Facts About Garden Visitors

We all get wildlife visitors to our gardens. While we all have certain likes and dislikes regarding who might be visiting our garden, we should all try and enjoy god's creations just as long as they are not eating our hard work, right?

We'll talk about organic options in another blog to control those you don't want in your garden but in the meantime, here are some facts about garden creatures we thought you might find enjoyable!

Hummingbirds are able to fly up, down, forward, backward and sideways. They can stop in midair. Hummingbirds are famous for their aerial display. Some displays are courtship displays; other displays are aggressive. Hummingbirds fly great distances when they are migrating. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird migrates approximately 600 miles across the Gulf of Mexico.

Did you know that the only natural enemy of a bumblebee is a skunk! Bet you didn't!

Robins and Wrens will find the strangest places to nest. Any odd place for them to build their nest, you can be certain they'll find it. Greenhouses, sheds, open covered areas, decks and even clothing on a clothesline if left hanging too long.

Blackbirds take separate vacations from their mate but never forget their love for that mate. In spring, they will always return to their regular partner to hatch new babies each year.

Starlings are one of the most incredible garden birds. They can actually copy the sounds of other animals perfectly. They can also mimic machines, frogs, mammals and other bird songs. Wow!

Did you know that Robin' s care for all birds? If they find a hungry baby chick in another nest, they will go out and get food for it before the real chick's parents return. Now, that's the way it should work for all creatures!

Did you know Songbirds evolved about 50 million years ago?

Dragonflies are the world's fastest insects and, although estimates of their speed vary wildly, most credible authorities say they are capable of reaching speeds of between 30 and 60 km/h (19 to 38 mph).

The Monarch themselves are not threatened but monarch migration is a threatened phenomenon. Monarchs also have an effective chemical defense to protect them from predation; when they eat milkweed, they sequester the poisonous cardiac glycosides in the milkweed. Cardiac glycosides are poisonous to vertebrates; as a result, most monarchs face little predation from frogs, lizards, mice, birds and other species with backbones. Their bright colors also serve as a warning to predators that they contain these poisonous chemicals.

A ladybug beats its wings 85 times a second when it flies. Aphids are a ladybug's favorite food. Ladybugs chew from side to side and not up and down like people do. Ladybugs make a chemical that smells and tastes terrible so that birds and other predators won't eat them. If you squeeze a ladybug it will bite you, but the bite won't hurt. The spots on a ladybug fade as the ladybug gets older. During hibernation, ladybugs feed on their stored fat. Ladybugs won't fly if the temperature is below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Did you know that rabbits absolutely love licorice? They can sniff it from a mile away, but they shouldn't eat it because rabbits cannot digest sugar.

Did you know that research has shown that whitetail deer actually make up to 400 different vocalizations? Most of the vocalizations they make are so soft only skilled observers can recognize them. In fact, they are sometimes mistaken for insects buzzing and other background noises.

Garter (garden) snake babies are born live, usually 20 to 40 at a time. The largest number of babies born at one time is 98!

Toads use their eyeballs to help swallow their prey.

and..... a skunk always warns before spraying: it turns its back to the target, hisses, and stamps its feet.

You should move quickly LOL!