The Squirrel and the Loquat

Squirrel and Loquat 1

One morning as I was sitting under the apple tree having my cuppa, Sparky the squirrel came scampering by.

Having eaten all the seed I’d put out for her, she came looking for more food.

Squirrel 2

Hopping across the lawn she ventured ever closer to me, sitting up on her hind legs to double check I really was the Food Lady.

Yes, of course I speak back to her!

“You’ve eaten it all. That was it for today. Don’t be greedy!”

Squirrel 3

Realising nothing more was forthcoming, she scooted behind me and climbed up the ancient loquat tree. Here she looks rather rat-like, as she pauses in the lower branches, planning her route to the top.

Squirrel and Loquat 4

Our loquat tree may be over 50 years old. It’s certainly been in better health; many of the branches died so I had to cut them off. It seems to be a fungus that rings the bark, so the bark falls off and the branch dies. There were hardly any loquats this year.

Squirrel and Loquat 5

Still, right at the very top of one surviving limb, a small bunch of loquats bask in the sunshine.

Here, Sparky can eat the delicious ripe fruit to her heart’s content, thinking, “Mine, all mine!”