June 21, 2012

Sometimes it's Not About the Photo...Moments Captured as Memories



Many moments in our gardens aren't captured anywhere other than our fond memories; no photographs to bring easy recollection.  A few quiet observations this week have been so sweet that I wanted to make a record of them.  For some they may be insignificant but for this gardener, they're worth jotting down as they remind me this ever giving task of being a gardener is worthwhile and in the smallest of ways, appreciated.

While watering a pot of Disney ginger a little anole instantly popped out of nowhere and started slurping the water drops off the leaves.  Poor little thing was thirsty and grateful. 

A particularly friendly hummingbird flits about the garden sipping greedily from the variety of flowers planted just for their benefit.  In the middle of its round through the yard, it will often stop directly in front of me and hover as if saying a quick thank you before continuing on.  This encounter always leaves me feeling immensely blessed.

A recently placed birdbath in the front garden is getting frequent use by dozens of sparrows.  I never see them in the backyard but in the front they've claimed this spot and frolic happily for long stretches at a time taking turns drinking and bathing all the while singing sweetly.

What small, seemingly insignificant moments are you witness to?  Do they give pause to your day and bring a moment of satisfaction?  They remind me what a simple privilege it is to serve the wildlife that call our gardens home.  For their small nods of appreciation this gardener is grateful.




19 comments:

  1. Since I live in a big city, every wildlife encounter makes around here me smile, for example on my way to work I see a fox once in a while. He seems so comfortable.

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  2. Those are lovely images. In my yard the butterflies swarm the mistflower until I walk toward them with the camera. I've quit trying to get a photo and simply enjoy their flitting around me.

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  3. For me it's hummingbirds too, but the main thing is catching a glimpse of a box turtle at the compost pile, looking for some fruit scraps. I have no idea where they come from, but they always find the fruit!

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  4. Totally wonderful! I experience this as well. I'm so glad to know someone else appreciates it as much as I do. :)

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  5. Those magic moments are very rarely photographed in our garden. If I left to get my camera I would miss the moment.

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  6. I love your dragonfly photo! Unfortunately, being out in our yard often means sharing it with flies and mosquitos-not a lot, just that one or two that won't leave you alone, you know?-but one day I was sitting on the front porch, and I had been sitting still long enough that a curious lizard was creeping closer and closer to check me out. A fly landed on my foot, and the lizard jumped over and grabbed it. LOL! That totally made my day!

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  7. I have had that same experience with a hummingbird hovering right in front of my face, with intention. It is unmistakable when it happens, not a random act or the bird being curious --- instead the hummer is clearly communicating. It is awesome. You've captured several lovely moments.

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  8. I love all your word images. They are perfect and touching, as if we were there with you when they happened. I've had that experience with hummingbirds a few times before and always wondered what it meant. Could they possibly know that we are the provider of their food source because we're there so often, or are they just curious? It is, indeed, a magical moment. There is a toad that has made his home at the base of a large stump that I use as a succulent planter. When I water, he hopes out of his door and enjoys a refreshing shower. I always feel a connection to Mr. Toad and am glad that he feels safe enough to sit near me while cooling off. A Texas brown snake blesses the garden each spring with lots of babies, and I always think of her when I see one of her offspring scurrying to cover when I'm weeding, and I mentally send thanks to her for the garden helpers. I would feel so poor without the garden and its inhabitants.

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  9. You are very right with that title, and that shot is not only good for the memories of the moment but also as a capture for posterity. beautiful

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  10. Every day I am in the garden I have these moments and am grateful...they are why I garden...I call it critter gardening and what I chose to do int he garden is because of them. My recent talks an encounters with a particular frog int he pond this year have been such a source of joy.

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  11. That is so true, Cat! Sometimes the memory is so much more precious than the photo capture. And sometimes I choose to keep the camera in the case and just observe. We miss some of these moments when we're constantly looking for photo ops. Sometimes they're right in front of our noses and not meant to be captured on a memory card or a flash drive. Beautiful sentiments. I hope you're getting enough rain this summer. So far, we're terribly lacking. But a cool down is helping a bit.

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  12. Good memories. Sometimes we're so busy trying to get that perfect photo, we miss the perfect moment.
    I complain about the deer. But, the other night, two of the babies who had strayed away from Momma...following the Big Boys around, suddenly saw her at last, and went running across the meadow to her. I would've missed that cute moment, with a camera up to my eye.
    Have a great weekend.

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  13. You're so lucky to have hummingbirds! In my garden it's usually the bumble bees that make my heart sing :-)

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  14. It's always so nice to see wildlife appreciating our gardens isn't it? It's one of the things that keeps me planting. Loved the image you paint of the anole having a drink.

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  15. So, so true :-) I've been seeing baby anoles hop around when I am watering my container plants in the evening -- too cute! And one thing you can't get a picture of is fragrance. When I walk out my front door and the fragrance of the summer phlox hits me, or the smell after it rains -- there's nothing like it. We garden for moments like these, right :-)

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  16. I love this post! I have toads that live all over my garden as well as a happy frog that validates my gardening methods. Goldfinches live in my garden and decided to land on the red salvia and stick their beaks in the flowers the other day. It was almost like they were trying to figure out what was in each flower. I also had a sparrow fledgling watch me garden as if I were the most interesting thing on the planet. I guess at that moment I was. It was incredible. :o)

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  17. 'what a simple privilege it is to serve the wildlife that call our gardens home'... can't agree with you more on this point, Cat... we really cherish the little little wild that makes their homes in our garden...

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  18. I love squirrels... They may eat all my hazel nuts and leave none for me, but the smiles they bring to my face means that's easily forgotten. After all I can buy nuts if I want them!

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