I have baby birds in one of my front hanging planters. I discovered the nest a few weeks ago as every time I would water the planter, a bird would fly out, sit on a near-by branch and chirp angrily at me. Here’s a picture of the 3 babies:
I believe they are Purple Finches judging by the sound description, egg color and habitat. I try to be careful with them and water less than my usual so as not to flood the little nest or get the eggs, now babies, wet. I always save this planter for last so once disturbed, the family can quickly relax again knowing there are no humans around. Hopefully the babies will successfully fledge.
Here’s the planter:
And here’s a parent on the roof above the nest waiting for me to leave:
And, here’s what’s blooming:
This is a picture of one of the flowerbeds in my backyard. As you can see there are many plants in bloom and much to be maintained and I enjoy every minute of it! Mostly I enjoy the view from all the windows at the rear of my home. Washing dishes isn’t such a chore when it means I get to spend the time enjoying this view.
This weekend saw me spending about 2 hours pulling weeds and planting 2 leftover petunias, the sunflower plants my daughter started from seed, a baby’s breath and fringed daisy. I also pruned back a couple plants and watered the new plantings along with the new-this-year slope flowerbed. All is looking good. I just have to start a list of plants I want to move in the autumn when they go dormant. As with any garden, there are always plants that need a more suitable location. These days I’m not adding plants as much as relocating them. The garden can always be improved this way and the plants usually end up happier.
Oh, and we finally had some drizzle last night after about a month without a single drop of rain.
With the help of my Dad, we pruned most of my trees and shrubs. While not the perfect time for pruning, it helps to have an expert along to get it right. The garden looks much more spacious now.
The weather has been overcast and quite cool, upper 60’s and low 70’s and everything is growing great.
I may have already mentioned some of these bloomers previously, but here’s what sticks out in my mind as to what’s new:
- Day lillies
- diarama
- daisy
- dahlia
- monarda
- yucca
- liatris
- astilbe
- scented geraniums
Spent some time pulling weeds and doing some light pruning in the backyard. Just a little work with significant aesthetically pleasing results. I planted all the zinnia plants that my daughter and I started from seed, watered our pumpkin plants and added some geranium to my planters near my front door to replace the leggy pansies that are now in the recycle bin. Things are looking good!
I also discovered I have a bird’s nest with 3 eggs in one of my hanging planters by the front door. The poor momma bird was startled when I watered near her nest. I promptly left the area to give her a chance to return to her nest and eggs. She doesn’t seem to mind us hanging out near her, just seems to prefer staying dry.
My father is also sprucing up the kid’s sandbox with some new cedar seats. It’s all cut to size and just waiting to be screwed on which I believe is the plan tomorrow. I have to say it again, things are looking good! I’m going to have to take a couple pictures to post.
About a week and a half ago I spread some beauty bark in a few key areas in preparation for Independence Day guests. Some weeding was finished up and some slugs were killed. Other than that, the garden has been on auto-pilot. It’s that time of the year and I have had house guests for a week as well. It’s been nice just enjoying the garden with the only chore being occasionally adding water to the fountain. Oh, I have also been keeping an eye out on some dry areas of the garden and reactivated some sprinkler heads I had turned off last year for fear of over watering some shadier areas.
Over the past couple of days my guests harvested the red currants, black currants and sour cherries. The red currants are already jelly as of this morning. 5, 8 ounce jars to be exact! My daughters have eaten any ripe raspberries and strawberries though there are more raspberries to come. I think next year will be my first big raspberry year though as the plants are just two years old as of this summer. The other berry bushes are closer to 5 years old.
The weather has been super dry, sunny, and in the 70’s and 80’s with a record low set at night two nights ago of just 51 degrees. No problem cooling off at night around here! I just wish we would have a good soaking rain one night, but until then, the sprinkler system and mulch will have to do.
Here’s what’s blooming:
- Dahlias- finally!
- Random yellow wildflowers
- Sedum
- Monarda
- Pitcher plants
- Daisies
- St. John’s Wort
- Sweet William
- Sweet peas
- Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan)
- Sandersonia
- Cornflower
