The last word...

[Chipmunk]

Originally posted by Melissa:
which I think are cuter than turkey vultures, even though you didn't ask me

Your opinion is always welcome, though I was a little surprised that the Possum Geeks appear to outnumber the Vulture Geeks. I probably shouldn't have posted that TV head closeup. Perhaps you and/or Randall might agree that it's a lot cooler to watch a soaring vulture than a waddling opossum?

Thanks for the possum site & orphan info! Critter info is about as "on-topic" as anyone can ever get in this thread. If visiting your folks is like "going to a zoo", then what is visiting FQ like?!?

Deb, have you ever seen the show "John Acorn, Nature Nut"? If not, get Bruce to tape some eps for you before his next trek south. It's a bit of an odd show, but quickly grows on one. I vividly remember an episode when he showed off the contents of his fridge, and casually mentioned that it was a good thing he was married to a very indulgent doctor (or maybe it was some other type of wet scientist?).


I'll bet there's gotta be someone reading this thread who knows about growing sunflowers! If so, I want to try some this year, for my birds, but know nothing about gardening. Some planted themselves accidentally last spring, so I figure it's gotta be idiot-proof (but is it Nerd-proof?). When should I do it, and what's the optimal shade/sun combo? I'm on the Great Plains, but have trees and shrubs circling the property.

[Wassercrats]

I used to be afraid of sunflowers. Too much ugly center part. Just like butterflies.

I like furry things with pointy noses. I heard opossum snouts were used as ice cream cone molds before animal rights activists got it outlawed. Now they use iguanodon thumbs, since they're already dead.

[Mandi]

So, I guess planting a Sunflower House is out of the question, for your summer gardening plans? Some of my friends make those for their kids in the summertime.

[Wassercrats]

I think I'd try my best to avoid a sunflower house, especially since "Above the sunflower house, many bees, butterflies, and other insects visit the huge flowers." The closest I got was sitting under a weeping willow with the leaves surrounding me. I don't even like sitting on grass because of what might crawl on me.

Nothing like the good old fashoned flavor of opossum snout ice cream cones though.

[Chipmunk]

Mandi, way-cool! Great info... but I think I kinda need it at "Captain Dummy Talk" level. Hey, is "Gardening for Dummies" any good? Is it dumb enough for Nerds?

It's not just for my birds - in an old b&w book I saw a great pic of a chipmunk sitting in a sunflower head, happily stuffing. Since it's been a while (embarassed cough... 2-ish years) since I've updated my chipmunk area, I'm looking for something way-cool to do.

Barry, you have a commendable fear of creepy-crawlies! Note that chipmunks are "furry things with pointy noses", so maybe you're not an "anti-chipmunk" after all?

Randall, forgot to mention that "your" mouse finally got caught, after 3 days of removing the outer levels of cheese (I use a 3 chunk method). Clearly a craftier than average mouse. Release was uneventful, though there was a Northern Harrier in the next field, and several Ring-Necked Pheasants in my favorite release field. Barry's mouse was definitely odder (in a good way) than "yours", though both were appropriately unique individuals.

[Wassercrats]

it's been a while (embarassed cough... 2-ish years) since I've updated my chipmunk area

Maybe I'm just backwards, but I think I'd feel less embarassed the longer I go without a chipmunk area update. I do like chipmunks though.

I actually collected insects when I was a kid. My curiosity outweighed my fear. And I'd rather watch a documentary about insects than anything furry. It has to be unusual or important to get me interested.

[Randall]

You have to be a Garden Geek to learn how to plant flowers, Chipmunk. I'm fortunate if I can keep the grown ones alive.

Plants and I just don't talk the same langauge.

Perhaps you and/or Randall might agree that it's a lot cooler to watch a soaring vulture than a waddling opossum?

Soaring is a very impressive skill, but waddling is cute.

And I don't do insect documentaries. Bring on the furry noses!

Randall

# A craftier-than-average hand puppet

[TVB]

Vultures stink...like the roadkill they eat. I prefer a soaring sunflower.

I had a date with Randall tonight. Discovered he's 2 ft tall and 6 ft wide. I wasn't sure whether to bowl him or what...

Betsy

[Randall]

Please ... that's two-foot-two.

And yes, Betsy really is a statuesque blonde.

Randall

[Andilinks]

Vultures stink...

This may be true, I've never gotten intimate enough with one to know.

Vultures are best viewed from below at greater than 100 feet..