Today's Visitor

[Junebug]

Part of my morning routine is to check on all the orchids. Today I went out with camera in hand to record the progress of a few plants. I was approaching my (2007 Mother's Day gift, sick when I got it, nursed back to health, waiting for a first bloom) Noid Dend. I was about 15' away when I spotted this furry vermin who was eyeballing my plant.

In the second photo I had advanced about 9' towards the little bugger as he got dangerously near my Dendrobium.
That squirrel just doesn't know how close he came to being tonight's dinner.

In photo #3 I walked even closer and my dinner...I mean the squirrel, scurried around the corner of the fence, picked a hibiscus leaf, and ate it. Well, he didn't eat all of it. He just nibbled a few bites and tossed the rest.

In the last photo, the "fuzzy tailed" beast came back around the corner to get a better look at me. I must have been lookin' pretty rough because he took one look, ran like hell, and disappeared into the neighbors clustered palms. I didn't see him for the rest of the day.

[isurus79]

Mmmmmm.....he looks delicious!!!

[snow]

fat looking squirel. you eat him or dendro is going to be his desert after the hibiscus. healthy looking plant btw.

[Ranchnanny]

That squirrel is way to close for comfort he must have a death wish....

Sheridan

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by snow

fat looking squirel. you eat him or dendro is going to be his desert after the hibiscus. healthy looking plant btw.

Some of the older leaves had existing chew marks when the plant was given to me. The little beast has already tasted some of the newer growth. As a result, one of the newest leaves is sporting a gnawed out center.

This is my first attempt to grow a dendrobium without screened protection. The plant really needed more light. It's canes were just too twisted and it had never produced a spike. It's been growing outdoors/unprotected for 1 week and has already initiated 3 spikes on one cane. I'm hoping the leaves were distasteful. Squirrels don't touch my catts or vandaceous plants, but they have completely devoured a bulbo and encyclia.

[billc]

Where are those BIG Florida snakes when you need them??

Bill

[kavanaru]

ok guys, I know you have big problems with squirrels in the USA (the European ones are not so naughty, I must admit)... but that one is really cute

Note: In Southern Central Venezuela (maybe also in other regions), Squirrels are eaten BBQed... ok, not a regular dinner... Some people just have the superstition that eating squirrels will make children more active and intelligent... (similar superstition about parrots for kids who takes too long to start speaking)...

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by billc

Where are those BIG Florida snakes when you need them??

Bill

I don't know??? Here are a few from past growing seasons.

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

ok guys, I know you have big problems with squirrels in the USA (the European ones are not so naughty, I must admit)... but that one is really cute

Note: In Southern Central Venezuela (maybe also in other regions), Squirrels are eaten BBQed... ok, not a regular dinner... Some people just have the superstition that eating squirrels will make children more active and intelligent... (similar superstition about parrots for kids who takes too long to start speaking)...

I hear they're tasty when battered and fried and served with mashed potatoes and gravy.

[Blueszz]

The second picture with the squirel is priceless. As if it's making up it's mind: can I nibble on this plant or is it wiser to leave it alone.

@Junebug. Your last series of pictures, the ones with the snake, are beautiful, but horrify me! Oh my, I can't stand the idea that whenever I have to check the orchids I should be worried about snakes. A snake hidden in a wooden basket really would be the limit. LOL
I'm so happy that snakes are rare here and I never met one in person in NL.