Rose Cottage Ltd

Still can’t believe I’m putting “2015” in the headline…

This week’s “real estate” is less about buying and selling and more about deciding what kind of very local environment you really want.

Most, some might say “normal people” look first at the house when viewing a potential new property. I might be interested in the facade and style, but when I am looking, what grabs me is the yard and immediate surroundings.

Part of this is because I have a rather large dog – and he needs his space as much as I do. It’s also great if he can have a fenced-in backyard so he can roam around at will to take care of his necessities, while I wait for him inside. This is of primary importance during winter when he can manage a 9-degree morning longer than I can!

I also like a property with some trees and natural areas around it. If you are looking at a property in any form of subdivision, you can tell almost as soon as you enter whether the developers valued trees and green space – or not. If I can’t see a decent stand of trees inside the first quarter-mile, this is not likely the place I want to live.

If you are required to live near a city, you will increase your chances of seeing wildlife if there are trees and green areas available. A small pond may bring geese. Some think this is a bad thing. I have the opposite opinion since I think geese have done a remarkable job surviving in areas where most of their former habitat may have been destroyed. If you can’t live and let live, get a apartment downtown where you will mainly have animals of the two-legged variety to worry about.

I have two bird baths on my current property, three bird feeders, quite a few trees, and for Cato – a fenced-in backyard. I’ve noticed since I moved here that I have quite a few avian customers who have grown to count on the bird feeders being kept full and even I have been surprised at the amount of activity on both bird baths. It’s been cold lately with morning temperatures down to 9 degrees so I’ve been taking pans of hot water out to the baths to melt the ice. By the time I am back inside and looking out the window, there can be 3 to 5 birds already taking advantage. The ground is frozen solid and has been for most of the past week so the birds are relying upon me more for food and water. They are creatures of habit just as we are.

I’d rather be on a much larger property with more wildlife but I think I’m doing a good job to promote and care for what I have. If you choose to interact with wildlife, you can – even in a suburban location. It doesn’t take more than a hook and a feeder to enjoy your “neighbors” and I find it relaxing after a long day, to sit and watch them fly around the backyard in relative comfort and security.

To me, this is one of the benefits of having my own bit of real estate. I can fairly easily create a more enjoyable environment for myself and for local wildlife…with hidden benefits for all.