Jul. 30, 2008 Just a pretty flower May. 29, 2008 Pressed Flowers
Here are some of the pressings we made last week. Darling Husband is going to take them to work and laminate them for us to see how that turns out.
 I am so glad we pressed some of the Bleeding Hearts because now they are all gone. |
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May. 16, 2008 My Plot of Green
Since we have just now been living on this "plot of green" , to quote Barb, for a year, I am still discovering new plants.
Here is a fern I found. I think it is called Japanese Painted Fern or Pictum, a common wild fern,according to Better Homes and Gardens New Complete Guide to Gardening. But that's not all, The Perennial Plant Association has named Pictum the 2004 Perennial Plant of the Year, saying that this perennial low-maintenance Japanese painted fern is one of the showiest ferns for shade gardens. Did you know that such an award existed? I also like the moss covered rock next to it .
And this little wild flower is near our backdoor. At first I was wondering if it was Poison Ivy. I am still trying to find out it's name.
I hope to post a garden update this weekend. Things are really growing well with all the rainy cool weather. How are things in your yard?
If you'd like to see more show and tell entries, please see Mary aka Canadagirl. |
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May. 13, 2008 Wordless Wednesday: We love our squirrels, too! May. 7, 2008 Spotted at Last!!
Yesterday, we finally caught a glimpse of our little hummingbird friends. Now, we must remember to keep the feeder filled with fresh nectar. (Note to self.)
 This is similar to what we saw, a female, but I am not 100% sure ours is a Ruby Throated. I have never seen a male at our feeders. Usually we will see a couple females who dart about and fight over the feeder. No sharing with these birds! |
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May. 2, 2008 A Little More Spring Apr. 7, 2008 More spring pictures
Another survival story... my Delphinium is alive!
Tiny green leaf buds on the hedge are in bloom.
The hummingbird feeder has been up and ready for a week eager for visitors!
And children are flocking to the fresh sand.
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Mar. 31, 2008 More tulip pictures
I just could not help myself. These are truly beautiful...
This tulip reminds my daughter and I of a ballet skirt, so light and delicate.
Perhaps a garden fairy would like to wear one like this?
This bloom's petals are curling. Quite a unique color blend as well!
And how I adore the shaggy edges of this lovely bloom...
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Mar. 28, 2008 Observations
Signs of spring...
- Goldfinches are starting to change to their brilliant yellow. We can finally tell the males from the females.
- A fly was in the sunroom when we opened it up one sunny day this week.
- Ants have been spotted. (The battle begins. )
- The magnolia tree is starting to change, just like when we forced a branch this winter.
- Welcome Robins have staked their claims and are finding lots of worms. Have you ever noticed how they seem to be evenly spaced throughout an area? It is as if they have an agreement with one another.
- Daffodils are sending up leaves, no blooms yet.
- Spring bird seed mix was out at Wild Birds Unlimited. They add calcium so that the bird's eggs will be strengthened.
- Ducks are acting crazy near roads.
- A bunny was spotted in our backyard.
- We had snow flurries on Monday. Tuesday it was warm enough to be outside without coats. Today it is cold again.
- Grass is getting greener.
- It's almost time to hang our hummingbird feeder. We check the map daily!
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Mar. 20, 2008 The Common Flicker
What is so common about this striking bird, I want to know? I nearly fell off my chair when he stopped by to grab a little nibble from our feeder this first morning of spring! Oh, how my heart is singing this morning with the sunshine on my shoulders and the birds singing around me. Of course this bird sighting happened so quickly that I could not grab my camera, so if you want to see this bird, go here.
I am quite sure that if I had my camera ready, it would have been a blurred mess of a photo anyway!
Happy spring!
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Mar. 19, 2008 Where are they now? Mar. 17, 2008 Signs of Spring! Mar. 13, 2008 Nature Journal Update
It has been a long time since I posted about my paper nature journal . I have been adding entries over the long winter. I finally came up with the idea to record anecdotes about the birds who frequently visit our feeders. These are from February. I drew them using Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and National Audubon Society's Student Workbooks as my guide. I am just not talented enough to look at a bird and reproduce it. But I can look at someone else's drawing and see the lines in order to draw the bird.
 I just wrote random thoughts that came to me about the birds that I wanted to remember.
I added the suet feeder to the one above to give it more of a personal feel, as that is how I see my Mr. Nuthatch, always at the suet feeder. I hope to add some more birds as time allows.
Do you keep a "paper" nature journal you'd care to show others? |
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Mar. 12, 2008 Wordless Wednesday: Mammal Studies Mar. 5, 2008 Freezing rain, sleet, more winter weather...
March has come in like a lion. I was hoping for a lamb after the temperatures soared on Sunday. It was nearly 70 degree. Yesterday, we had a winter event, as they now call it. I tried to get some photos of the .5 inch of ice. Today as I am writing this entry, I see 2 Red-Bellied Woodpeckers enjoying the suet we made. Oh what joy! Of course, neither will let me take their photo. I need a photo blind or a disguise for my camera. 
Here is a little slide show for my father who lives in AZ and doesn't remember what winter events are. (lol) Sorry the photos are a little dark. It's hard to take bird photos through the windows.
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Feb. 29, 2008 Show & Tell: Red -bellied Woodpecker
 Finally! I captured the illusive Red-bellied Woodpecker. He is such a shy bird. Every time I put my camera to the window, he would fly away. It has taken me weeks to get this picture and even at that it is not very good. He flew away the moment I took it and there was no flash either. All this to say, I am one Happy Camper today! I got you little bird! (By the way, I sat in front of the window for almost 2 hours trying to get this photo this morning! ) |
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Feb. 20, 2008 Carolona Wren Spotted!
I could not get a photo of my Carolina Wren, but was able to find this one doing a Google search. Our Wren does not come around very often and never stays very long and he is always alone. I have never seen a Carolina Wren until this winter. It was great fun discovering this new bird and persevering while trying to identify it. I so love love my Peterson Field Guide and Whatbird.com. I hope to add to my field guide collection soon. I'd love to have ones on Eastern wildflowers and trees.
Persevere when you are trying to identify an animal or plant. The effort is worth it. |
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Feb. 19, 2008 Downy Woodpecker
 A frequent visitor to our homemade suet feeder is this Downy Woodpecker.
I finally got a picture of him feeding. I determined that he is a downy because his bill is short. The Hairy Woodpecker is a larger bird with a longer bill. Other than that, I am not sure how to tell the difference between the two birds. |
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Feb. 15, 2008 Great Backyard Bird Count *sticky* post |
Day 20! These are so pretty! 
