Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Hello! Our Extended Family is Bigger Than We Thought

Gaspard Monge (Centifolia, Robert, 1854)
It is taking me awhile to sort through all the pictures for my next post on centifolia roses, so meanwhile I thought I would tell you about a fun encounter in our backyard the other day.












I thought I knew all visitors to my small garden pretty well, so when I wrote my post on our extended family with fur and wings I was confident that the story was complete. It only goes to show how misguided such confidence can be :)


Our dinner the other night was interrupted by my son who was standing by the French doors to the back yard and screaming "rat! Rat" RAT!". Oh, well, rats are not that uncommon in suburban developments after all. However, my son's excitement continued, so presumably the rat didn't just dart across the yard. A sick rat?? I came to investigate, and discovered a baby opossum, not terribly scared, and not particularly trying to get away.  It found a nice cozy spot among my rose pots.


Who knew that my pot ghetto would become a wildlife refuge?


Despite my son's loud enthusiasm, it stayed for a while, but was gone the next morning. Cute, isn't it?

Posted by Masha at 10:29 AM
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29 comments:

  1. PolkaDotGaloshesMay 18, 2011 at 11:36 AM

    I never thought I would say this, but American Opossums are cute! what a sweet little face =) Also, that rose is stunning! I love the full, cabbage bloom, its really very pretty. Cheers

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  2. organicgardendreamsMay 18, 2011 at 12:03 PM

    Oh my gosh, that baby opossum is soo... cute! I have never seen an opossum in my gardens in California so far. I am wondering, if they do damage to plants or even to our beloved roses.
    I am looking forward to your centifolia rose post. That picture of 'Gaspard Monge' is a good appetizer :-)! What an irresistible color and texture of the blooms.
    Christina

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  3. irinapicturesMay 18, 2011 at 12:26 PM

    What did his parents think??))
    Great photos.

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  4. Neuer GartentraumMay 18, 2011 at 1:16 PM

    Das Opossum ist super süß. Dank für die Bilder.
    Gruß
    Anette

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  5. MashaMay 18, 2011 at 1:27 PM

    Julia, you know I never thought I would be saying it either! I am glad you like the rose - more is coming.

    Thank you, Christina. Opossums are omnivores, but I think my garden provides enough food for them - I have not seem damage to roses yet...

    Irina, thank you for making me laugh. Indeed, where were the parents??

    Danke, Anette. It is a handsome little thing.

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  6. UnknownMay 18, 2011 at 2:02 PM

    Ale ładne zwierzątko ,takiego u nas nie zobaczysz ...czy jest groźne dla ludzi?jakby co ,to fajna maskotka dla synka ....pozdrawiam

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  7. MashaMay 18, 2011 at 2:35 PM

    Thank you, Bogusia.

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  8. greggoMay 18, 2011 at 4:11 PM

    I have seen them "root" about, however they are pretty lazy and don't work too hard at anything. Kinda like me....lol!

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  9. MashaMay 18, 2011 at 4:15 PM

    Thanks for letting me know, greggo :).

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  10. DonnaMay 18, 2011 at 4:17 PM

    what a cutie

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  11. Casa MariposaMay 18, 2011 at 4:34 PM

    The babies are definitely very cute! As adults, much less so. One of my dogs likes to hassle our neighborhood possums so my husband is the president of our household Possum Protection Society. I think our gardens host a lot more creatures than we realize!!

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  12. MashaMay 18, 2011 at 4:55 PM

    Thank you, Donna.

    You are right, CM, I certainly didn't!

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  13. JessMay 18, 2011 at 5:55 PM

    They go through your trash, and make messes, thats about the extend of the destruction that I've ever noticed. I blame squirrels for most everything around here though.

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  14. AnonymousMay 18, 2011 at 5:56 PM

    I have a possum under my neighbor's porch and he is a mean bugger. I could never get a good image like this of him. He always bares his teeth, not friendly looking like your fellow.

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  15. Bren HaasMay 18, 2011 at 6:43 PM

    Your Photographer is wonderful.... the little critter that usually makes me run looks tamed and like I could pet him in your images.

    Hope to chat with you more on #gardenchat . I can't wait to visit your blog again - I'm inspired!

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  16. Wife, Mother, GardenerMay 18, 2011 at 6:45 PM

    He is adorable! Thanks for sharing.
    Julie

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  17. KelseyMay 18, 2011 at 7:53 PM

    I had a similar incident when I was a kid. I think I screamed a little louder and ran away a little faster though! Ha ha!

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  18. sherryocalaMay 18, 2011 at 8:22 PM

    Cute little guy, Masha.

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  19. MashaMay 18, 2011 at 8:31 PM

    Jess, I haven't noticed any messes, so perhaps they are not resident after all...

    Donna, that was a confused baby. I don't think he knew we were dangerous :)

    Thank you, Bren, I am very glad you like my blog.

    Thank you, Julie, he is adorable...

    Kelsey, nobody ran away this time, not even the possum. My kids actually tried to feed him (from a distance) but he wasn't in the mood...

    Thank you, Sherry.

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  20. AnnetteMay 19, 2011 at 2:27 AM

    Du hast unendlich viele schöne Rosenportraits, ich bin ganz begeistert... und das Opossum ist sehr hübsch und hat schöne Knopfaugen... du bist nah rangekommen zum fotografieren- bemerkenswert. Viele Grüße Annette

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  21. Roses du jardin ChênelandMay 19, 2011 at 3:43 AM

    bien sur macha ce bébé oposul est absolument adorable comme la rose Gaspard monge.
    belle journée jocelyne

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  22. Roses, Color, and LightMay 19, 2011 at 3:53 AM

    I didn't know you had opossums in California. Interesting!
    We have prairie dogs here.
    Thanks for the pictures!
    Sandra

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  23. MashaMay 19, 2011 at 7:56 AM

    Thank you, Anette, I didn't come that close, just used the zoom :)

    Merci, Jocelyne, il y'a plus de rosiers danc ma poste suivante...

    Sandra, I have not seen an opossum before (there aren't any in Russia) but people say they are common here. I haven't seen prairie dogs either, maybe one day you will post a picture on your blog.

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  24. HolleyGardenMay 19, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    We have lots of possoms that come visit - none are as cute as this one! Must be your wonderful photography that makes him look so adorable!

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  25. MashaMay 19, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    Thank you, Holley, lots of baby animals are adorable :).

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  26. debsgardenMay 19, 2011 at 5:00 PM

    That brings back memories! When we moved to our first house a possum visited us regularly at supper time. We relented and gave him scraps. He would sit in a tree and peer into the window at us till we came out to feed him. Turns out our next door neighbor was also feeding him every night!

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  27. MashaMay 19, 2011 at 5:43 PM

    That's a fun story, Deb, thanks!

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  28. donaMay 20, 2011 at 8:45 AM

    He's just lovely! I sincerely envy American gardens' wildlife.

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  29. MashaMay 20, 2011 at 10:28 AM

    Grazie, Dona, I am sure you have lots of creatures too!

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I am so glad you have stopped by!

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