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.............Look, there he comes again, the Fox,
Stealing softly through the gorse and rocks,
With silent padding tread.
His nose to the ground, his brush held low,
He moves with a stealthy, graceful flow,
As though he were hardly there.
His eyes, like amber, gleam and shine,
As he weaves through the undergrowth's
entwine,
A vision of nature's art.
With every step, he marks his trail,
Leaving behind a secret, untold tale,
Of his wild and cunning heart.
This week we have enjoyed a visit from a handsome juvenile fox who made us smile. Our gardener had emptied a wooden trough that resides on a low stone wall filled with summer bedding plants. Through the window I spotted him happily sitting in it and peering over the top.
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Unlike the visiting deer he doesn't eat the garden flowers, nor dig holes in the lawn seeking worms like the Badgers.
We do hope he continues to visit, and that he enjoys a good life.
So nice to hear about your handsome visitor. They don't seem to be around here as much as they once were - or maybe I'm just not paying proper attention.
ReplyDeleteThat is the same as here John - we mainly spot them at night passing through the garden as they activate the security light. But we did have a mating pair in the garden in early February, and I like to think that this one might be one of their kits.
DeleteSo cute!
ReplyDelete🦊🦊🦊💚
DeleteHello Rosemary, Your fox is adorable, but still best to give them a wide berth. Foxes are wild, sometimes vicious creatures with sharp teeth. I recall a few years ago seeing a fox running alongside the road (in, of all places, Hunting Valley, Ohio*), with a hapless squirrel trapped it its mouth.
ReplyDelete--Jim
*Where the entering-village signs are topped with a traditional fox-hunting scene, and where of course no hunting is actually allowed:
https://imagescdn.homes.com/i2/Kt_zDOK9d4TZnOhsdqLhtkzBK_8P_eMGE7D6iHX6L_s/114/hunting-valley-oh.jpg?p=1
Hello Jim - I know that you are right about them being vicious, but watching him from the our windows has been a delight.
DeleteThe website you mention took me to a Hunting Valley Real Estate site? However, I did find the sign on a site that showed images of Hunting Valley. The sign is very evocative of how hunting used to happen here when I was young.
I occasionally get a fox sleeping in my front garden. Much better than my neighbours cats that frequent my back garden ambushing birds. Didn't know R.L.S. wrote poetry as well. When backpacking abroad met a cheese maker in a mountain hut that encouraged weasels to live in the hut walls as they killed any rodents after his stack of underground cheese he sold to passing walkers.
ReplyDeleteThat was interesting to learn about the weasels Bob.
DeleteI do like foxes. We don't have them in this part of Canada. I'm always happy to see one in the wild when we travel. How lovely to have one visit your garden.
ReplyDeleteHe was probably born earlier this year and had a lovely coat and a beautiful bushy tail.
DeleteNice to see you have visitors like that cute fox, Rosemary! One was coming down my steps a couple of years ago - it really surprised me! Now, I have a very large male deer with antlers that are startled when I open my door to go up to my car. Yesterday, when a delivery person had just left a package I heard the noise of the deer quickly leaving. The delivery man wanted to warn me - I quickly said, "I know, when I come home or leave I deliberately do not make eye contact as I try not to scare the deer!" They leave anyway. Lovely poem to start my afternoon!
ReplyDeleteDear Mary - what a delight it is to hear from you - I hope that all is well with you.
DeleteWe too have deer coming into the garden, but rather too frequently. We have had to alter the way that we garden because of them eating a flowers. Seeking blooms that are not to their taste is very limiting.
We do occasionally get foxes visiting ... have to say your visitor looks quite cute in your photographs.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the poem.
... I have also been enjoying the sunny weather we have had these past few days :)
All the best Jan
Dear Jan - We have also been enjoying the weather during the last few days - late summer sun is a bonus.
DeleteI haven't seen our lovely fox again, but I remain hopeful.
What a delightful treat, dear Rosemary! Your fox seems quite playful and is very pretty. As a kid we had Basil Brush on the telly which we loved and he always springs to mind when I hear "fox" :)
ReplyDeleteHe was a delightful little fox Pip that took our minds away from the current gloom and doom served up on a daily basis.
DeleteI had forgotten about that mischievous Basil Brush puppet and his funny catchphrase "Ha Ha Ha! Boom! Boom!"
How lovely. He looks in very good condition. Gorgeous photos.
ReplyDeleteHe was in lovely condition Susan but sadly I suspect that he will pick up the mange as he gets older.
DeleteWell that is sweet, lovely and shinny coat it has too. We don't have foxes.
ReplyDelete🦊🦊🦊💚
DeleteWhat a very pretty fox, and beautiful photos. We can see him just peeping out as he has a rest and he is so cute sitting in the trough. I did enjoy RL Stevenson's poem, one I have not encountered before. There are foxes in Australia, and a friend a few kms away has them on their property occasionally. I have not seen one in the wild yet. Maybe one day.
ReplyDeleteSo lovely to hear from you again Patricia.
DeleteBlogging has stalled for me of late and I am not sure why. Maybe it's lack of inspiration on my part, but also continually hearing and seeing all of the troubles around our beautiful world takes my thoughts elsewhere.
Hope you do get a chance to see a fox one day. Our young one was such a joy to see,
Lovely to be back Rosemary. I am interested to read that you have also slowed with blogging. I am not sure why I stopped for a while either, and find your thoughts on the troubles around us quite insightful. I have painted a few watercolours of foxes - hope one comes our way some time.
DeleteI didn't realise that you painted Patricia - may be you could show us one of your foxes?
DeleteA very beautiful healthy fox. He looks a bit different from the foxes we see in the city and oddly enough I think the two differences are a shiny coat and a much less benign expression than city foxes. The latter seem to have no enemies except those who fasten up their dustbins securely, and so I think they live quite a comfy life.
ReplyDeleteMay be he looks healthy because he is young, and recently left the family den. It is sad that foxes suffer from mange and mites as they grow older.
DeleteOh Rosemary what a beautiful post, and what a handsome boy. I love the poem.
ReplyDeleteThat is so very kind of you Polly.
DeleteWhat a lovely poem! Your words beautifully capture the graceful movements and cunning nature of the fox, evoking a vivid image of its stealthy presence in the garden. It’s heartwarming to hear about your recent visit from the juvenile fox; it sounds like a charming addition to your outdoor space. It’s fascinating how different creatures interact with the garden—each bringing their own personality and quirks. I love that the fox seems to respect your plants while still bringing joy and amusement.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this delightful glimpse into your garden and the wildlife you encounter!
By the way, I just shared a new post on my blog. I’d be thrilled if you checked it out here! https://www.melodyjacob.com/2024/09/transform-your-life-12-weeks-fitness-program-over-40.html
Dear Melody we did enjoy this visit from such a young fox but sadly we have not seen him again, however, we live in hope.
DeleteDear Rosemary - What a lovely fox! He looks like a dog. I’m happy for him to find such a comfortable place and to be welcomed. I love “Kita kitsune”, Ezo Red Fox, living in Hokkaido.
ReplyDeleteYoko
Dear Yoko - I have looked up your foxes on the internet, and what delightful little foxes they are too.
DeleteDear Rosemary, Your beautiful fox looks righy at home in your beautiful garden. I think that he will stay. Thank you for your sweet comment (some time ago).
ReplyDeleteDear Gina - it is so lovely to hear from you - I miss you such a lot, and hope that you are wellX
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