Mouse Control and Talking Irises

This year the mice seem to be scurrying about the property in large numbers.  I really love the little darlings, but they are trouble in their own little way.  When I find evidence of their presence on the 25 pound rice bags, or on the storage room shelves, my heart sinks a little.  I find that I enter the old debate about “should I put up traps, bring the cats in, look for more gaps in the siding or the windows?”  Traps are easy and pretty much guaranteed, but truly horrific. The cats do their work in obscurity for the most part, except for those times when they decide to “share the wealth” on the living room rug.  And looking for gaps seems futile.  I’ve seen a mouse, when being pursued by one of our cats, actually squeeze under a door with less than 1/4″ clearance.  It was like he somehow “seeped” through underneath the door.  Truly a marvel.

To gain a little more appreciation for what the little furry people go through in the silent wastes of the garden and the field, I snapped this photo of one of our resident Mouse Control Agents (to get the full mouse-eye view, click on the photo to enlarge it).

Resident Mouse Control

He clearly means business! Those whiskers hanging down like that look somewhat like invisible saber-tooth fangs.

Also, with this time of year, come the little gifts scattered like Easter eggs in the fields and pastures — the little flowers, as well as the larger ones.  Down in the orchard I snapped this shot of a faery circle of three different types (I’m afraid I’m feeling a little too lazy today to try and identify them).

Ring of Tiny Flowers in the Orchard

Irises always have a particular fascination, it seems, during this time of year, especially for gardeners and those intrepid green-thumbers that grace their properties with luxurious floral landscapes. The fragrance alone is a mystical experience, to say nothing of the intricate, impassioned folds of delicious texture and color within which one’s attention can wander and dream away. I happened upon one particular Iris that appears to be smiling boldly as a visitor from the astral plane, preparing to share exotic extraterrestrial visions.

Visitor from Planet Purple

Daffodils, acacia, a dandelion, and an apple blossom shelter.

The California vineyards are in full swing now, as well, in all their pastoral splendor.

A Simple California Vineyard