Screech owl in the April garden
Someone’s been watching me as I amble through the garden in the morning and evening. Whooo? I didn’t see him when I was dazzled by the variegated agaves and yuccas in the raised bed along the back of the house.
I didn’t see him when I stopped to admire Shoshana’s iris, a long-ago passalong from Tina at My Gardener Says…
I didn’t see him when I potted up a Euphorbia horrida from The Great Outdoors in my new Rick Van Dyke dinosaur-egg pot. Which just happens to be a perfect combo, don’t you think?
I didn’t see him when I noticed my ‘Frazzle Dazzle’ dyckia blooming…
…nor the Gulf Coast penstemon (Penstemon tenuis).
I didn’t see him when I crouched to get a photo of the wild pink oxalis in bloom…
…nor when I inspected the Acanthus mollis in the lower garden, looking for a bloom spike but finding none. (I really hope this will be the year it finally blooms.)
But when I looked up into the trees along the back fence, then I saw him—snoozing! I didn’t respect his nap, I’m afraid. It was dusk, after all, and he’d wake soon to hunt for himself and his mate, who I believe is brooding in the owl box. I trilled a screech owl whinny, and he snapped his eyes open and looked down at me. I spoke to him again, wondering whether I was challenging him to a duel or calling for a lady owl, and he just stared. As owls will do.
You’re Invited!
I’ll be at BookPeople on Saturday, May 4, at 4 pm , along with author Jenny Peterson, to talk briefly about design tips for losing the lawn or paring it back. Jenny will be sharing styling tips for houseplants. And we newbie authors will BOTH be signing copies of our books! Whether you have a green thumb or a brown one, let’s fill up BookPeople with people who care about plants and the earth!
The talk is free and open to the public, and I’d love to see a lot of friendly faces! If you do want an autographed book, BookPeople requires an in-store purchase. Just FYI.
All material © 2006-2013 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
You have so many beautiful blooms. I love the cactus in that new pot. Perfect match. As to your garden densien. I hate to say that the only birds in my owl box are Starling. YUCK.
Oh no, those pushy starlings! We’ve had to evict a squirrel and bees from our box, Lisa. Lots of creatures find those boxes quite cozy. —Pam
I love your blog! And that euphorbia in the dinosaur pot is fabulous!
Thank you, Heidi! I’m glad you stopped by. —Pam
I just got lost in that first image, staring at it for a good five minutes it seemed. Gorgeous Pam!
I thought you might like that shot, Loree. It’s my crazy, spiky, yellow-and-green garden! It’s getting bigger and spikier every year. —Pam
Oooo he’s sooooo cute!!
And your beautiful garden…sigh.
Thanks, Mamaholt. 🙂 —Pam
Very cool! We use to have a family of owls in our neighborhood. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen or heard them the past couple of years.
I love those Gulf Coast penstemons. Do you know of garden centers where I could pick some up? I’m in SA, but I don’t mind driving to Austin.
Have a great weekend:)
Hi, Steph. Penstemon tenuis isn’t at all hard to find, at least not in Austin, so perhaps not in San Antonio either. Of course I’d call first to make sure, but Barton Springs Nursery and The Natural Gardener in Austin usually carry them. Do start looking now though, in spring, because the plants sometimes go dormant in summer. If you can’t find any, I’d be glad to collect seed and send it to you this fall/winter. —Pam
All looks good, the pot and euphorbia are a lovely match. Your garden is looking so established in such a short time in gardening years.
Great photo of the owl, we have them but they rarely let me get close.
Shirley, keep trying with the screech owls. Some will let me get very close, and others hide as soon as I step outside. They have vastly different personalities—just like humans. —Pam
That pot with the Euphorbia is perfect! Hope your Acanthus flowers.
Me too, Alison! Mine has always frozen back over the winter and/or melted away in early summer heat. This may be the year, though! —Pam
Great owl pic! And I love the pairing of the Euphorbia and the dinosaur egg pot.
Thanks, Kris. It’s just too fun planting to complement his creature-like pots. —Pam
That dinosaur egg pot is spectacular! I really covet those Rick Van Dyck ceramics. I almost bought a piece at Zilkerfest, and I’ve had non-buyers remorse ever since. Someday…someday!
I didn’t realize that you also had an Arizona Star agave. I was thinking of putting mine in a big raised stock tank, and your picture is cementing the idea in my head. That bed looks like it’s filled in like crazy!
I got two Van Dyck pots at Zilkerfest, Lori, and I want more! And hey, guess what? You can visit his studio during WEST (West Austin Studio Tour) this weekend and next! April 27-28 and May 4-5, 11 am to 6 pm, Fireseed Clay Art Studios, 2309 Thornton Rd., Suite O. —Pam
Your owl is a handsome chap. My little owls left their box on Tuesday–three healthy, beautiful little predators. I rescued one from cats, but they quickly learned to navigate the upper branches of trees. I caught another glimpse of the family last night as Mom and Dad were feeding them. Nice visitors, except that they’ve eaten the toads in the pond.
Congrats on your new-fledged owls, Tina! It’s always bittersweet when they leave the nest. It’s so fun to watch them poke their fuzzy, wild-eyed heads out of the box. —Pam
I got a brief glimpse of a great horned owl once, but no picture. Yours is a great capture! I’ve thought of putting up an owl house.
You should, Jason. Screech owls adapt very well to urban and suburban settings and readily nest in owl boxes. You can find plans to make your own on the Audubon website. —Pam
I love your website….it gives me hope for our property which at times can be so task daunting. Just little bits at a time and we have evolved. Thanks for the inspiration! Pamie G.
You’re very welcome, Pamie. Yes, a little at a time is definitely the sane way to go. —Pam
What a treat to have an owl in the garden. We used to hear Screech owls in VA but haven’t heard them here in SC.
Do you have a lot of trees, Janet, or a more open yard? Screech owls hunt in the tree canopy, so they’re right at home in most urban and suburban areas with trees. —Pam
I second Loree’s comment!
Agave and yucca lovers, unite! —Pam