Mother's Day 2021

Song -Tell Mama - Cover by Sierra Eagleson

This was the first year without celebrating Mother's Day with my mom.  I felt my sadness for weeks so I told myself that it was just a Hallmark day on the calendar......but my body & heart didn't listen.....  I could feel myself getting into a funk so I talked with my boys and let them know that I was spending the day in the garden - no fuss, no muss - just a call would do nicely..... thank you very much!

Henry didn't listen.... 

My two year old grandson knows how much I like birds and hand painted two miniature bird houses for me and painted a heart shape stepping stone for the veggie garden that he absolutely decided could NOT be stepped on by anyone!  So it is now leaning against the stone wall in the garden for all to admire!

 

 Of course it is a purple heart because that is his favorite color right now!!!

So just what did I do on Mother's Day.....

....I watched a Clematis unfurl......

                                                                                               .....I pinched back my Sweet Basil.....

I set up my grandmother's ravioli table as a potting table and a old wicker chair from my mom to sit and relax in the shade.

 

 ....I watched a Spotted Towhee trying to hide in the oak tree.....

 

 and I listened to the water flowing from our fountain that Mr. B had just cleaned out the day before.

I thought about dead heading some roses but they were all in the sun and it was 92 degrees!

I planted a Hosta and some Impatiens in the shade and added a water saucer for the birds.....

 

 

 Henry and I had planted some strawberries the week before so I watered them for him....

....I gave two of my large ball box woods a much needed trim.....

.......and Mr. B helped me dig up some volunteer Japanese Maple seedlings and I potted them up on my new table!

 

And as the warm day began to cool down a bit Mr. B brought us both down Gin & Tonic's to sip by the pool......the first since last summer....

 

 I watched a Black Phoebe capture a Damselfly and then he pondered what to do next....

As the day finally drew to an end I thanked my mom for all she has done for me and continues to bring to me daily - especially the joy of a garden.  Thank you mom.....

 

 "We are born of love; love is our mother."

--Rumi

 

 

Hello Spring!

 Song - When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along by Bing Crosby

 

 Mr. & Mrs. Titmouse have been busy making their home a showstopper for 2021.  For two weeks one of them would be in the house tap-tap-tapping all day long as the other one flitted back and forth making sure all was well.  I guess they were hoping to enlarge their nesting box.  

 

I get so much enjoyment from these two and am able to help teach my grandson Henry about birds and their nests.

 

 

A birdhouse in the shade garden fell to the ground sometime this winter - probably by a squirrel - and Mr. B was kind enough to help rehang it with extra screws!

 

It may be too late for the birds to use this spring but it will be ready for them next year.

We have been seeing this small little wren like birds and I found out that they are Bushtits.  They love the suet feeder full of bugs and nuts! They also like the nesting balls I have hanging on our trees.

They work very hard at pulling the cotton out of the twig ball and just when you think they have too much to fly with, they go in for even more!

Even the hummingbirds go in for this nesting material.  They have gone through two balls this month so I just purchased two more along with some refill for the first two!  

Two days ago I woke up to find two beautiful deer in our backyard happily munching away on my roses. In 25 years they have never gotten into our backyard and when I walked out to see the damage they had done I almost cried.  My new tender rose growth, the hydrangeas, new shoots from my sweet peas....gone....now I love deer but not in my garden!  Mr. B and I went out that day with deer repellent and sprayed the yard.....I have two more bottles coming in the mail today!  Yesterday I opened the front curtain and there was a big ol' turkey on my front porch.  He didn't do much damage and I was glad that Henry got to see him and now walks around the house saying "gobble, gobble"!

One more beautiful troublemaker in my yard - hawks!  Just while I was typing this post I saw him fly into a tree right outside my door.  I see you Mr. Hawk trying to hide behind the wind chimes!!!

 

"Enjoy the little things in life for one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things."

--Kurt Vonnegut

 

 

Birds to the Left of Me

 Song - Stuck In The Middle with You by Stealers Wheel

 

And hawks to the right.....here I am.....

 

 On Wednesday morning while Henry & I were having breakfast I noticed a small hawk right outside the door.  It was difficult getting a clear shot of him as there were branches in front of him everywhere I focused.

 

I believe he is a Cooper's Hawk.  Very small -- only about 10 inches from his head to the base of his tail.  

But he sat so still as I snapped away.  I think he might have been interested in this little Bushtit who was hanging out on the suet feeder.

After about 40 minutes he flew off with out any breakfast.....at least none from my backyard!

So now you know who was to the left of me and who was to the right but guess who was above me on my roof?

A marching Canadian Goose!

And his partner. They come every year about this time and call to their friends and lovers to join in the rooftop party!

After they are through waking up the whole neighborhood..... 

off they go to party at some one else's place!

Mounting Evidence

 Song - All the Pretty Girls - Kaleo cover by Sierra Eagleson

Mmmmm.....so do I see evidence here?

Yep......a little activity has been going on in Mr. B's birdhouse. Can you see the hair and twigs in the tree and on the railing?

Swee, swee, swee, swee.....the little Oak Titmouse calls to its mate as they both work on the nest.

I just love how they look after each other.  

If they decide to move in, this will be the fifth year that they have used this birdhouse!

And I really hope they decide to stay!

"The name titmouse is recorded from the 14th century, composed of the Old English name for the bird, mase (Proto-Germanic *maison, Dutch mezen, German Meise), and tit, denoting something small. The former spelling, "titmose", was influenced by mouse in the 16th century."

--Wikipedia

Returning Friends

Song - You've Got A Friend covered by the cast of BEAUTIFUL

I know that Spring is around the corner as the Canadian Geese have been landing on our roof early in the morning doing their annual mating ritual.

 

The week started out pretty well as we had an intimate birthday dinner last weekend for Mr. B who turned 70 (yikes) and our middle son Jon who is turning 35 in a few days.  I was worried that we would have to put up two easy-ups because rain was threatening.  But all was well on Saturday morning and I was able to set up our large outdoor table with appropriate social distancing.  Of course it was on the cold side so we had a great fire in our outdoor fireplace and lots of blanket and coats were worn. And with that behind me.....

 

I moved on to enjoying the birds in our backyard!  Above is a White-breasted Nuthatch.  They really love the new suet log I place out there.  Actually it's not just tree climbers that use it but a variety of songbirds enjoy it as well.

The Downy Woodpecker comes several times each day so I try to keep the log full of suet for all of the visitors.

Early this week Mr. B read that songbirds are getting sick and dying in California.  I quickly read up on what was happening.  Apparently the Pine Siskin's are spreading salmonella across the state as they fly through from Canada.  So the recommendation has been to take down all backyard feeders and bird baths where birds are likely to congregate. Oh no....I said out loud.  They are my favorite company & entertainment during this pandemic. I then had a good talk with myself as to how selfish that is and the safety of the birds is much more important.  Apparently it will only be for a month or so until the Pine Siskin moves on to other territory.  Phew.....

There is another danger to my songbirds lurking out there.....

The Red Shouldered Hawk!  Usually he is hanging out in the big Oak trees that surround our property but lately he has been dropping in a lot closer to keep an eye on my little friends.  I'm not too sure what I can do about him other than throwing an ice cube at him occasionally. They are beautiful creatures but I love my songbirds more so I just try to make his presence around here a negative experience.

 

And when you have a happy, dedicated little helper like I do.....

 

 ....you are in it for the long haul.  I refill most of my feeders once or twice a week and I need all the help I can get.  Henry isn't even two years old yet but he loves helping me gather & fill the feeders and watching for the birds to come and eat.  He even imitates the calls they make! Then we go inside and wash our hands very carefully.....thanks Henry!

"Education begins the moment we see children 

as innately wise and capable beings. 

Only then can we play along in their world."

--Vince Gowmon

Pretty in Red

 Song - You've Got a Friend cover by Austin Brown

We had a couple of cold, wet days recently and the birds filled the trees waiting for their turn at my feeders.  I should say "our" feeders as my grandson Henry helps every Monday to pour seed into the tube and hopper feeders and Mr. B has been helping me lately with the heavy lifting. I have 21 various feeders that need filling at least once a week.  Some are suet cages that only need refilling monthly (unless a squirrel gets into them).  My hummingbird feeders get a good cleaning and refill every two weeks in the winter and more often in the summer.  

I recently got this log feeder that has holes drilled into the sides.  You place plugs of suet inside the holes and it attracts birds that like to cling to branches to feed.  Woodpecker, wren, titmouse, nuthatch, flicker and chickadee's are all attracted to suet feeders.

 

I had originally hung this feeder down near the creek as I know woodpeckers can be a little timid.  Then I realized that I wasn't able to watch who was feeding on the log so I moved it up near my kitchen. It has been a lot of fun to watch. This little guy hung out for an entire day on the log feeder.  

"A heart without dreams is 

like a bird without feathers."

--Suzy Kassem

Behind the Scenes

Song - Unchained Melody cover by Austin Brown

 

 

Just when you think there is nothing going on because it is winter......just take a walk outside.

 

 

 Here is some happiness in my garden just yesterday....

 

 

 

 A white camellia just outside my office window

 

 

 

 

 The rosemary is full of blooms and bees

 

 

 

 

 

 The hellebore is getting ready to bloom.  I just love this winter plant!

 

 

 

 My dogwood buds are getting plump

 

 

 

 

 Heard this plane and caught it as it flew past the moon

 

 

 

 

 My narcissus are ready to pop!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I have had a plethora of lemons and limes this year

 

 

 Alyssum flowers have reseeded everywhere

 

 

 

 

 

 

 A lovely begonia that I got from my mother

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I planted several six packs of pansy's in the front yard but as you can see the deer love them!

 

 

 

 

 

 I have two urns of salvia that usually bloom late summer and through fall

 

 

 

 

 

By our front porch we have a Strawberry Madrone tree and I love how the bark peels off each year

 

 

 

 Here are her flowers....

 

 

 

 

 

 Daphne should be in full bloom and scent in a few days.  

Another winter favorite!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Some old primroses are popping though the garden leaf clutter

 

 

 

 This is an azalea that a friend bought for me when my father passed five years ago.

It blooms year round.

It is amazing!

 

 

 

A little snowdrop pushing her way though the earth

Midlife: when the Universe grabs your shoulders and tells you “I’m not f-ing around, use the gifts you were given.”

 

--Brene Brown