What's it like having peacocks? Everything is so lovely!

@Freespirit64 We loved having them....but they are definitely "noisy" once they are adults. The SC house had a large pond and hubby built a really neat aviary. Over the years, we had ducks and geese, too.

@Lavergne I made friends with a "house duck" one time. I really liked that damned duck! But they aren't much for house training!

@Freespirit64 I loved having the ducks - not so much the geese. Those bastards get quite large and cranky and love to bite!!! My mother told me she knew just what "to do" with that situation - but I couldn't bring myself to do it.... hahahahahah

Nice structures on your 'informal' garden (that's what mine is quickly becoming) and thanks for sharing. I got to thinking about this and am constantly amazed and the huge amount of work in creating not only my gardens but all the other structures on the property. In the end it is all about motivation. Two people who love to do things like this for each other's mutual pleasure goes a long distance.

@JackPedigo yes, its the little things that make it uniquely your own. My husband built this aviary to house the various birds when they were very small. Lots of cursing....lol....but when it was done, he was actually pretty pleased with it.

@Lavergne I understand this and have built dozens of nesting boxes (and 1 Roosting box). They are spread out on my property and the labyrinth. They mostly get filled during the spring/summer. I learned that when one makes a box one (myself) likes to make it not just functional (ventilation, drainage and accessibility for cleaning) but a piece of art. I use clear, exterior spray paint to protect it from the elements so it stays beautiful for longer.

@Lavergne I've been chased down by HUGE geese! So yeah...lol

And you can also add more joyous work.

They did but they are short lived and after they are gone there is a big growth spurt. This means more pruning. Many flowering shrubs tend to do this. Their beauty comes with a price.

But nature has her own ideas which often go counter to what we desire.

Our new executive director for the Historical society (who moved here from Oklahoma for this job) is a major plant person and has agreed to do some personal vegetable gardening at my place. It will get some use and I am glad someone will get some benefit out of it. My problem is that there are too many other things calling my name to make the garden the center of attention that it needs. Note the large Chestnut tree in the center. It needs a lot of pruning every year. I cut one big limb yesterday and need to do more. One funny thing is that I discovered deer eat the leaves (the branch is at the center of the side garden pic). I leave them out and in a few days the leaves are gone so I can even get the deer to help.