May the bluebirds of happiness prevail

Most local fields are planted or ready for it. Several have corn emergent already, about an inch or so high, just enough to define the rows. Today’s rain has freshened the soil, making it look rich and ready to produce.

Yesterday, a flock of four tree swallows, nesting in our “purple martin” house, were attacking the pair of bluebirds in their house in the back yard. After watching for awhile, I went and lowered the martin/swallow house on its pole in hopes that the attackers would be distracted and leave the bluebirds alone. If you think you can detect my bias toward bluebirds, you’re right. My efforts failed at the time. For much of yesterday afternoon, neither bluebirds nor swallows were in evidence. Nor have we seen any of either species so far today.

male bluebird atop pine tree

Photo by J. Harrington

It won’t be long until we’ll be in the midst of summer’s growing season. Many of the blossom-covered trees and bushes are beginning to look frayed and weather-worn. If there were sufficient pollinators, soon fruits will begin to develop. As leaf-out is completed and green comes to dominate the landscape, we’ll approach summer’s doldrums. For now, that level of ennui is weeks away. We’re still adjusting to seeing branches leaf-covered instead of bare. Even faded flowers are an improvement after weeks and months of snow shroud covered grounds.

There’s been no sightings of scarlet tanagers nor indigo buntings for the past couple of days. Perhaps they’ve all migrated north. Perhaps some have been busy nest building. The Baltimore orioles have been enjoying the nectar feeder and the grape jelly dish we’ve hung. Yesterday we saw a few bees, or yellow jackets, or...?, checking out the lily of the valley flower buds along the driveway. Weather permitting, we’ll break out of our No Mow May program next week, probably past midweek. Since the front yard was freshly reseeded this month, we’ll probably continue No Mow May until September for that area.

All in all, despite a cooler, wetter spring than we’re used to, nature’s events have progressed about as we’ve come to expect, give or take. It’s nice to have some aspects of life these days approximate something akin to normal.

THE BLUEBIRD
by Charles Bukowski

there’s a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I’m too tough for him,
I say, stay in there, I’m not going
to let anybody see
you.
there’s a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I pour whiskey on him and inhale
cigarette smoke
and the whores and the bartenders
and the grocery clerks
never know that
he’s
in there.

there’s a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I’m too tough for him,
I say,
stay down, do you want to mess
me up?
you want to screw up the
works?
you want to blow my book sales in
Europe?
there’s a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I’m too clever, I only let him out
at night sometimes
when everybody’s asleep.
I say, I know that you’re there,
so don’t be
sad.
then I put him back,
but he’s singing a little
in there, I haven’t quite let him
die
and we sleep together like
that
with our
secret pact
and it’s nice enough to
make a man
weep, but I don’t
weep, do
you?

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