It doesn’t take much to excite me when it comes to native habitat restoration.

Call me old-fashioned (not something I’ve ever been accused of, I’m full of surprises), but it’s encouraging to see goldfinches at last, attracted to my sunflowers’ seeds, as well as many pollinators, and a gorgeous blue and black butterfly alighting nearby for water.  (Sorry, I wasn’t able to catch the goldfinches in the act.)

A bold chipmunk was on the back porch this morning, cleaning up the all the birdseed that the squirrels and birds fling about, and dragonflies, like mobile solar panels, dart and hover throughout our meadow area, where tall grasses and wildflowers are spreading.  Mobs of diverse birds hang out at the birdbath “pool”, taking baths and drinking, and bluebirds are flocking here, a good sign of a healthy habitat.  The trees and air are full of songbirds and larger birds, including my favorite, ravens, who know when it’s Friday, chicken bone day.  Lots of baby blue-tailed skinks live around the porches, and snakes are enjoying the tall meadow grasses.

Meanwhile, it’s finally tomato season here, as you can see.  This salad is all home-grown varieties of tomatoes and herbs, with a vinaigrette.

Yesterday I sowed collard greens, Chinese cabbage, purple cowpeas, spinach, and mixed lettuce greens, for a later season successive planting.  As a newly-planted Southerner, I thought it only right that I get with the program and try a couple of regional veggies.  We’ll see how that works out.  I’m still getting used to the intense heat and humidity here, so I have to take working in stages.  Next year I hope to get more serious about growing things.

Yep, that’s how we po’ folk entertain ourselves for cheap, down South.  Erev cheers, y’all.