardinals, and even a bold Woodpecker who likes to make a grand entrance.

    It’s always a joy to watch them squawk, preen, and fill their bellies at the feeders I hung with such enthusiasm.

    Well, nature, it seems, had a different plan.
    This morning, I stepped out to the chirping symphony I’d grown accustomed to, only to be greeted by a scene of utter destruction.
    The feeder lay in pieces on the ground, a casualty of the night’s most determined diner: a pack of squirrels.

    Let’s be honest, squirrels are adorable.
    They’re little balls of bushy-tailed energy, constantly darting and leaping with acrobatic prowess.
    But their love for a free buffet can be… well, destructive.
    There were scattered seeds everywhere, evidence of a successful, albeit messy, raid.
    The feeder, a wooden structure, was completely destroyed from the impact of falling to the ground as the Squirrels chewed through the rope that held it off the ground.

    For a moment, there was a pang of disappointment.
    But then, a different kind of amusement took over.
    Here I was, witnessing the raw, determined nature of a wild creature.

    This little bandit, with its sharp claws and acrobatic skills, had outsmarted my defenses and claimed the prize.

     

    So, the bird feeder was down for the count, but my love for watching the garden’s wildlife hasn’t wavered.
    A new feeder went up as soon as I saw the carnage.

     

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