Crepuscular visitor

At just about 8:30 pm on Friday, May 1, when it was not quite entirely dark, we were sitting outdoors when the largest gray fox we've seen yet came sauntering into the yard apparently headed either for water or for the loquats near the basins of water set out. The stripe atop the fox's tail was very clearly to be seen, as were black spots on the fox's face. The fox was aware of our presence, but sat down to take a little scratch behind one ear before reversing course and trotting around the end of the fence and down the street where foxes are most often seen.

The day afterward brought the first four o'clock flowers and the first squash and cucumber blossoms.

Bush beans are blooming profusely, as are sweet peas in many varieties. A passion flower or two may be found each day.

This amaryllis is up in the yard and is a handsome sight from the kitchen window. A couple of others, less showy, have returned and bloomed again in the containers in which they bloomed the first time around.