greenputterer's Blog

The mother bird allowed me to photo her eggs about a week ago.  Last night one egg was hatched out, the other was still unhatched.  The answer to the egg mother's idenity, is a picture of the mother bird on her nest in my spring photo's.   The nest is usually a bare minimum of sticks. There are only 2 white eggs in a nest.  Those are the only hints you get.  Have a great day in your garden, a neighborhood garden, or some public garden.

The black iris brigade stands solemnly watching over the rest of the garden from the east boundry.  They remind me of my sons, both of which are serving in the armed forces at this time.  God bless them for their service to God, country, fellow man,  and family.  

The iris have a statelyness all their own.  They provide a boundry of sorts and color to the garden.   Soon they will be joined by the aisiatic lilies.  Have a great day in the garden of your dreams.

Looking out the window at the overcast windy day, I was trying to decide if I should plant the tomato's into the garden or organize a bit in the pole shed. Then by the water dishes appeared 2 orioles.  After taking a drink, they each took a few bites of grapefruit, and off they flew.  Sometimes, I see them in the morning, somedays late of evening, flying to the water dish.  They in a line of trees behind our house in the edge of the field.  I have seen them there for several years,  but only a couple of pair a year. 

I had seen the finches on the fruit, but wasn't sure if the oriole's were also eating when I hadn't observed.  A neighbor had given me lots of grapefruit, and some were getting pithy. So before tossing a couple of them,  I cut them and set them out  by the water dish to see if the birds would eat them.  Apparently, they like them just as much as oranges. 

After putting away several waiting items for pole shed storage, I found my gentle sprinkler head for hand watering in the flower pots where I stashed it last fall.  This year, with all the storage we have, I finally get a set of shelving for my gardening tools, sprinklers, flower pots.  Now, when I put gardening things away, I hope to find my favorite pruners.  I keep using an old pair, hoping the newer ones will show up one day.   Hope all's well in your gardens, with bee's buzzing on your flowers.

Sitting around after supper, by the patio, when in zipped a hummer, to dine on the feeder I put nearby in an apple tree.  He zipped around the feeder, then  the patio a few times, checking everything out.  When he left, I finally remembered to breathe.  You wait and wait, and all of a sudden there they are folks.  Then a pair of bright yellow finches came and sat, took a few drinks and sat for a little while longer in the apple tree too.   Usually they take off right away.   What an evening show,  short but sweet.   Now, if I would just think to take the camera out with me. 

Wild party on the patio last night. Found these guys still partying this a.m. and dancing on the table. May it add a bit of whimsical nostalgia to your day.  JJ

Happy misty spring up here. Cool around 40-48 degrees this week. About .25 of rain each of last 5 days. Grass and trees are lapping up the moisture.  Starting tomorrow we are supposed to get 65-70 for the next few days. So finally, we will be able to go outside and enjoy some spring days.  The  white pheasant eye daffodils were new bulbs this spring.  A late flowering bulb, which I chose due to our usually cool springs with possible late snows. They have done nicely considering they had a coating of snow during there late bud stage.  

Potato's are planted but not showing yet. I saw  where you are digging yours in the south.  Ours won't be dug till after frost, only what we want to eat on during the summer for grilling about July 4th and beyond.

Have some deadheading of the daffodils to do in the gardens, not much else now. I leave the plant leaves until they turn yellow.  They are needed to help the plants produce bulbs and energy for next year's flowers. From the cool misty north, have a great day in your gardens.

Happy May Day to one and all.  This is such a beautiful month. So many buds and flowers on the trees, lots of bee activity, the birds sing while building their nests, there is enough moisture to get plants going, and enough warmth that we can all have a few nice days outdoors...wow, the list grows after the long winter has faded like a dream.  The walk abouts are just energizing,  the coffee tastes great in the cool of the morning with dew touching the plants and petals with loving moisture.  There is just something about spring that fills the soul with the renewing touch of the master's hand.