My Mulberry tree and the animals it attracted

The topic for the Polymer Clay Smooshers Blog Ring this week is Mulberry.  First I thought of the color, then my own Mulberry tree popped into my thoughts.  I saved that tree, you know.  The birds must have planted it right next to the downspout on the house, and by the time I noticed it growing there it was about two feet tall. It was already getting cramped in that small space, and wouldn't have survived another year there.  I had no idea what type of plant it was, but it looked healthy and pretty, so I transplanted it to the middle of the yard where it would have some room to grow.  It was a fast grower and before long it became a good sized tree loaded with delicious mulberries.  This is why I save plants- you never know what they might become!

 

The Owl Tree pendant from CatsWire 

I wasn't the only one who enjoyed those sweet and juicy berries though.  Birds of all types flocked to the tree to devour the fruit.

 

Loving Critters Holiday Tree from ClayCatShop

And the groundhog, squirrels, chipmunks, and other critters would gather underneath the tree to gobble up all the fallen berries.  And the berries would rain down every time  the birds would shake a branch!

 

Steampunk Bat Pendant from Desert Rubble

I even spotted  bats flitting around the tree at night!  I think they were attracted to the insects feeding on the berries.  Bats eat lots of bugs (especially mosquitoes!) and they're always welcome in my yard!

Sadly my productive Mulberry tree got sick and died last year :(  It's bark started peeling and all the leaves dried up and fell off.  My animals friends were very upset that there were no berries this year, but I may plant them another tree next year.  I miss seeing some of the different birds that were drawn to the tree, and i know my chipmunk family just loved those berries.  My fat old groundhog even climbed the tree to get at the best ones (which was a really funny sight)!  You wouldn't think those roly poly groundhogs would be able to climb trees very well.  Even if i end up moving soon, I might plant a mulberry tree before I leave.  A little gift to all the animals who have been my friends and neighbors in this house ;-)

-Michelle of CreativeCritters