Table of Contents
Foreword 9
Acknowledgments 11
Introduction 13
A Feast for the Eyes 17
The Seediest Garden in the Neighborhood 20
Pond Parenthood 26
Windowsill Reveries 34
A Member of the Passalong Club 39
The Bumblebee Rumba 45
"Bee Prepared" 51
Flower Flies Forever 57
How to Enchant a Wasp 62
Beetles to the Rescue 74
Dessert and a Dragonfly 81
Calling All Caterpillars 88
Faeries in the Fuchsias 88
A Lap Full of Butterflies 94
Afternoon with a Spider 99
Night Life 104
Birds, Bugs, and Benefits 110
The Good, The Bar, & The Ugly 116
Hummingbirds in the Garden 122
My Morning Alarmers 127
A Thrush in My Picnic Basket 133
Getting the Blues 139
In the Company of Owls 150
A Charm of Finches 156
Something to Crow About 161
Jay Walking 167
Scarecrows Are for the Birds 173
Outwitted by Squirrels 181
On the Matter of Moles 187
In Praise of Garden Snakes 192
A Blessing of Toads 199
Skunk Scentsibilities 206
Confessions of a Worm Rescuer 213
Holiday Feasts for Birds & Beasts 219
Return of the Native 225
A Pocket Full of Acorns 230
Fragrant Memories 235
Conversations with Sunflowers 243
The Ladies on My Windowsill 249
Reveling in Rugosas 257
Travels with Vera 265
My Crab-Bag Garden 270
Green Memories 276
Hollyhocks for Fruitfulness 282
'Tis the Gift to Be Simple 288
Bibliography 295
Index 298