Crabapple Bonanza

The mild, moisture trammel along the Colorado Front Range has produced an abundance of crabapples on our Littleton farm.  Consumed past times a broad multifariousness of birds as well as mammals, the tart fruit has also been used past times humans to brand jam, jelly, cider and, yes, wine.

Until yesterday, I was aware that cottontails ofttimes nibbled at fallen crabapples merely did non know they were such a prized ingredient of their diet.  In the belatedly afternoon, every bit thunderstorms loomed to the west, a dozen cottontails gathered beneath our largest crabapple tree, lounging inwards the shade as well as devouring the apples.  Young bunnies pushed the fruit along, nibbling at the outer pulp piece adults took inwards the entire apple, like shooting fish in a barrel munching on the globes similar cattle chewing their cud.

I suspect that my enlightenment regarding cottontails as well as crabapples is purely a reflection of the fruit bonanza as well as the always increasing release of rabbits on our property.  I'm glad that the cottontails are enjoying the windfall merely promise that the fox, hawks as well as owls recognize their chance every bit well!