The Ralph Thorne Care Center at Wesley Towers is eagerly awaiting some new arrivals. They might come at any minute.



Until then, all eyes are fixed on an unassuming flower planter outside the center. Nestled inside, Petunia, a wild duck named after the flowers she nests in, keeps her clutch of nine to 11 eggs warm.



Resident Ellie Peterson has been keeping a watchful eye on Petunia from her window. She can�t always see Petunia from her window, but Peterson loves to talk about her. Every morning, the first thing Peterson does is open her blinds to try to spot the duck. She also enjoys watching people�s reactions when they see Petunia for the first time.



�Oh, I want to pet her on the head so bad,� she said.



Peterson grew up on a farm near Larned. Though she didn�t have ducks back then, she did have chickens. Peterson said having Petunia around reminds her of where she came from.



�I like animals,� she said with a chuckle. �I always said I was going to be a bird watcher when I get old.�



Petunia and her eggs are big news for the 53 in the Thorne Care Center. News has spread throughout the complex, even garnering the attention of the CEO.



Peterson, 77, and her husband Gene, 83, moved to Wesley Towers a little over a year ago. They had to leave behind their Chihuahua, named Poncho. Petunia has been a source of conversation for the couple.



�He�s blind and can�t see it, but he listens to me talk about it all the time,� she said.



Marilyn Drake, 93, said the duck reminds her of the time she spent on her farm near Alden with her husband.



Tanda Barnes, activity director for the care center, said residents are constantly asking her and other employees about Petunia.



�She�s our mascot,� Barnes said.



Barnes said due to the popularity of Petunia and her eggs, the staff tries to bring residents to the planter frequently.



�She�s probably the most photographed duck around,� Peterson said.



Van Miller, also a resident of the center, has been living there for 33 years and said he has never seen anything like this before. He likes to carry around a picture of Petunia with him.



Barnes said she and the rest of the staff will continue to keep an eye out for Petunia and hopefully the residents will have the opportunity to see the ducklings when they hatch.



�I think it�s just a nice little addition for our residents, and the joy and happiness they bring is totally worth it,� she said.