As I was pondering what to write about on cooling off and beating the heat in Texas...it dawned on me that wildlife and pets really have it tough! We have had some days at 105 degrees already this summer and with high humidity. Not many animals have the luxury of being able to just go inside when they are pooped from the heat like we can. Well at least most can't. I know there are lots of Flluffys and Puffy's out there that never have stepped over the threshold to leave the air conditioned castles they live in, but many pets do stay outside a lot, and many more don't even know what A.C. is. They are full time outsiders. We have tried to remember to make sure both our 3 dogs and 4 cats have plenty of shade, and water at all times. And we have tried to provide for our wildlife to the best of our ability also.
Some of the things you can do for the birds are easy and relatively inexpensive...birdbaths and hummingbird feeders. Most birds enjoy a bird bath or garden sprinkler to just cleanup a little. But they also water from these sources. We have placed 4 bird baths around our home. They usually have to be filled every couple of days. Also they need to be cleaned once a week to keep growth down from algae.
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Butterflies and Bees need water to , so by simply adding a few stones in a fountain, you can create miniature islands for the insects to ease down to the water's edge. They love it.
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Hummingbirdsare like miniature rockets and burn up lots of energy and need both sugar and water. Hummingbird feeders provide this. We use two types. One simply hangs . They other mounts on windows so you can observethe birds feeding close up.This one is suspended from a small potatoe vine covered arbor. A cool spot for hummers to feed.
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This feeder is one foot away from the kitchen sink and really makes doing dishes a lot easier as Hummers are great entertainers with their aerial acrobatics.
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Birds have to eat......so if possible place feeders in a shady spot.We enjoy watching numerous species feed off the feeders hanging in this small trumpeter vine covered arbor. The birds consume so much we keep two feeders in this location.
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Now you know there are all kinds of creatures and they all require H2Oin order to live .....including toads. Now toads are great and eat all kinds of insects in the garden. At night they enjoy a quick dip ...the only problem is if they jump in and if they can't get out...well they die. We got tired of fishing dead toads out of the water bowls so we place rocks whetre they could exit easier after a dip. It works! :o)
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The little Budda has a small lap that holds water that garden lizards and chameleons drink from. This little garden space has ferns, ivy, and Banana plants that offer shade for the lizards, toads and tree frogs, our insect pest control specialists!
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And Finally the larger animals both wild and domestic need a combination watering hole and swimming pool .....so we built a small lake for them and are still waiting on the rain to fill it up. Don't worry once it is full the mud will settle out and it will be clear...but do you think the deer and the dogs care in the mean time? We doubt it!
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So this summer please remember all your feathered, furry, and scaly friends need to cool off too! No you don't have to invite everybody inside, just give them a break by making sure they can drink all they want , and can even get wet now and again too !
Trey, Bill and I will be in Austin. Looking forward to seeing you and let's spend more time together this time, OK? Liz
Trey - Those are absolutely delightful pictures! I love to garden, and take care of nature's critters too! In fact, I have that very same Buddha statue in my yard. Everything around it seems to always grow so miraculously well!
Trey: This is a great post for animal lovers. I was not aware there was more I could do to beat the high summer temps for my outdoor animal neighbors. Great tips.
Trey, you are on to something here with this photography....great photos. David and I are birders and love to have our yard filled with the migrating and local birds. We live near the Sacramento River now and we see Bald Eagles, Great White Heron and Blue Heron. Plus we have Mockingbirds living nearby and they are my favorite because the sing and immitate all the songbirds.
Trey I enjoyed reading this post! You dogs look like they were enjoying themselves. That was my favorite picture!
Good message, and loved the dogs. It reminds me of a long time ago, walking with our dogs and everyone getting covered with water and mud when they'd jump in the slew.
Trey, you are on the money!!! I also love your pictures, the dogs in the muddy water is perfect!
Hi Trey, What amazing photos. I want a camera like you have. You are just a great photographer. And...your love of nature, wildlife, and your pets is very evident. Thanks for sharing.
I love the pictures and your yard! Being a dog person, that dog pic was great and good tips for the other creatures.
Myrl
Thanks for the comments. I will have to check the plants around the statue too. ;O)
Liz
We sure hope to make it.
Chris Ann
I am sure there is a lot more we could do than I know about. I just hate thinking about our furry friends beiung too uncomfortable.
Jeanean
I think you guys get a lot of neat waterfowl too. We are currently building some "green tree ponds" on a ranch, that only hold water in the winter for the ducks, then drain out in the summer so the trees won't die.
Sondra, Those two little boogers. Pickles and Abbey, think they are Labs.... because they swim daily with our big Yellow Lab. ;) It is funny!
Howdy Trey
What a very enjoyable post to read and look at.
Birds also like stones being in a birdbath where they can walk and stand in the water on them. T like the photo with the little Buddha it. Most folk's don't think about the lizards, toads, and areas that have tree frogs. To take the time to have built a small like for the larger animals, like your puppy dogsand deer that come a visit en was really good of ya.
Trey, you are a really kind and good guy!
TREY, We do forget about our furry friends; don't we? They also need to beat the heat.
Stacy,
We usually end up getting splashed and muddy too! ;-)
Jackie
Those two little corgies and their hero our Lab, Honey, would stay in the water all day if we let them.
Great Post, I enjoyed reading it. Sometimes it's easy to forget about our wildlife. Thanks for reminding us all.
Trey... thanks for taking care of our non-human friends who can't always do it themselves! You're a good guy to be so concerned about them!
Trey - Great post. I think you are taking care of all creatures big and small. We have a toad that lives in our yard and I always make sure their is water in the dogs bowl overnight for him to jump him. I've seen him multiple times - I know he loves it.
Steve and Linda
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Today I am having to deal with a pesky armadillo who is destroying our flowerbeds! I put out a have- a -heart trap . Hope I get him.
Cheryl
You are welcome. We sometimes do take pets for granted and shouldn't.
Marchel, Our furry friends really have it tough in Texas in August. I have never seen a cat panting until the other day.
Trey - Thanks for taking your pic's and sharing about all your small and large friends. I still like the one with your yellow lab in the tub that you blogged about awhile back. It certainly is hot and dry and still no rain in sight.
Hey Carl
Do you mean this picture?
Thanks for reminding us how important it is to water our animals and our wildlife.
Yip - that's the one. He looks like a Happy Dog!
Trey...
Just going through all the entries to the contest and letting everyone know if they are tagged correctly and showing up...Yes you are tagged right and in the contest! Good Luck, Liz
Boy, you sure got your hands full :-)...I love your yard and all the differant plants. Be sure and post more pictures of your "dog/deer" pond, I'm sure they love it just the way it is. L
Sabrina
Even in Colorado it can sure get hot in the summers!
Liz
You know what they say "take time to smell the roses" I suppose we take that literally . In a meme blog I talked about being a groundskeeper in a former life. :) Take care.
Carl
That old Yellow Dog is always so happy ....She came from a house where she wasn't given any attention, but she now rules the roost! ;)
Today While watering the yard and flowers I noticed lots of bees stopping to gather nector and grab a quick drink from the bird bath. They really do like the rocks to stand on while drinking, so place a few in your bird bath at home.
I love the picture of the lab in the tub! TOO CUTE! I enjoyed the post and all the other pictures too!
Good Job and thanks for sharing!
Ann
Thanks so much for the kind remarks. I have gotton bad ....seems like my camera is with me 24-7!
you think of all the critters, we have several dog bowls out for the toads and have a pond that a heron from the lake that stays at quite a bit,
no your not bad about carring the camera 24/7, I do too! my hubby fussed at me we had a copperhead in the yard and I ran to get the camera before I yelled at him to come get it so the dogs get bite
Crystal
Whil on a short trip this week, I watched a herd of cattle stay in a pond Saturday just cooling off...there wasn't a tree in site. So they made do.
Trey-It does my heart good to know there are caring folks out there like you who think not only about their pets but all God's creature's. I love watching birds in a birdbath. I have 7 cats, 2 dogs and 2 horses and there is always fresh water for all of them. I see a lot of animals in my travels who don't have food or water and are tied outside all day. Makes me very angry. All my babies are rescued babies from uncaring folks. So it is heartwarming when I hear of someone that goes the extra mile for God's creatures. God Bless you. Love the pic of the dog in the tub.
Hi Pat
Thanks for the nice words. Seven cats? Do you get a quantity discount from the cat food companies? ;-)
Of all things for a police officer to do, we had one here a few weeks ago who left his K9 companion in his police car since he was just going to be gone for a few minutes. That few minutes turned into agony for the dog, which died of dehydration. We are now less one beautiful, working dog. I believe the police officer was put on administrative leave, but in the eyes of the officer's supervisor, what he did was not a termination offense. Interesting. If he had been a member of the public at large, he would have been arrested and tried for animal endangerment and cruelty to an animal. And they say those in power are not above the law. Nonetheless...
Folks, even in 80-degree weather, a pet left in a car with the windows "cracked" can easily die of a heat stroke or dehydration. I understand that we all love our pets and want them with us at all times, but the car is not the place. Leave them at home so that they can welcome you with a soft meow or a big wet lick when you get back.
Russel
Sometimes people just screw up. We are all so busy on our cell phones , blackberries, etc. Recently a family we know lost a toddler when he was left in a car all day when mom went to work. She ordinarlily did not take the child to day care and I suppose she just forgot if the baby was asleep, and it was early in the AM. No excuse...but oh so sad and so tragic!.
Trey-That would be nice but unfortunately I pay full price just like everybody else.
Pat
Tonight I was buying pet food and noticed my dog food contents looked more nutritious than most fast food and also more expensive.
Trey...
I always enjoy seeing pictures of your place, you have some amazing plants & flowers. Thanks for entering the contest and you have 200 points headed your way :-) Liz
We have THE WINNERS of the contest; 1.Russell Lewis, 2. Crystal Ledbetter 3. Karen Stahla congratulations to all three, and you should already have your points credited to you.
Everyone else who entered is also a winner and should have 200 points just for entering. There were some really great ones this time and a great turn out too. Thanks for your understanding of the delay, illness, and then Hurricane Ike...being the culprits! Let me know what other contest you would like to see our Texas Real Estate group do?
I will have a post done by tonight, so please check back in to read all about the contest and congradulate the winners.
Please keep helping me grow our great group of bloggers & friends and encourage more to join us. We have grown to 419 members, and YOU have created some great post...no junk here!!!
Trey - Sure glad you were awarded the 200 extra points. I really enjoyed all your great photo's and thanks for posting your yellow lab in his swimming pool.
If you have standing water in pots, birdbaths, etc., make sure you freshen it up regularly in order to prevent mosquitos from breeding in it. Mosquitos, of course, carry West Nile Virus. We've had 9 cases here in San Diego this summer. The first case was last summer. It's only going to get worse, especially with water standing on foreclosed, vacant properties.
Good for you. As past associate director of the Houston Audubon Society, I'm highly concerned about animals. Here as high five from me. PS what breed of dog is in the last picture? They look like my Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
Mary
The two little dogs are Corgis. The big Yellow one is a Lab.
Jim, We have had one reported human case...... but recently mosquitos have been trapped with the disease.
Liz Thanks So much!