"Jack & the Beanstalk" ?

[SAbottles]

The birds are having an absolute feast on all the insects and the flowers themselves. They really rip into the pods and as a result the ground below is becoming littered with the debris:

 

[SAbottles]

Meanwhile, on the other side of the house, certain birds take advantage of the sprinkler on the lawn to grab a welcome bath: (while disguising themselves cleverly as rocks!)

 

[JOETHECROW]

ORIGINAL: SAbottles

Pity we can't train some of the little feathered freaks (or their night time counterparts) to act as watchdogs (or watchbirds!!) Had an attempted break-in last night. Wife heard noises, got up & investigated, no sign. This morning we found a pane of glass in our stoep door had been broken and the door unlocked. As our alarm did not go off, we can only assume they were scared off by the lights going on. The area across from us (visible in many of the photos) has had 17 break-ins in about 2 months !! []

That's a shame Dale!...I keep a handy pump shotgun near the bed, for anyone dares to cross the threshold of my "castle"....(Or you could take a cue from ol Alfred...[]

 

[SAbottles]

Yeah Joe, I could certainly do with them ! In the meantime I sleep with one hand on my .38; mind you it gets tricky when I scratch my nose [] !!

 

[SAbottles]

Despite its battering from the South Easter the old yucca continues to attract the hordes. How many can you count in this photo?
[reminds me of that old rhyme "Four and twenty blackbirds ..." ]

 

[SAbottles]

When the eating's good, it don't matter which way up you are!

 

[SAbottles]

Yes, I know; this is in danger of becoming a "never-ending story" as well !! Actually as you will see from these pictures, it's pretty near the end:

 

[SAbottles]

That thing is leaning at a serious angle, right out over the road !! Several of the pod stems have ripped loose with the howling South East wind we are having (which is part of the weather pattern that has caused serious flooding upcountry).

 

[AntiqueMeds]

make sure you arent under it when it goes.

 

[SAbottles]

Might be more of a problem if there's a car under it !! Could be an interesting insurance claim etc as it is actually not on my property but on the edge of the road, which is Council property [&o] !!