Friday, June 10, 2011

Fertilizer Friday - Flaunt your Flowers June 10th

Despite Wednesday's severe thunderstorm and all the damage done to my gardens, I was still able to get a few good shots to share this week for Tootsie's Fertilizer Friday 
 A few Peony's are starting to open
These were all from friends so I don't know the cultivar's, but they are all gorgeous and very fragrant



The last color of Iris to open
I love Oriental Poppies!


Weigela 'Minuet', a little tattered but still pretty
Yarrow
Zinnia in the morning sun

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Birds everywhere!

This year, the birds have returned to our yard in great numbers. There is a family of Tree Swallow's living in the birdhouse my husband made a few years ago.
The Swallow's are used to me and allow me to walk near their house and within a few feet of where they like to sit on the clothes line.
There are Robin's nests all over the yard...in the hedges and even on the woodpile!
I've been watching with interest the Robin that has made herself a nest outside my kitchen window in the Lilac tree. I thought it would be great for the kids to be able to see the eggs hatch and the little ones growing and fledging.
 This morning during the rain, I looked out and noticed that she had her wings spread as if to make an umbrella, so I knew that her eggs must have hatched.
While sitting inside just a few minutes ago, I heard the Mama Robin very upset and I went to the window and there were 2 black birds near the nest that was now tipped over!  I banged on the window and ran outside to chase them away and noticed that there were several Robin's now putting the chase to these Black Birds. I ran back to check the nest and found 3 bald babies in different area's - 2 on the ground and one hanging from the branch.  I once was told never to touch baby birds as the mother would reject them. If I didn't do something they would surely die, so I quickly picked up the nest and carefully put the 3 babies back in the nest, making sure to lodge the nest securely in the branches. There were all moving, but I'm not sure if they were hurt?? I went around the yard to make sure these bad Black Birds were gone and then went back inside. I saw the Mother Robin return, frantic that her nest was gone, but she suddenly spotted the nest, checked out the contents and then got right back to business of keeping the young warm. Phew!!  I sure hope those little guys are OK!

Friday, June 3, 2011

Fertilizer Friday - Flaunt your Flowers - June 3rd

Things are finally growing well and I'm joining Tootsie for Fertilizer Friday again this week!
                                                         A few Iris are starting to bloom




My bargain rack Bridalwreath Spiraea - they were $2.50 each a few years ago

Allium
Snow in Summer
The last Lilac blooms
 
German Catchfly
And I've saved the best for last!
 Remember the bud from my last post? Well here is the beautiful bloom that opened this week
Well worth the wait, don't you agree?