I actually did this yesterday, but forgot paint for the bit that’s (deep, thanks to me, a sledgehammer, and a scrap of 2×4) in the ground, plus is was dark when I’d finished, but Onje’s days of picking off mourning doves right out of the feeder are over. Assuming, of course, that he doesn’t own rocket boots, because now, that feeder–the bottom part–is approximately 8′ off the ground. B gave me 7.5′ of brown vinyl-coated top rail that had been bent a bit and couldn’t be used for fencing, and said I could have a cap, and a scrap of swedge-end galvanized top rail. I cut the fork off the bottom of a shepherd’s hook that was too short to be useful, then drilled a hole in the cap the diameter of the hook. I drove the scrap of top rail into the ground, swedge end up, so that about 10-11″ protruded. I fitted the hook through the cap, put the long bit of the hook inside the pole, then put on the cap. I’ll seal it with silicone when I have time, so water doesn’t get inside the pole, but for now, it’s functional. I couldn’t straighten the pole because I’m not heavy enough (HA!), but it’s not noticeable unless you’re looking for it, so it can wait…possibly forever. In the meantime, my stupid chickens are safe; that’s their favourite feeder. It’s a PITA to refill, but I’ll create steps like I did with the other tall feeder. Maybe D will sell the rest of the osage-orange if those people don’t come and get it soon. We’ll see.
Pretty, black form female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. She was shy at first, but eventually, I caught her face-first in the ‘toonyas.
Sneezeweed. Awful name for such cute flowers. Helenium is better.
EDIT:
I went outside to lock the garage, and thought a large moth flew by my head. Nope…a Painted Lady butterfly…in full darkness, almost 2100h. He/she got stuck in the web of an enterprising spider that’s set up shop right under the outside light, so I got the butterfly out before the spider could get it. I took her (or him: I can’t sex Vanessa cardui) inside, and into a dark room to calm down, then into a container in the dark for the night. I don’t know what a butterfly was doing out at night, but I’ll release it in the morning. Sorry, Miss Spider; I love you and know you have to eat, but it’s cheating to catch confused butterflies at night! 🙂
