Today is the best weather day we’ve had in ages. I can’t complain about hot, humid weather — it doesn’t really bother me too much. But this morning it was 70 degrees and low humidity, lots of sun and blue skies. I went out for a bike ride and then came home to clean up the balcony. 

Most Saturday mornings find me doing that, since the balcony gets somewhat neglected during the work week. The plants get watered daily, and the birds get their peanuts and water, but there’s no sweeping or anything. So Saturday is when that starts, so the rest of the weekend I can enjoy the balcony more.

This week I’ve noticed a couple changes to our visitors. For one thing, I haven’t seen a cardinal in a couple weeks. Maybe they’re sick of peanuts. I hadn’t really even thought about them; they must have slowly reduced their visits. But today on my ride I saw a cardinal and realized they had not be visiting.

I also got a woodpecker! I love woodpeckers and wish there were a way I could put suet cakes out. They’re generally too messy and too visible, so I haven’t bothered. But even so, we had a downy woodpecker come visit. And as I sit here writing, there he is! He cautiously sits on the railing a minute to make sure the coast is clear. Then he moves to the railing in a classic woodpecker pose, and he inches up and down and around, making sure it’s still safe. Finally he gets to the peanuts, takes one and flies off. I love it!

When he is twirling around on the railings he reminds me of those little wooden woodpecker toys, the ones where you put the woodpecker on the pole and he pecks at the wood he drops down the pole…

 The tufted titmice are my most regular visitors, and my favorites. They don’t make too much of a mess; I think it’s a flock of about 4-5 of them who come. They seem to be curious about what’s on the other side of the balcony, and perch on the chair to peek in. They also drink out of the juniper’s water tray, which is a little messy. But I couldn’t begrudge them a drink in this hot weather, and I just clean the juniper up every Saturday along with everything else.

So other than the battle against the aphids in the petunias, the balcony is lovely and the birds seem to enjoy it. What more could you want?