Gardening With Friends

Many years ago while returning to my car from trout fishing a stream in the mountains of Pennsylvania I met a man who happened to be an ornithologist who had a juvenile hawk in a cage. This young raptor had fully recovered from an injury and was going to be released. I noticed that the eye color was blue and I asked him if this was the result of a genetic anamoly. He said no and that the eye color would eventually change to the adult color. He explained that the reason for the juvenile eye color being different from the fully mature hawk was that the difference in the juvenile color repressed the adult from attacking and killing the young bird for territorial reasons thus allowing it to reach maturity. I believe that the bird being released was a Red Tailed Hawk. I was so astounded by what I had just learned that I never asked the ornithologist as to what kind of hawk it was. I never saw its return to the wild since he asked me to put some distance between the bird and him in order to be out of sight and not excite the hawk when it was removed from the cage and released. This encounter happened about fifty years ago....both the hawk and time flies:)

Looks fantastic with artistic flare. In basket weaving, they always soak or steam the wicker prior. Would that also work for this?

So do I, Pennyfarthin! I always feel guilty even when people convince me it is not my fault, like the other contributors here.

I think it's lovely Dawn, and you were brave to have a go at it :) I hope to see it and its springtime partner in your garden next year :)

The tree looks lovely, it shows what can be done when everyone pulls together, and recycling is a good idea too ... I hope you enjoyed the carol service :)

I believe it's White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda). It's also known as Doll's Eyes. The berries and the whole plant are toxic