Weekly Forecast...Rainy with Intermittent Showers of Sawdust

    It has been quite the rainy spring/summer here on the Bayou.  For eleven straight days, it rained....hard.  We were receiving two to three inches of the wet stuff each day.  The ground is soggy, which the garden likes.  The one tragic mishap involving the two fledgling Red-bellied Woodpeckers was a direct result of our inclement weather.  One afternoon, gale force winds accompanied the torrential rains.  This blew down the top of the dead Black Gum tree that housed the woodpeckers' nest.  The youngsters were killed on impact when the chunk of wood hit the ground.  For days afterward, the parent birds kept bringing bugs to the treetop in hopes that their young would magically appear to receive the treats.  It  broke my heart to watch this day after day but all things pass with time and the little ones were soon forgotten.  Birds are not renown for their long memories which, in this case, might be a good thing. 

  With all of the rain and soggy ground, I became concerned over the care of my outdoor furniture.  I mentioned it to Mark and within a couple of hours the problem was remedied.  He and Michael built a mini-deck for me!  It is just large enough to hold the four chairs and a small table. When they built it, they chose a site directly beneath the former bird nesting tree.  Never once did we think there would be a problem with this area.  It was within the confines of the Rose/Herb Garden where it is more or less protected.  Nothing could go wrong.  I would have a nice seating area to enjoy my morning mug of coffee or a late afternoon cup of herbal tea.  Boy, was I wrong.  

  Yesterday evening, Mark and I went out to enjoy the cooling breezes from the Bay.  Our chairs were shaded by the jasmine vine and the air was scented by the delightful aroma of gardenias.  This was the perfect setting for a bit of relaxation. Our peaceful little bubble was soon burst by a sudden shower of wood.  Sawdust came pelting down upon our heads and in our drinks!  What?  Sawdust?  What was causing this?  I looked up just in time to see a flash of red disappear into a hole in the top of what was left of the Black Gum tree.  Mama Red-belly was busy working on a new nest!  Papa Red-belly had already excavated a nice size hole in the dead tree and she was now busy putting the finishing touches on the nest.  These two were through grieving for their lost young and were ready to start a new family.  Life continues. It is sort of sad, though, as the birds do not realize that the very same thing might happen again.  This tree is bound to be subjected to high winds this summer with hurricane season upon us.  As rotten as the tree is, it will not withstand harsh winds.  Another nest is likely to come tumbling from the treetops but hopefully this will occur after the little ones have gone on their merry way.

  Mark and I moved our afternoon respite to the benches a bit further down the hill.  The wind sailed the wood chips to the north of us and let them shower down upon my outdoor furniture.  The deck and furniture was soon covered with the sawdust.  Hopefully, the birds will finish their home-building chores and let us enjoy Mark and Michael's handiwork of the deck.