Zinnia's on Parade

Fencing the Zinnias

Dear Jeni and Mary and TurtlemanFred,

Today I did a little fencing on the front walk.  The Zinnia's and Aster's were trying to take over so I bought some bamboo fencing from Sunnyside Gardens (using the Gift Certificate Card Jeni gave me) and tried to give them a little more structure.

Straighten up guys!

There now doesn't that look more orderly?

If you look at the lawn behind many of these Zinnia portraits you will see
signs of Autumn....sigh

After I staked their little hearts out I took a few portraits.

I think the yellow centers are wonderful.

A zinnia among the Garlic Chives.

The Garlic Chives came through like champions.  Maybe it is OK for Jon to scalp them....NOT!

Zoweee

This final shot shows the shadows they make on the sidewalk.

Oh, that reminds me.  I better go bring in the garbage containers.  Sniff.  This is sooo much more fun.

Love,

Nancy

Birds in the Garden

Just a video of some of the Orioles, American Goldfinch and warblers who infested our garden so far this Spring. There was a fall-out of warblers the day I took this and I think most of them are Magnolia or Yellow-Rumped Warblers. They were rather hungry as were the Baltimore and Orchard Orioles.
Love,
Nancy

Jim in the Garden

He still has to have his earphones on though.

He has to listen to the Radio in case something happens you know.

I was out taking flower photos and he couldn't stand it, he had to come out too.

Besides Jim the garden had its second Monarch of the season, two hummingbirds, Baltimore (Northern) and Orchard Orioles, American Goldfinch, House Wrens, Downy Woodpeckers, Morning Doves, Chipping Sparrow and a female Rose-Breasted Grosebeak.

That I recall.

Yesterday a huge hawk came and sat on our split rail fence in the back yard. It was an immature and probably a Red-tailed just on the odds, but I don't really know for sure. I am not a hawk birder. Alton was fascinated.

Have you eaten the monster tomato yet? My mouth waters just thinking about it.

Love,

Nancy

A windy day in the garden

The servant has been very lazy and not posted for ages so I had to steal her new laptop and put up a post. Yesterday she was out gazing at the birds for a long time, so I had her take a video.

The wind was gusting to 40 - 45 mph and kept buffeting her around so she stood against the door and tucked the camera up to her chest. With her heft you would think she could have stood still. She managed for much longer than I figured she would and you can see, and hear how windy it was.

At least you will be able to if I can get this video up on the website. How hard can it be? There is the little movie icon just like on her camera. She wants this to remember all her birds when she is in Minneapolis without them. What a sap.

You will probably be bored before it finishes but I expect FattyKitty will like it.

Speaking of whom, I hear the fattykitty is having a little trouble getting onto his computer. Evidently school makes librarians much more possessive of their laptops. You will have to just stop taking so many naps dear FK. Then you might find some 'desk time'.

Love,

Abbiethekitty, PQJ, PYI

Caterpillar Chronicles

Hi there Mary,

I have been out in the yard and garden playing with my new Sony Cybershot H7 camera. Yes I am being snotty about it. I saved my Christmas and Birthday money for 3 years. (I had a little trouble with that but ended up with $550.00 to spend and blew the whole wad.) I also got Adope Photoshop Elements and a 2 gig media card.

So anyway now I have really high resolution photos and so I went into the yard and took pictures of my monarch sanctuary. (Or my weedy milkweed patch.) Here are some photos.

My favorite is the chrysalis. I have never even seen one in the wild before. Only captured ones so I am watching this one eagerly. It is right in the middle of the shot in the shady part of the picture.

Then I wandered around the milkweed patch (above) and looked for caterpillars. You have to wander 'around' it as you can't get into it. Sheesh, there were tons! Here are four. Any more would be boring. heheheheh.

And of course for a finale....

Love,

Nancy