How Doth Your Garden Grow

The recent rains have made the garden explode, and now that the hot weather is here,  it's even lusher than ever.   The baddest news is that my hummingbirds have disappeared.  Where can they have gone?  No one has visited the feeder or perched on the trellis for a week or more.  Have to admit that I am distraught.

Meanwhile, on the suet feeder, scads of baby woodpeckers, chipmunks and the little red squirrel are gobbling up a dollar's worth of suet every day or two.  Greedy ones.

The clematis has been spectacular.  Maybe because I actually dosed everything with fertilizer this year.   

Here is the sneaky squirrel.  So cute.

The verbena, nasturtiums, sage, and marigolds are all doing well.  Chives went rampant this spring.  Garlic has long whatcha-ma-callums.  Can't think of the name.  Scapes!  That's it.  I planted nicotania instead of impatiens this year, and it looks good, but still no hummingbirds, sob!

How is your garden doing?  Don't forget to put out water for the critters as well as food.

Grapeshop

Close Encounters of the Avian Kind

Rubythroat at the feeder

Today I took a beaker of thistle seed into the woods to refill the feeder, frequented mostly by goldfinches and chickadees.  While I was in the woods, I spied the little Garden Gnome in his red cap.  Might as well take him in, too, I thought, since Earl convinced us to take all the extraneous candles, etc. into the house for the winter.  The dwarf was filthy, so I put him down while I stood on the highest step of the deck to water a plant and the plum tomatoes.  This accomplished I started hosing off the dwarf.  Down by the tomatoes a large butterfly.

No, a hummingbird, who came closer and closer until I could have touched him.  "Hi there!" I said.  He stayed right by me and then I realized it was the dwarf's red cap that interested her.  It was a she.  We stayed like that for a moment and she flew off and filled with  awe, I carried the dripping red-capped dwarf (gnome) into the house.

I wonder if other "hummers" have buzzed him in the tree crevasse this summer.   They buzz me when I am by the feeder, but this was special.  Resolved:  we will plant red nicotania next year.  I love my tiny birdies.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.flowers.vg/1024x768/nicotiana-red.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.flowers.vg/flowers/nicotiana-red.htm&usg=__F4pWlMrL_NEEn970nmw_wiBMVBs=&h=768&w=1024&sz=119&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=XUPGj6itBFg2OM:&tbnh=149&tbnw=201&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dred%2Bnicotiana%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_ENUS287%26biw%3D933%26bih%3D592%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=496&vpy=99&dur=1859&hovh=167&hovw=223&tx=117&ty=78

More Dogfights in Hummingbird Land

This afternoon we had four humming birds in the garden at once time. Bear in mind that the flower garden part of the garden is a planter box about 6 x 6. Crazy aerial dive bombing and then everyone takes off.

I have discovered that what I called "butterfly bush" or butterfly weed" in my garden is actually something call "Joe Pye Weed." It's a perennial with purple blossoms and the little hummers can't get enough of its nectar. They were also seen today on the red geraniums, the red impatiens, the fuschia, and one of them loves to sit on a wee branch of the pole bean plant. It must fit his tiny feet.

The Joe Pye Weed also attracts butterflies and of course, bees. I have lots of flowers the bees like, esp. the oregano blossoms and the sage. Most of my bees seem to be bumblebees. As a kid I was afraid of them, but they seem mostly benign.

My garden makes me happy. We tossed a handful of our own cherry tomatoes into our salad and garnished it with cilantro, croutons and feta. Yum! The tomatoes and the herbs along with the beans are so tasty now. I planted spinach and more cilantro.

The orange yogurt bread I baked yesterday looked spectacular. Must have been the fancy Greek yogurt. I wrapped it in foil and froze, thereby forgetting to take a photo. How dumb can you be? Just imagine it perfect!!!

We're going to the Berkshires this weekend. The cats have their sitter/nurse and we'll fill all the bird feeders in the morning. Have to nuture our feathered friends.

Grapeshot

Dogfight Above the Petunias

Two ruby-throats got into it this afternoon above the petunia planter. They are very territorial and soooo feisty. Took off in different directions.

In the garden, the "butterfly bush," now blooming, is very popular with the hummers as well as the butterflies, and the bees are also attracted.

Significant Other took the photo late this afternoon after the dogfight. A bird has got to get some energy for the next confrontation.

It takes a lot of time and effort to maintain a garden, but the payback is wonderful, don't you think?

The Big Birthday

Here we are in Boston on our "Staycation." Note the words "stay" and "cat." We stayed home for the kitties, who had enough trauma for one week with Annie's seizure. They seem to be back to normal.

Yesterday we viewed the Titian, Veronese, and Tintoretto exhibit at the MFA, then had a lovely if expensive brunch in the main dining room. Obviously one pays for the live music, the luxurious banquettes, the serenity and the garden view. But nice. I think I liked Tintoretto best. Always a soft heart for rebels.

I got a Kindle which has provided awe that one small device could be so cool. I've always wanted an e-book reader ever since I first pubished the Shadow Warriors as an e-book, or rather RFI West did. I am still getting used to it. Downloaded a Josephine Tey book first as a great price.

About the birds there is the following to say: they are scarce, and I hope it's because they are feasting on those $#**!$ inch worms. The goldfinches are at the thistle seed feeder in force, and yesterday with three males, there were a lot of fights. The hummingbird is back at her feeder, so sweet. Sometimes I spy her in the tree. We finally saw a chipmunk. Something decimated them over the winter.

Carnage on Cocasset Street. Hope it wasn't the neighborhood fox. And the white geese are missing from Glue Factory Pond. I know. Horrible name. Whatchagonna do? I carry all the wildlife worries in my breast.

The beets and the spinach have been transplanted to their proper homes, and now the garden is officially "ready." We will still get a bag of impatiens tomorrow. Lots of work and many tasks this year.

How about that orange rhoddy? I am the proud mom.

Grapeshot