Lib has made friends with Bert and Bonnie, a mated pair of Eastern Bluebirds who arrive promptly at feeding time.

Snakes have nine lives, too. Simon is remarkably tame and wandered into the attic this past winter, perhaps to stay warm. He’s lucky that Lib ventured up there as she found him caught on a big sticky trap left out to catch bugs. He had probably been there for days and would have expired if she didn’t bring him outside and pried him out of the goo. She released him into the garden - hopefully he learned his lesson about the attic!

Lib has taken in rescue bunnies for years (those are some lucky rabbits indeed). They live in a hutch in the Woodland Garden where their best day ever is when Lib brings them dried “big leaf” magnolia leaves, which they devour immediately.

We see red-shouldered hawks frequently. We had a pair that nested annually in the top of one our tulip poplars for several years, but we think they have found other accommodations these last few years. We’re always amazed by their silent stealth.

The occasional harmless possum strolls through MapleWalk as well.

Lib says she realizes that moles are not friends to gardeners, but this little guy was just as cute as could be! Tom discovered him on our patio. Lib took the little fellow to our upper garden and let him go. Don’t tell Tom.

This guy was an unusual sighting at MapleWalk. While barred owls are very common in Charlotte, we seldom see them during the day, but often hear them in the evening.