NEIGHBOR DOGGIES CAME AVISITIN'

Charlie and I were working in the backyard and the sweet, sweet neighbor dogs came down the easement to visit, again.

Not sure how they get out of their yard, but they always end up in my easement.

THEY WANTED IN!!

But, I knew they needed to go back home.  I gave them some water and they played with Charlie through the fence.

One of these days, I'm going to build new gates without these openings.  Possums, skunks and raccoons were coming in, so I put all of that chicken wire in the openings.

I love using chicken wire because you can't see it across the yard and from the house. 

When I know birds are nesting in a certain area, I put chicken wire around the tree trunk or wherever I know there's a nest.  I try to discourage the cats and it usually does keep them away from the nests.

The doggies' family came to get them, so they're gone for now.

YOUNG, DEMANDING MR. CARDINAL

Earlier, I posted about Mr. Cardinal demanding food.

This is not the same cardinal and maybe it's his baby because he's not fully colored out.

His daddy taught him about me.  He flies over when I go in the backyard, so I feed him. 

I love it and I love animal behavior.

Yesterday, I was foolin with the fish pond and really concentrating.  I could hear him chirping at me and was busy and didn't go for sunflower seeds.

All of a sudden, he whistled REAL LOUD and went into song and THAT got my attention.  I went over and got him food.

Today, I was watering in the front yard and  there he was right above me singing for quite a while and I was enjoying it and appreciating him.  I looked up to take a picture, then he flew to the backyard.  I don't know if that was a message or what but this bird's "got my number"!!

I keep waiting for him to turn into Godzilla and land on my head.

But, I'm loving it!!  

SPRING WORK IN THE GARDEN

The weather is just wonderful for working in the yard, today. 

 I got the yard mowed and a few things trimmed back.

One of the best things that's happened to me in a very long time, gardenwise (is that a word?), is the huge compost bin the city has finally given us.  In the past, I just couldn't throw trimmings in the trash for the trash dump.  I guess I was having separation anxiety!  I could just hear them saying "don't throw me there!!".  But, now I trim all the time and most weeks I have it full for the city to pick up.  I love trimming things back and things look so much better.

This little dove that I posted about earlier left her nest for a little while.  I wonder if a grackle or night owl got her babies or eggs.  But now she's back, starting over and I hope things work out this time.  I'll be watchng.

Also, I was able to change out the water in the fish pond.  It's a little murky, but it will clear up in an hour or so.  The fish are happy! and, I can mark that off of my "very important things to do" list.

Out of this horrible drout came a wonderful storm last week and my mosaic gutter drains were doing their job.  Because we haven't had much rain, I really couldn't check on them.  But, they're good.

This is my patch of perennial eupatorium.  I love this flower!!  Two beautiful black swallowtails were all over them, today.  The monarchs love them, too and I saw one yesterday on it.  I can NEVER get rid of the bermuda grass that you see.  I just feed and take very good care of the eupatorium and hope the bermuda doesn't take too much nourishment from them.  In a week, this will be a sea of purple flowers.

Another perennial vine that I love and has been in my garden for many years is coming back and climbing everywhere.  I've searched and searched and cannot find the name of it.  

Since I'm no longer using my purple martin house, I'm going to let it grow up the martin house pole.  I planted the seeds this morning.  Many times I will break a pot and stick it in the ground to protect the base of the vine or flower that I've planted.  It defines it's territory and it reminds me to be careful when I'm edging the flower beds.

The vines that I love, I plant in several places because I never want to be without seeds in case something happens to one.  That happened one time and I looked for years and finally found it again.  It was a butterfly pea vine with blue flowers.  I'll be posting it again when it starts blooming.

Happy Saturday!

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT "BUNNY BLOOM" LARKSPUR FLOWERS?

Some larkspur flowers are beautiful rosettes.

And then there are "bunny bloom" larkspur flowers.

(click on the pictures to enlarge the bunnies)

If  you look closely, the center of the flower is truly shaped like a bunny's head and ears.

And, it's amazing that it's always blooming at Easter time.

It's always fun to share this with my friends who visit my garden.

They are as amazed as I am.

Have you noticed your bunnies, before?

WED:SidewalkShoes,ASouthernDaydreamer,CraftberryBush,

PERSISTENT MR. CARDINAL ASKING FOR FOOD FOR HIS BABIES IN THE NEST

Isn't he beautiful!

This cardinal has a nest nearby and has babies to feed.

I saw him feeding one of the babies in the honeysuckle on my fence.

Every time I walk out the back door he's suddenly right there, only a few feet away from my head, chirping and chirping at me to give him sunflower seeds.  He's so persistent and demanding!  He knows he can count on me.  I'm very glad to feed him and love that he is communicating with me.

I went into the garden shed to get some sunflower seeds and he perched right there on that scrollie hook and was looking at me and chirping.

The weather has been just wonderful.  Wonderfully cool in the mornings and 80's during the day. 

 I think that's perfect weather for baby birds in the nest.  

BABY CAROLINA WRENS HAVE FLOWN THE NEST & SOON NEW BABY DOVES

  My redbud tree blooms have fallen off and now it has leaves, but this picture was so pretty I wanted to share it with you.

Every year as winter is ending, I so look forward to these blooms.

It's such a good feeling when I see the tiny buds starting.  

Purple martin house.

A couple of years ago, my baby oak trees were getting so tall that they were going to be interfering with the first flight of the baby purple martins.  So, for their sake I closed the house forever.  

A week ago I noticed this little dove nesting.  I guess it's as good as a tree for her.

There will be babies, soon.

Today, while I was in the yard I kept hearing baby birds.  Then, I realized it was the tiny carolina wrens already out of the nest and following their parents, learning how to forage.

I knew the wrens were nesting somewhere nearby, but this box is out of site from my kitchen window and I think they were nesting in it.  It looks like a wren nest to me.  I think baby wrens go back to the nest at night until they're more independent so I'll wait a while to clean out this nesting box.

And, he's gone now!

Around the middle of March, the visiting american goldfinches start coloring out for their trip back home to nest.  They're always at my feeders until late April and maybe early May.

This one finally left this past week.

I will miss their beautiful, striking colors.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY

TODAY IS SPECIAL

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY