Treetop Windows and Willow Curtains

Rachel and I had our bedrooms on the top floor of our house until a few months ago when we moved to the downstairs bedrooms. Since then we've been using my old room for arts and crafts and Rachel's to put up the table-tennis in. We really enjoy spending time up here - not only do we have wonderful views all around, but we also get a glimpse into the "treetop world". :)

There are two large willow trees that grow close to the front of the house, on either side of the driveway, and whose branches reach right up to the upstairs South and East-facing windows and "curtain" them with green leaves in the summer. From here we have very good views of many different kinds of birds which nest and perch amongst the branches. It's also lovely to watch all kinds of butterflies and other insects fluttering and flying around up here.

Nest hole of a blackcollared Barbet

Blackcollared Barbet (above)

A Crested Barbet pair also nest in the same willow tree, just a few branches down.

The trees top branches are also a favourite place to perch for a pair of Spotted Eagle Owls. We often hear them hooting at night and when we still slept upstairs, their calls sounded very loud right outside our windows!

The eastern windows also look down on the driveway and front gate so we can see when Dad arrives home or there are visitors at the gate. :)

Across the road is a large vegetable farm and we often see the workers in the fields busy planting or harvesting different crops.
Of course in winter when the willows loose their leaves, we can see even further across the veld to a small lake. The leafy "curtains" are then drawn back and we get to admire the lovely shapes of the branches.

View from the South window

From the North window we have a good view of that side of the garden.

In winter when some of the trees are bare we have a view of some of the other smallholdings across the road and the horses in the fields there and can watch them being ridden down the horse trails.

The north window is also the warmest in winter and at this time of year, in the late afternoon, hoards of ladybirds fly up into the thatch overhanging it and spend the night there. They land on the window pane and some even find their way inside and crawl along the blinds. There are ladybirds just everywhere!!

But as we get to 'share' the treetops with so many creatures we don't mind the ladybirds sharing the window with us. :D