I have one lovely iris in bloom today. I bought a box of bulbs at Sam's last fall but they were terrible and only a few were planted. What a shame, it would have been wonderful to have dozens of these little beauties.
Last night and tonight I worked in the yard until it was too dark to see. Last night I planted zinnias around the mailbox, impatiens in the front porch flowerbed and worked on another large container. I hadn't seen "George" again since the first day he surprised me. Last night I was getting a few things to plant from the patio and spotted him in another winter sowing container. This time he was in #21 Milkweed.
He obviously was not very happy that I was so close and proceeded to jump to another container. Since he likes these containers, maybe I'll leave one filled with dirt on the patio for him. I'd really like for him to stick around.
This afternoon I spotted sparrows gathering Lilly's hair for nesting material. After brushing her, I usually throw the hair on the ground or put it in a suet feeder for the nesting birds.This evening was beautiful, the temperature was perfect and I "embraced weeding". Carol, from May Dreams Gardens said, "You’ll be a happier gardener and have a happier life in the long run if you just accept weeding as something you will always be doing. " It's a good thing I find weeding relaxing, because there is so much of it that needs to be done that I might literally, "always be doing" it, as in never getting finished.
I hope to spend a large portion of the day outside tomorrow weeding and hopefully, getting the rest of the flowers planted.
I hope everyone has a safe and happy Memorial Day.
That is a good idea! Putting dog's hair into a suet feeder for nesting material. Here I have been throwing out perfecting useful stuff - marvelous! Thanks for sharing! Can you put dryer lint in it too? I usually try to throw both into the compost pile - pet hair and the dryer lint but find it hard to remember since I don't have them in large quantities like I do my food scraps...but this i could remember to do. :) Gorgeous iris as well! I need to plant some in my yard - I have none! No toads either. :(
ReplyDeleteRobin I just love seeing George. His cousin Louie must live in my garden. I have only seen him once this spring but it is always fun to see him whenever he chooses to show hisself. George must like the winter sowing pots becasue the soil is soft and easy for him to burrow into. Louie likes our mulched beds.
ReplyDeleteThat iris is gorgeous. I know how you feel about finding dried up bulbs in Lowes products. It happens too often to me. I don't buy bulbs from there any more.
Oh, I LOVE that photo of the chipping sparrow trying to carry away that huge bit of Lilly's hair! Heck, that might make an entire nest for that little one! Weeding... sigh.... I always sigh after a rain as I know, the weeds are growing and laughing.
ReplyDeleteSuzyq, I was curious about the dryer lint, so I did a Google. It isn't recommended due to the detergent and fabric softener. They said it also dries too hard after getting wet.
ReplyDeleteHi, Lisa. I was terribly disappointed in the bulbs I purchased last year. So many were dried or diseased and the others just didn't produce any flowers at all.
Jayne, it sure had a beak full! I know what you mean about the rain and the weeds. That is why there are so many here. After last years dry summer, I'll take the rain along with the weeds.
Hi Robin,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry I haven't been around lately...I've neglected my blogging friends for a while.
Hey, that Robin doesn't seem to mind that messy tree...:o)
Glad you saw a hummingbird! Mine are few - not like last summer when they were a small fleet. Oh, well.
Your gardens looks lovely. And I agree, weeding is like paying the mortgage. It won't go away.
Chipping sparrows line their nests with hair as other birds. I clean my hair brushes regularly and put them in a hanging basket where the birds pull nesting material from. If I had a high shedding dog or cat, the birds would love it.
It's good to be back here.
By the way, Suzyq's suggestion is one I used to think was a good one but dryer lint clumps and hardens when it's wet - and it's loaded with chemicals and such that aren't good for bird nests. Human and animal hair is the best!
Enjoy Memorial Day!
Mary
Thanks for the tip on the dog hair! I used to spread it around some of my plants, thinking it would deter rabbits, but I never thought about the birds using it.
ReplyDeleteAll your flowers are lovely. Being just an amateur photographer, I am just discovering, too, that bright sunny days are not the best for photographing flowers.
Maybe we will have to put Dakota's hair outside for the birds - she produces enough of it!
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting though, I observed a sparrow picking up individual hairs from our patio until she had a nice bundle.
Each picture is beautiful in its own way. I like the one with the bird very much. He must have been so glad to find this treasure!
ReplyDeleteYea, George. I'm glad he is hanging around.
ReplyDeleteWeeding is one of the most therapeutic activities there are. Simply give a name to each weed and feel the satisfaction of wiping him or her out! Doesn't have to be a specific name. "That idiot who didn't use a turn signal," etc., will do perfectly well.
Robin I love the pic you took of the bird with Lilly's hair! The piece of hair was as big as the bird!! We adopted a Golden today named Teddy. I let the hair from the brush go in the yard and later on I saw some sparrows checking it out. I love to give back to nature in small ways!! Love the iris and "George" pics too!
ReplyDeleteI would love to find a toad or froggie in the garden...maybe they are here and I am unaware...a george would be good to have. Maybe I need to leave some soft dirt in a nice pot?
ReplyDeletegail
Love these photos and like how the frog is just there in the mud! Had a good holiday . . . hope you had a good Memorial Day!
ReplyDeleteThat bird is going to have one soft, warm nest!
ReplyDeleteWeeding like cleaning house always needs to be done. It is a lot better to just accept it. I agree with Carol.
ReplyDeleteYour toad is so gorgeous, with his camouflage markings.
ReplyDeleteYes, leave a container for him :)
I always think of weed as sorting out the 'volunteer' plants. Makes me feel like a director of a movie then.
ReplyDeleteAnd about the nesting material, I think it's wonderful to put such soft things out there for them. I met a lady who put all her threads from her sewing room. She said it gave her great pleasure to go around her garden and see the various colours in the nests.
Just a lttle warm and fuzzy)
It was so comforting to come to your blog today and see your frog and pretty pics. I'm working on a new blog. Hey, I wanted you to know too that my plants have taken off like mad with the growing mix. Yours will too. I'm sorry the link is down.
ReplyDeleteMiss you and all the rest but it is nice to still be able to visit and keep up. Love the little froggy guy.
Anna--Flower-gardening--lost--girl
I never thought about putting hair out for the birds to use for their nests. I have very long hair and I will have to start doing that. They will think that they have hit the mother load when they see it! :)
ReplyDeleteSam
What a fabulous blog you have and garden!! I must return again and read more and more, very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI recently found a nest of baby spiders in My Serenity Garden"