At the close of a summer day, the sky holds its breath as a bright golden ball hangs on the rim of the horizon, waiting to drop into the net. Hummingbirds are making their final attack on the feeders, and deer and raccoons are waiting for the cover of night to raid the garden. I can live with giving up the beans and some tomato and cucumber greens, but if they mess with the cantaloupes, there's gonna be war.
Mama Raccoon made her rounds early last night, before the light had faded. As she sipped from the birdbath, climbed the stairs to the deck, and vacuumed up the remains of the bird seed, she appeared to be on familiar territory.
More than likely, she has a nursery tucked into a nearby treetop. If she'll bring the kits by for a visit, a few greens and some sunflower seeds will be a small price to pay.
