Green Thumb Sunday - January 31, 2010

Want to join this meme? Click on the logo for all the information you'll need!

A Progress Report
on "Shady's Indoors!"

Last Sunday I showed a few blossoms as well as pictures of "the nursery." Today you're getting an update on the hyacinth bulbs. :-)

#1 - Jan. 29, 2010

#1 - January 31, 2010

#2 - Jan. 29

#2 - January 31

#3 - Jan 29

#3 - January 31

#1 - a closer look - Jan. 29

#1 - closeup - January 31

Today's trio - January 31, 2010

Prrrresenting - "The Supremes!" (Last night, we attended a local production - over 60 artists singing the greatest Motown music hits of such artists as The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Gladys Knight and the Pips, etc., etc., etc. It was a 3-hour production of Energy!)
Click here to see a little Youtube video of some of the rehearsals. :-)

Perhaps I'll have another post on my "Odds and Ends" blog later.

Earth Day is Every Day

I'm sure you, too, are concerned about environmental issues... after all, most of you that visit here are Gardeners. And those of you that aren't - I'm sure YOU are also very interested in this subject!

Jan of Thanks for 2 Day is offering a giveaway if you leave a comment on how you are actively practicing a greener lifestyle and contributing to protecting our environment. She'd like you to create a post on this subject before March 1, 2010. Click on Jan's name above to view her post.

I have placed a link at the top of my right sidebar that will take you to the US EPA and their post encouraging each of us to "Pick 5" actions that we can now commit to practicing. Within this list, we each may find others that we could also practice or plan to use in the near future. You could click on their logo on my sidebar or click here to visit the Pick 5 site.

Dee at Red Dirt Ramblings has a contest that ends January 31, 2010! She is offering a Fiskars Momentum reel mower to the person that leaves a comment that is voted the top idea in sustaining the environment. Check it out here.

I'm sorry I'm not hosting a give-away. However, I'll briefly tell you about a few of our practices. We have ALWAYS recycled (that's about 40 years). During these past 8 years, after moving to our rural location, we haul everything to about 15 miles to local Waste Management. I've always composted our kitchen scraps, etc. (for the past 30+ years). We water the lawn Rarely (the exception being newly planted grass seed). My exciting Spring Project: Installation of two 55 gallon rain collection barrels!! :-)

It may be shady here - but there's nothing "shady" about THIS subject! :-)

B for Birds! (that was easy!)

Mrs. Nesbitt began this meme over three years ago.
Visit her site by clicking here.

is for Bountiful Birds

a Bevy of Beauty
a Bonanza of Bridd

We returned home Friday afternoon (Jan. 22, 2010),
after having been gone for a few days.
We found...
Lots of ICE ... (Check out our driveway!)

... and hungry Birds.

Click on any of the photos below.
Most enlarge somewhat.

American Goldfinches on the left and a Common Flicker on the right.

Common Flicker (yellow-shafted form)

Below, left to right:
Purple (male) Finch, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, American Goldfinch

For most of the day, Saturday, it rained.
On Sunday we could see the grass!

More Birds - photos taken Sunday, January 24, 2010.

Again, left to right, American Goldfinch, Purple (female) Finch, A. Goldfinch
Is it not a wonder how these little birds can crack open shells, and eat the seeds without losing the "goodie?"

Purple (male) finch

Purple (female) Finch (so cute?)

"Hey! What does a fellow have to do to get in on the grub around here?"

(I heard the chickadee say, quite plainly!)

The same sentiments were echoed by the Red-bellied Woodpecker,
not more than a few minutes later. :-)

This next photo was taken January 6, 2010.
It's a female Northern Cardinal
at the
Birdbath.

A veritable Battery of Birds in and around their Bathtub and Beyond!

B is for Birdhouse
The photo below was taken May 18, 2009,
shortly after it was put in the Sunny Corner Garden Bed.

Monday (1/24/10) I walked past the living room...

More SNOW! Actually, I'm relieved.
We're supposed to have snow at this time of year.
It's beautiful and I love to watch it fall.
(esp. if you don't have to travel far!)

The same Birdhouse, as taken from the kitchen window
at 8:00 A.M. Monday, Jan. 24.


The photo below was taken December 31, 2009:

Bluebirds
in Barbie's (one of my sisters) tree!

The tree is now 2 1/2 years old. Isn't it great that it's being used?
:-)


Best Wishes for the day!

Nothing shady here, besides a few shifting shadows.

Green Thumb Sunday - January 24, 2010

I haven't had a chance to show Sunday Blossoms for awhile.

There aren't an abundance, but what we have
are nice enough for the moment. :-)

Begonia (I'll add the name here when I get it.)

Kalanchoe

Violet (unnamed)

"The Nursery"

(two "starts" on one of my orchids...)

and hyacinth bulbs on the kitchen windowsill.

Have you been over to see As the Garden Grows? You can check the comments to see who else is participating today, or you can join the meme here. :-)

Amazing

A

I've admired the people that have taken the challenge by "Mrs. Nesbitt" to create a post every Tuesday (Every Tuesday??) on the succession of the letters of the alphabet. So, I'm going to try this. We'll see how I do. Perhaps I won't be as dedicated as I hope to be... but we'll see. ;-)

Aster
This is Aster 'Alert'

The photo was taken in September 2008, just after the plant was put in the Raised Bed gardens. It's too shady here for its liking, as it didn't perform well last Fall. Guess I'll see if I can make it happier somewhere else this Spring... in my neighbor's yard?? :-)

Adorable?

This is Susan-Scare-the-birds.
She's been featured here a couple of times before.
(click on the links, above and below, to read past posts)
Susan was employed shortly after we moved here, seven years ago.
She's been such a faithful garden friend...
proving herself to be as tender-hearted as she is "tough!"
:-)

Both of these photos were taken in August 2008.
You'll just have to visit the links
to understand why the costume change. lol.

Susan has held her post for quite some time. She's ready for retirement.



Artistry

Lately, some of my local gardening friends and I have begun work
on new "Scare-the-bird" gardening friends.

To say we're stretching our imaginations is an understatement! ha.

Watch for later posts... perhaps in mid-February.

That's the best I can do for today. My first ABC post. Visit Mrs. Nesbitt to see who else is participating. :-) Have a great weekend.

Looking for a Sunset Bird in Winter

I owe everyone an apology. I was so excited when I saw the bird's coloring that I made a terrible ID error! The last photo is NOT a Towhee. It is an "Oregon Junco" that is probably an intergrade with the "Slate-colored" Junco.

Looking for a Sunset Bird in Winter
by Robert Frost

The west was getting out of gold,
The breath of air had died of cold,
When shoeing home across the white,
I thought I saw a bird alight.


In summer when I passed the place
I had to stop and lift my face;
A bird with an angelic gift
Was singing in it, sweet and swift.

No bird was singing in it now.
A single leaf was on a bough,
And that was all there was to see
In going twice around the tree.

From my advantage on a hill
I judged that such a crystal chill
Was only adding frost to snow
As gilt to gold that wouldn't show.

A brush had left a crooked stroke
Of what was either cloud or smoke
From north to south across the blue;
A piercing little star was through.



I know that not all these photos apply to the poem (which I thought was lovely),
but I wanted to share more of "my birds." ;-)

The photos below show a visiting female Towhee!

Happy days!