My fig tree is bursting with fruit. I thought I’d be the one harvesting—turns out I’m just managing a wildlife buffet.
I have a beautiful, large fig tree in my yard. This year it is filled with figs. The figs are starting to turn ripe. I love fresh figs so you might think I am really excited to go out and make my harvest each day. Well, there are other living creatures just as excited about my figs as I am. The Mockingbirds and cardinals show up. They’re dainty eaters. They’ll peck at a fig as if they’re looking for one with the perfect taste. I didn’t know they had such discerning palettes. Yesterday I saw another creature who decided to come to the fig banquet. It was a squirrel. He was sitting on a branch in my fig tree with a fig in between his two paws and eating it as if he were in a five star diner. I didn’t bother scaring him away, and I don’t bother the mockingbirds or the cardinals either. First come first serve is what I say. And in this case, it’s the mockingbirds, cardinals and squirrels are winning. I’m hoping they’re kind enough to leave me a few. So far, I have been able to find two or three figs each day that they haven’t found. I’m hoping my luck continues.
🤔 3 Figgy Questions to Ponder:
- Have you ever found unexpected joy in sharing nature’s bounty with wildlife?
- How do you decide when to defend your garden vs. enjoy the spectacle?
- What does it say about us when we choose generosity over control—even with squirrels?
